Bilingual doctor builds China-Vietnam ties at border hospital

(ECNS) -- At the People's Hospital in the border county of Hekou, southwest China's Yunnan Province, a bilingual doctor switches fluently between Chinese and Vietnamese, occasionally soothing patients with phrases in the local Yunnan dialect. Known by her Chinese name Chen Shiying, she has become a renowned neurologist on the China-Vietnam border.

Born in Vietnam's Nam Dinh Province, Chen came to China alone in 2010 to pursue her medical dreams. She enrolled at Kunming Medical University, a leading institution for international medical education, despite initially knowing no Chinese. Through hard study, she mastered complex medical terminology and graduated in 2016, later joining the People's Hospital of Hekou as a physician.

At first, some patients were hesitant about being treated by a foreign doctor. To earn their trust, Chen immersed herself in the local culture, learning the Yunnan dialect and enhancing her skills through advanced training in cities like Shanghai.

Today, she effortlessly communicates with patients in both languages, using familiar expressions to put them at ease.

Chen said that China gave her the platform to achieve her dreams, adding that her shoulder carries Vietnam's love on one side and China's nurturing on the other. She now serves patients in both countries. 

She remembers one case in particular. A Chinese stroke patient arrived paralyzed late at night. Thanks to her team's quick response, the patient regained the ability to stand — a moment that filled her with profound accomplishment.

Healthcare knows no borders. Chen noted the increasing popularity of traditional Chinese medicine among Vietnamese patients. Treatments like acupuncture and cupping therapy offer personalized care and preventative benefits.

Now she has a happy family in China. She married Zhu Lihui, a Chinese cardiologist at the same hospital.

From Nam Dinh to Hekou, Chen's journey promotes friendship between China and Vietnam.

In recent years, with the improvement of cross-border medical service mechanisms, including Vietnamese-language guidance and the acceptance of Vietnamese dong for payments, the number of Vietnamese patients seeking treatment at the People's Hospital of Hekou County has steadily increased, further deepening the bond between the two nations.

(By Gong Weiwei)