When will Ho Chi Minh City's largest hospital become operational?

Following the merger, Binh Duong General Hospital is the largest hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, covering an area of ​​16 hectares and having a capacity of 1,500 beds, breaking the record previously held by Ho Chi Minh City Children's Hospital (over 10 hectares, 1,000 beds).

Construction began in 2014, but after more than 10 years, the 1,500-bed general hospital is still behind schedule and has not been put into operation on time - Photo: TRI DUC

Construction began in 2014, but after more than 10 years, the 1,500-bed general hospital is still behind schedule and has not been put into operation on time, affecting the healthcare needs of the people.

After 10 years, the hospital is still unfinished.

While visiting the construction site of the 1,500-bed Binh Duong General Hospital complex, Tuoi Tre newspaper observed that construction was still progressing slowly and the facility was not yet operational. Meanwhile, just about 500 meters away as the crow flies, the existing Binh Duong General Hospital is constantly overcrowded, with doctors and patients jostling for space.

Mr. Ngo Loc, 70 years old, residing in Thu Dau Mot ward, Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Phu Cuong ward, Binh Duong province), said that due to his age, he frequently has to go to the hospital for check-ups and to get medicine.

"Every time I go to the existing provincial general hospital, I'm unhappy because it's old and overcrowded, while the new multi-story hospital building has been under construction for many years but is still not operational despite people's anticipation," Mr. Loc said.

A doctor currently working at the existing Binh Duong General Hospital also expressed concern about the hospital's deteriorating condition due to its age, with many departments struggling to ensure proper infection control.

Pointing towards the cardiology department, he said that many other departments, not just the cardiology department, are now in serious disrepair. Both doctors and patients are hoping that the hospital will soon be relocated to the new facility, the 1,500-bed Binh Duong General Hospital, so they can feel secure when receiving medical examinations and treatment.

According to reports, after more than 10 years of implementing the new Binh Duong General Hospital complex, while surrounding items such as roads, resettlement areas, and other constructions have been completed, the hospital itself remains sluggish. Although the main hospital building was topped out a long time ago, it lacks machinery and equipment, so the hospital remains "closed and locked," not yet operational.

Many areas within the Binh Duong General Hospital complex are overgrown with weeds, from outside the fence to along the pathways... - Photo: TRI DUC

4.5 trillion VND is tied up in delayed projects.

Due to the dilapidated condition of the existing Binh Duong General Hospital, in 2014 the former Binh Duong province began construction of a 1,500-bed, 19-story hospital.

According to Tuoi Tre newspaper's research, by 2025, projects belonging to the 1,500-bed Binh Duong General Hospital complex will be approved with a total investment of over 4,500 billion VND, including seven component projects with the Binh Duong Investment and Construction Project Management Board as the investor (six projects) and the Binh Duong Transportation Construction Investment Project Management Board as the investor.
(a project).

However, after more than 10 years, this project has still not been put into operation due to slow construction of its component projects, which have not been completed synchronously, limiting people's opportunities for medical examination and treatment. The latest report from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health indicates that by the end of September 2025, out of a total of seven component projects, only two have been completed, two are under construction, and three have not yet started construction.

Two projects, the wastewater treatment plant and the overall technical infrastructure, have been completed but cannot yet be put into use due to the inability to connect them synchronously with the remaining projects. It is expected that after the 1,500-bed general hospital, equipment, central technical block, and morgue projects are implemented simultaneously, the investor will coordinate with the construction unit to complete them synchronously within the overall project cluster by December 2025.

With two ongoing construction projects: foundation work is 100% complete; supply and installation of technical systems is 79% complete; and installation of medical gas system equipment is 50% complete. The central technical block and morgue project is currently under construction, with progress at 32%. Completion is expected in Q3 2026.

Three projects remain uncompleted: the 1,500-bed general hospital equipment project; the parking lot, park, green space, and fence project for the wastewater treatment plant; and the education and training block - including dormitories for trainees and their relatives.

Patients and medical staff are eagerly awaiting the opening of Binh Duong General Hospital - Photo: TRI DUC

Why is the project behind schedule?

According to Tuoi Tre newspaper, in June 2025, the People's Committee of Binh Duong province (formerly) concluded an inspection of the implementation of the project for the 1,500-bed general hospital complex. This is a large, key project that received close supervision to ensure its early commissioning. However, during implementation, the project encountered many obstacles such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the complex technical requirements of large-scale projects.

The inspection revealed that 5 out of 5 projects were behind schedule and required multiple extensions (the central technical block and morgue, the wastewater treatment plant for hospitals, the overall technical infrastructure, and medical equipment...). These are all projects with complex components, requiring high levels of expertise, technical skills, and coordination.

The inspection report concluded that the 1,500-bed general hospital complex was divided into seven component projects, but lacked an overall plan to assess the suitability of the investment options. As a result, each component project had to wait for the connection and integration of different items and equipment, affecting the project's progress.

Each component project is carried out by a different design consulting firm, leading to additional procedures, delays, difficulties in ensuring consistency and connectivity between component projects, affecting the project's progress, and causing the implementation time to be longer than planned.

Will it be operational in 2026?

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health has requested the Binh Duong Investment and Construction Project Management Board to expedite the progress and bring the 1,500-bed Binh Duong General Hospital project into operation in 2026.

In addition, the Binh Duong Investment and Construction Project Management Board proactively coordinated with Binh Duong General Hospital to quickly complete all necessary documents so that the Department of Health could promptly carry out the next steps according to current procedures, regulations, and guidelines.

At the same time, they also requested the city to remove obstacles related to investment, capital, and organization of the Binh Duong Investment and Construction Project Management Board to accelerate the progress of the 1,500-bed hospital project.

Binh Duong General Hospital is implementing the necessary steps to relocate the hospital to its new facility and is preparing sufficient personnel for its operation. It is actively and proactively coordinating with project management boards to expedite the project's operational launch.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/benh-vien-lon-nhat-tp-hcm-khi-nao-hoat-dong-20251103224722351.htm