On the afternoon of April 1, 2025, Vietnam National Children’s Hospital had the honor of welcoming Her Majesty Queen Mathilde. During her visit, the Queen met with hospital leaders, healthcare professionals, and child patients undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Accompanying Her Majesty were Ms. Elisabeth Degryse – Minister-President of Wallonia-Brussels Federation; Ms. Pascale Delcomminette – Director General of Wallonie-Bruxelles International and Wallonia Export & Investment Agency; and representatives of the Belgian Embassy in Vietnam.
The Queen was received by Minister of Health Đào Hồng Lan; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trần Minh Điển – Director of Vietnam National Children’s Hospital; leaders of the Department of International Cooperation and the Ministry of Health’s Office, along with the hospital’s board of directors and medical staff.
For over 30 years, Belgium and Vietnam have developed effective cooperation in healthcare. Vietnam National Children’s Hospital is currently partnering with Léonard de Vinci College on a project under the 2022–2024 cooperation program between Wallonia-Brussels and Vietnam. This initiative focuses on healthcare workforce training, research collaboration on developmental disorders, the implementation of Belgian therapeutic models, and improvements in infrastructure and medical equipment for child therapy at the hospital.
Her Majesty Queen Mathilde, a trained psychologist and speech therapist, also serves as Honorary President of UNICEF. With her strong commitment to health—particularly child health—the visit highlighted the enduring collaboration between Belgium and Vietnam, and emphasized the importance of child mental health awareness in Vietnam.
During her visit, the Queen met with doctors, psychologists, and patients from the Adolescent Health and Psychiatry Departments.
At Dolescent Health Department, Queen Mathilde, Minister Đào Hồng Lan, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trần Minh Điển participated in an art therapy painting session with teenage patients.
Her Majesty also spoke personally with children undergoing treatment for conditions such as depression and psychological disorders.
The Queen expressed her appreciation for the hospital’s specialized mental health care units and its deep commitment to psychological support for children.
Images from the visit captured warm and heartfelt moments that left a lasting impression on the children, doctors, and staff of the hospital.
The visit marks a significant opportunity to further enhance bilateral healthcare collaboration, particularly in the area of child mental health.
Speaking with the Queen, Minister of Health Đào Hồng Lan expressed admiration for the hospital’s expertise in pediatric treatment and its integrated psychological care services. The Minister also stressed the importance of expanding this care model across other health facilities to increase access to specialized psychological treatment for children nationwide.
In preparation for the Queen’s visit, on March 28, 2025, a delegation from Wallonia-Brussels in Vietnam visited the hospital to present gifts and discuss reception plans.
Vietnam National Children’s Hospital and Belgium, Wallonie – Bruxelles Partnership in Pediatric Mental Health
Vietnam National Children’s Hospital and the Kingdom of Belgium, especially through the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, have fostered cooperation in several key areas: professional training via expert exchanges, sending doctors for advanced studies in Belgium, joint research on developmental disorders, autism, and child psychology, and the application of Belgian therapeutic models along with equipment support and facility upgrades.
Since 2016, the partnership has achieved notable milestones:
- Project 1.5 (2022–2023): Clinical supervision practices extended to medical universities in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hai Phong.
- Expert exchange: Annually, two Belgian expert delegations conduct training, and three Vietnamese trainees receive two-month internships in Belgium.
- 2025–2027 Plan: Implementation of a clinical supervision project across 11 cooperative initiatives with Wallonia-Brussels.
Thanks to this collaboration, Vietnam National Children’s Hospital has significantly advanced its pediatric psychiatry capabilities and has adopted Belgium’s cutting-edge therapeutic approaches.
