Bach Mai Rehabilitation Institute

The Bach Mai Rehabilitation Institute is the specialist rehabilitation unit of Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi. It occupies Building D4 at the hospital's 78 Giải Phóng campus and provides inpatient, outpatient and day-care rehabilitation. The institution was formally renamed an institute in May 2026; the hospital's English page still uses the earlier “Rehabilitation Center” wording.

A tertiary hospital rehabilitation service

This is not a small walk-in physiotherapy practice. Bach Mai describes the unit as a top-tier national referral service with 104 inpatient beds and more than 1,000 outpatient visits and treatments each year. Its role includes medically complex rehabilitation, hospital coordination, professional training and support for rehabilitation services in other provinces.

That setting may be particularly relevant after stroke, major brain or spinal-cord injury, serious illness or complicated surgery. It can also make access more formal than at a private outpatient clinic. Patients should confirm whether a referral is needed, where registration takes place, which records must be reviewed and whether the proposed pathway is inpatient, day treatment or repeated outpatient therapy.

The multidisciplinary rehabilitation team

The official department page describes a team model involving rehabilitation physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, and prosthetic and orthotic practitioners. These roles address different parts of recovery. Physiotherapy may focus on movement and physical capacity; occupational therapy on daily activities; speech and language therapy on communication or swallowing; and orthotics on supportive devices.

Ask which clinician is responsible for the overall plan and which disciplines will actually see the patient. A long list of professions does not mean every person receives every therapy. The assessment should connect each intervention to a functional goal, such as transferring safely, walking, communicating, swallowing, dressing, managing continence or returning home with appropriate support.

Stroke and brain-injury rehabilitation

Post-stroke and traumatic-brain-injury rehabilitation are named areas of expertise. A programme may need to address weakness, balance, coordination, communication, swallowing, cognition, self-care and caregiver training. The appropriate intensity depends on medical stability, alertness, ability to participate and the pattern of impairment rather than on diagnosis alone.

Families should bring the acute-hospital discharge summary, brain imaging, medicine list and any swallowing or therapy reports. Ask how progress will be measured and how family members should assist without creating unsafe dependence. Sudden new facial weakness, speech difficulty, loss of balance, severe headache or one-sided weakness is a possible new stroke and requires emergency assessment, not a routine rehabilitation appointment.

Spinal-cord injury and bladder or bowel rehabilitation

The institute publishes dedicated work in spinal-cord injury and urogenital rehabilitation, including bladder and bowel management. Its functional testing includes urodynamics, and the service describes biofeedback for selected continence and pelvic-floor problems. Spinal rehabilitation may also involve skin protection, transfers, wheelchair skills, orthotics and planning for home access.

Bring operative notes, imaging, neurological assessments, catheter information, pressure-injury history and the current bowel and bladder routine. Ask whether the visit is for diagnostic testing, physician review or therapy because preparation differs. Fever, new weakness, autonomic symptoms, blocked catheter, severe abdominal distension or a suspected pressure injury may need prompt medical attention rather than waiting for the next rehabilitation session.

Musculoskeletal, orthopaedic and postsurgical recovery

The centre's structure includes a musculoskeletal and spinal rehabilitation unit and identifies orthopaedics as a development area. Hospital rehabilitation can be useful after fractures, joint replacement, spine surgery or prolonged immobility, especially when other medical conditions complicate recovery. Treatment should follow the surgeon's precautions and the biological stage of healing.

Provide the operative report, weight-bearing status, brace instructions and latest imaging. Confirm which movements remain restricted and when milestones can be advanced. Pain alone is not an adequate measure of healing. Wound problems, fever, calf swelling, breathlessness, loss of bladder control or rapidly increasing neurological symptoms require medical review before exercise is progressed.

Cardiovascular and respiratory rehabilitation

Cardiovascular and respiratory rehabilitation are also listed. These programmes require more than generic exercise because heart rate, oxygen levels, blood pressure, symptoms and medicines can influence safe intensity. Ask whether the service accepts the specific diagnosis and whether a cardiology or respiratory referral and recent testing are required.

Bring the discharge summary, ECG or imaging reports when available, medication list and any exercise restrictions. Stop activity and alert staff for chest discomfort, faintness, marked breathlessness, palpitations or a sudden fall in exercise tolerance. An unstable or acutely unwell patient belongs in medical assessment, not a scheduled rehabilitation session.

Speech, swallowing and occupational therapy

Speech and language therapy is a named part of the team, and biofeedback is described for selected swallowing disorders. Swallowing problems after stroke or brain injury can create aspiration and nutrition risks even when speech sounds normal. Ask whether a formal swallowing assessment is needed before changing food texture or fluid thickness.

