Pediatric gastroenterology is one of the trusted services at Hong Ngoc General Hospital for many international families in Hanoi, particularly when children experience gastrointestinal problems such as abdominal pain, constipation, persistent diarrhea or conditions requiring specialized intervention. At the hospital, children are examined and treated by experienced doctors, with multilingual support and streamlined procedures tailored to international patients.
When does a child need a pediatric gastroenterology consultation?
A child’s digestive system is still developing and is therefore easily affected by diet, living environment, climate changes, and disease-causing agents. Without timely examination and treatment, gastrointestinal disorders may impair nutrient absorption, affect physical growth, and have long-term impacts on a child’s development.
In particular, children from international families who have recently arrived in Vietnam for residence or travel may be at higher risk of gastrointestinal disturbances. Common contributing factors include:
- Changes in water and food sources.
- Differences in dietary patterns.
- Changes in climate and living environment.
- Exposure to new disease-causing agents.
- Alterations in the gut microbiota when relocating to another country.
Parents should take their child to see a pediatric gastroenterologist if one or more of the following signs occur:
- Persistent or recurrent abdominal pain.
- Persistent diarrhea, frequent episodes of diarrhea during the day, or diarrhea accompanied by dehydration.
- Prolonged constipation, difficulty passing stool, hard stools, or blood in the stool.
- Frequent or persistent vomiting, or vomiting accompanied by abdominal pain.
- Abdominal bloating, excessive gas, or indigestion.
- Poor appetite, slow weight gain, or unexplained weight loss.
- Mucus in the stool, bloody stools, or abnormally colored stools.
- Suspected food allergy, lactose intolerance, or malabsorption disorders.
- A history of chronic gastrointestinal disease requiring regular follow-up.
A trusted address for pediatric gastroenterology care for international families
In addition to meeting the demand for examination and treatment of common gastrointestinal disorders, the Pediatric Gastroenterology Department at Hong Ngoc General Hospital has developed a dedicated care model for international pediatric patients. With an experienced team of doctors, multilingual services, and a comprehensive support process, the department helps international families access high-quality healthcare services with ease, right here in Vietnam.
Experienced pediatric gastroenterologists and international-standard treatment protocols
The Pediatric Gastroenterology Department at Hong Ngoc General Hospital brings together a team of specialists who have received in-depth training in Vietnam and abroad, including study and advanced clinical training in countries with leading healthcare systems. In addition to extensive clinical experience, the doctors regularly update new treatment guidelines from international gastroenterology and pediatric associations to provide consistent, evidence-based treatment protocols.
- Meritorious Physician Dr. Phan Thi Hien, PhD, resident doctor, previously studied and worked at Saint-Antoine Hospital in France. She has participated in numerous research projects in pediatric gastroenterology, regularly updates advanced treatment protocols, and is able to provide direct consultations in English and French for international parents.
- In addition, doctors such as Dr. Nguyen Thi Tinh, MSc, and Dr. Tran Thi Oanh, MSc, Specialist Level II, have directly examined and treated thousands of pediatric patients from South Korea, Japan, Australia, the Philippines, and many other countries. With extensive experience in managing a wide range of gastrointestinal conditions, from common digestive disorders to emergency cases and complex gastrointestinal diseases such as gastrointestinal bleeding, interventional endoscopy for foreign body removal, and anaphylactic shock caused by food allergy, the medical team provides reassurance for many international families seeking pediatric healthcare for their children in Vietnam.
Comprehensive treatment of acute and chronic gastrointestinal disorders in children aged 0 to 16
The Pediatric Gastroenterology Department at Hong Ngoc General Hospital provides a full range of services, from outpatient consultations and inpatient treatment to specialized procedures, meeting the comprehensive care needs of children across all levels of disease severity.
- Common gastrointestinal disorders: digestive disturbances, acute diarrhea, recurrent diarrhea, constipation, abdominal bloating, excessive gas, indigestion, persistent vomiting, and gut microbiota dysbiosis after antibiotic use.
- Gastric and esophageal disorders: gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, esophagitis, and stomach pain in children.
- Intestinal and malabsorption disorders: irritable bowel syndrome, impaired nutrient absorption, malabsorption, cow’s milk protein allergy, food allergy, food intolerance, and chronic inflammatory bowel conditions.
- Hepatobiliary disorders: persistent elevation of liver enzymes, hepatitis, pediatric fatty liver disease, hepatobiliary dysfunction, and jaundice associated with liver and biliary diseases.
- Digestive-related nutritional problems: poor weight gain, malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and poor appetite related to gastrointestinal disorders.
- Gastrointestinal emergencies and interventions: swallowed foreign bodies, food impaction, esophageal and gastric foreign bodies, ingestion of button batteries, coins, small toys, or other dangerous foreign bodies requiring urgent endoscopic intervention.
