Dr. Pham Duc Hoa

Dr. Pham Duc Hoa is a senior general surgeon at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam's most prominent public referral hospital. With 17 years of surgical experience, he has developed particular expertise in laparoscopic abdominal and hepatobiliary surgery, representing the ongoing shift in Vietnamese surgery toward minimally invasive techniques.

After completing his surgical training at Hanoi Medical University and Bach Mai Hospital, Dr. Pham undertook advanced laparoscopic surgery training in France, an important medical education partner for Vietnam. He returned to Bach Mai Hospital where he has built a high-volume laparoscopic surgery practice within the department of abdominal surgery.

His expertise spans common general surgical conditions — gallbladder disease, appendicitis, hernias — as well as more complex hepatobiliary procedures including liver resection for primary and metastatic liver tumours. Vietnam has one of the world's highest rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer), driven by a high prevalence of hepatitis B and C, and Dr. Pham's hepatic surgery experience addresses a significant national health need.

He is known for his clear pre-operative communication with patients, ensuring they understand their surgical options including laparoscopic versus open approaches, expected recovery timelines, and post-operative care requirements.

Dr. Pham earned his MD from Hanoi Medical University and completed his general surgery residency and specialist training at Bach Mai Hospital. He obtained Specialist Level II certification in General Surgery from Vietnam's Ministry of Health.

He undertook an advanced laparoscopic and hepatobiliary surgery fellowship at Hôpital Beaujon, Paris, France — one of Europe's leading hepatobiliary surgery centres. He has attended international workshops in advanced laparoscopic techniques and colorectal surgery through the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES) continuing education programs.

Dr. Pham's primary surgical focus is laparoscopic abdominal surgery. He performs laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal), laparoscopic appendicectomy, laparoscopic inguinal and incisional hernia repair, and laparoscopic colorectal resection for cancer and benign conditions.

In hepatobiliary surgery, he performs liver resections for primary hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal liver metastases, bile duct exploration and reconstruction, and splenectomy. He works within a multidisciplinary oncology team for hepatobiliary cancer cases.

His general surgery practice also includes thyroid surgery, breast lump excisions, soft tissue tumor excisions, and management of abdominal trauma. He is experienced in both elective and emergency surgical settings.

Dr. Pham has contributed to the Journal of Vietnamese Medicine and has presented surgical case series at the Vietnam Surgical Association Annual Meeting. His clinical interests include outcomes of laparoscopic liver resection in Vietnamese patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, and the adoption of minimally invasive techniques in Vietnamese regional hospitals.

He is focused primarily on clinical practice and contributes to surgical training by supervising junior surgeons and surgical residents at Bach Mai Hospital's department of abdominal surgery.

Dr. Pham sees international patients at Bach Mai Hospital, including expatriates, regional visitors, and patients from Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar who travel to Hanoi for surgical care. He consults in Vietnamese and English.

Bach Mai Hospital, while a public institution, offers internationally trained specialists at costs significantly lower than private hospitals while maintaining a high volume of complex surgical cases. Video consultations are available for pre-operative case review and second opinions on imaging studies.

Dr. Pham has received recognition from Bach Mai Hospital for surgical excellence and teaching contributions. He contributes to continuing surgical education within the Vietnam Surgical Association and has been an invited faculty member at regional surgical skills workshops.

He supervises surgical residents and serves as a clinical mentor for laparoscopic surgery trainees within the Bach Mai Hospital surgical training program.