Occupational therapy addresses practical tasks and participation rather than simply repeating limb exercise. Useful goals might include feeding, washing, dressing, writing, using a telephone, preparing food or returning to work. Bring examples of the home environment and routines that are difficult. Discharge planning is stronger when the team knows about stairs, bathroom access, caregiver availability and the equipment already in use.

Orthotics, prosthetics and assistive devices

The institute has an orthotics workshop for prosthetic and orthotic services. Devices may include splints, braces or other supports selected to improve positioning, stability or function. Proper fit matters: a device that creates pressure, numbness or skin damage can undermine recovery.

Ask who assesses, fabricates and reviews the device; how long it should be worn; how skin should be checked; and what adjustments are included. A wheelchair, walking aid or brace should match the user's body, environment and functional ability. International patients should request written specifications so repairs or replacement components can be sourced after leaving Hanoi.

Specialist technologies need individual indications

Published techniques include electromyography, urodynamics, non-invasive brain stimulation, ultrasound- or electrostimulation-guided botulinum toxin injections, biofeedback and robotic-assisted rehabilitation. These are distinct diagnostic or treatment tools, not a single technology package. Their presence does not mean every patient benefits from them.

Ask what clinical question a test will answer or what functional problem a procedure targets. For botulinum toxin, clarify the muscles, expected goal, accompanying therapy and follow-up. For brain stimulation or robotic therapy, ask about contraindications and how outcomes will be measured. The official page also mentions stem-cell research and application in spinal-cord injury; this should be discussed as a specialist clinical or research pathway, never assumed to be standard or guaranteed treatment.

Appointments, registration and language planning

The institute publishes the direct number +84 881 154 84 and two email contacts. Bach Mai Hospital's general booking hotline is 1900 888 866. When calling, state that the request is for the Rehabilitation Institute in Building D4 and describe whether the patient needs physician assessment, outpatient therapy, day treatment or possible admission.

The hospital maintains an English website, but that does not guarantee English-speaking rehabilitation staff or interpretation at every appointment. International patients should request language support in advance or bring a trusted Vietnamese-speaking companion when appropriate. Avoid relying on automated translation for consent, complex goals, swallowing instructions or medication-related decisions.

Preparing records for a useful assessment

Bring identification, referral documents, diagnoses, discharge summaries, operation reports, imaging and laboratory results, a complete medicine list, allergies and previous rehabilitation notes. Include the date of onset, current assistance required and the patient's living situation. Videos of mobility at home can sometimes clarify problems that do not appear in a clinic room.

Prepare three or four concrete priorities instead of asking only for “more rehabilitation.” Examples include transferring with one helper, walking a specified distance, eating safely, communicating basic needs or using the toilet with less assistance. Ask which outcome measures will be repeated and when the plan will be reviewed.

Inpatient, day-care and outpatient pathways

The official page confirms all three formats but does not publish a simple eligibility rule or centre-specific timetable. Inpatient rehabilitation may suit someone who needs nursing, medical oversight and several therapies. Day treatment can provide coordinated intensity without overnight admission, while outpatient visits may fit a medically stable person who can travel safely. Placement depends on assessment and capacity.

Confirm therapy frequency, expected length of programme, caregiver participation, accommodation and transport before travelling to Hanoi. Ask what happens if the patient becomes medically unwell and which hospital specialists can be involved. General Bach Mai outpatient hours should not be assumed to be the exact schedule for every rehabilitation service or test.

Discharge and continuing care outside Hanoi

Rehabilitation gains need a realistic plan beyond the hospital. Before discharge, request a concise summary of diagnoses, functional status, precautions, exercises, medicines, equipment, skin or swallowing instructions and warning signs. Caregivers should demonstrate transfers and equipment use rather than relying only on verbal explanation.

Patients returning overseas or to another Vietnamese province should ask for reports in a usable language and electronic copies of important tests. Establish who will adjust orthotics, monitor spasticity, review swallowing or continue therapy locally. Vietnam Clinic's guide to physiotherapy and rehabilitation centres in Hanoi can help compare a tertiary hospital pathway with smaller outpatient options.

The institute provides inpatient, day-care and outpatient rehabilitation; physician assessment; physiotherapy; occupational therapy; speech and swallowing therapy; neurological, spinal-cord, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory rehabilitation; bladder and bowel rehabilitation; orthotics and prosthetics; electromyography; urodynamics; non-invasive brain stimulation; spasticity management; biofeedback and robotic-assisted rehabilitation. Access, language support, schedule, referral requirements and programme placement must be confirmed directly.