In addition to medical consultations and treatment, the Pediatric Gastroenterology Department at Hong Ngoc provides a full range of pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures, including gastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, and interventional endoscopy for the removal of gastrointestinal foreign bodies. The Pediatric Gastroenterology Department is equipped with a new-generation NBI endoscopy system, featuring ultra-slim endoscopes, 4K Ultra HD imaging, and high-magnification capability, helping detect early mucosal lesions that may be difficult to accurately assess through routine clinical examination or ultrasound. The entire procedure is performed by pediatric gastroenterologists in coordination with anesthesiology and resuscitation specialists, ensuring safety while minimizing discomfort for children.
At the same time, the Pediatric Gastroenterology Departmentis comprehensively equipped with a range of modern diagnostic devices, including the Voluson P8 4D abdominal ultrasound system, an automated stool testing system, and advanced paraclinical diagnostic tools. These technologies support accurate identification of disease causes and help doctors develop appropriate treatment protocols for each pediatric patient.
Treatment protocols are developed based on the principles of evidence-based medicine and updated in accordance with guidelines from the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and other international specialty societies. Each child receives an individualized treatment plan based on their medical condition, underlying cause, treatment history, current medications, and ability to continue follow-up care after returning to their home country. This approach helps ensure treatment effectiveness, safety, and continuity of care, even when children require medical follow-up across multiple countries.
A private, child-friendly examination and treatment environment for international pediatric patients
The Pediatric Gastroenterology Department at Hong Ngoc General Hospital is designed as a specialized pediatric care model, with dedicated consultation areas that make the examination process more convenient and private while helping reduce the risk of cross-infection.
For children requiring inpatient treatment, the patient rooms are arranged according to clean and hygienic standards and fully equipped to ensure comfort for both children and their families. Each room features a fresh-air ventilation system, fine-dust filtration, automatic hospital beds, television, refrigerator, en-suite bathroom, and essential daily amenities. The menu is diverse, offering both Asian and Western dishes to suit the tastes and culinary cultures of patients from different countries.
The hospital also provides a variety of play areas tailored to different age groups, creating spaces where children can relax and reduce stress during treatment. These facilities help enhance the overall care experience and support the recovery process.
Streamlined administrative procedures and multilingual interpretation support
Understanding the challenges that international families may face when seeking medical care abroad, Hong Ngoc has developed a simple, professional, and standardized patient reception process.
English, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese interpreters accompany families throughout the entire care journey, from appointment booking, reception, medical consultation, laboratory testing, and hospital admission if needed to treatment completion. This helps parents communicate easily with doctors about their child’s condition, treatment plan, and care instructions without language barriers.
With this continuous support, parents can easily discuss their child’s medical history, symptoms, treatment plan, medication instructions, nutrition, and home care with doctors without facing language barriers.
At the same time, dedicated insurance staff assist with benefit consultation, documentation preparation, and rapid processing of guarantee and payment procedures with more than 50 domestic and international insurance providers, including Aetna, Allianz, Bupa, Cigna, Tokio Marine, Pacific Cross, AIA, and Manulife. This helps save time and provides a more convenient experience for families.
International-standard bilingual medical records
One common concern among many international families is whether medical records can be used for continued treatment in another country. Understanding this need, Hong Ngoc General Hospital provides medical reports, laboratory test results, and prescriptions in printed Vietnamese versions and digital English versions. The records are standardized to meet the requirements for international insurance claims as well as referral or continued treatment at healthcare facilities abroad, without the need for complex certified translation procedures.
In addition, all diagnostic imaging data, including X-rays, ultrasound, and gastrointestinal endoscopy images, are stored on the PACS system with high image quality and compatibility with specialized software used by many hospitals worldwide. This enables doctors abroad to easily conduct remote consultations or continue treatment based on the patient’s original medical data.
How to schedule a pediatric gastroenterology appointment for international children
International parents can schedule a pediatric gastroenterology appointment for their child through the following channels:
- Official fanpage: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Hồng Ngọc
- International fanpage: Hong Ngoc General Hospital
- WhatsApp: (+84) 966701596
- Hotline (English): 097 5743 469
- Hotline (Korean): 091 124 1661
- Hotline (Chinese): 094 313 7086
Hong Ngoc operates a network of hospitals and general clinics across Hanoi, flexibly meeting the examination, treatment, and healthcare needs of international patients.
- Hospital network:
+ Hong Ngoc Yen Ninh General Hospital - 55 Yen Ninh Street, Ba Dinh Ward
+ Hong Ngoc Phuc Truong Minh General Hospital - 8 Chau Van Liem Road, Tu Liem Ward
- Clinic network:
+ Hong Ngoc General Clinic - To Huu (HPC Landmark 105 Building, Van Khe New Urban Area, Ha Dong Ward)
+ Hong Ngoc General Clinic - Kosmo Tay Ho (NoVo Building, 161 Xuan La Street, Xuan Dinh Ward)
+ Hong Ngoc General Clinic - Keangnam (70-story Keangnam Hanoi Landmark Tower, Yen Hoa Ward)
+Hong Ngoc General Clinic - Long Bien (7 & 9 Nguyen Van Linh Road, Viet Hung Ward)
+ Hong Ngoc General Clinic - Nguyen Tuan (Autumn Building, Gold Season Urban Area, 47 Nguyen Tuan Street, Thanh Xuan Ward)
