Vinmec Hospital Da Nang Review: Kids Emergency Guide

To say our Da Nang trip was

defined by 'Norovirus' would be an absolute understatement.

Even looking back now, it still gives me chills,

but I’m sharing our story here

in hopes that it might help someone else out there! :)

---

We boarded our flight to Da Nang

completely unaware that our 5-year-old

had already caught Norovirus somewhere back home.

Our little one had absolutely no symptoms at first,

so we checked into our hotel with pure excitement.

But starting that very night, our child began throwing up relentlessly.

First of all, we brought all our bottled water from Korea,

and we hadn't even touched any local food yet, so.....

We initially wondered, 'Is it just a cold?'

We bundled them up warmly and put them to sleep,

but they kept waking up every single hour, coughing and throwing up.

After three agonizing hours, we knew we couldn't just wait it out.

Around 4 AM, a frantic Google search led us to

the emergency room at Vinmec International Hospital Da Nang.

Vinmec Hospital Emergency Room

Vinmec Hospital Da Nang

458 Ngô Quyền, An Hải Bắc, Sơn Trà, Đà Nẵng

​

24-Hour Emergency Room

English communication available

International-standard medical facilities and equipment

Korean interpreter available

(Not on-site during late-night hours... but reachable by phone in the morning)

Vinmec is a major private hospital chain in Vietnam,

and the Da Nang branch is incredibly well-equipped,

on par with top-tier university hospitals.

The moment we rushed into the ER,

I explained the situation in English, desperately repeating, "Vomiting!"

They are throwing up everywhere!!!

The medical team calmly asked when the symptoms started,

if there was a fever, or abdominal pain,

and immediately started blood tests and an IV drip.

Our poor kid was throwing up yellow stomach acid even while we were there.

We arrived at 4 AM, got the IV fluids

and antiemetic medication, and finally left around 9:30 AM.

We spent almost five and a half hours at the hospital.

What is Norovirus?

​

Norovirus is a highly contagious viral gastroenteritis,

with vomiting and diarrhea as its primary symptoms.

The incubation period is typically 12 to 48 hours,

and it spreads through contaminated food, water, or direct contact with an infected person.

It requires extra caution for young children and pregnant women due to the high risk of rapid dehydration.

​

Thankfully, our child's condition improved.

We spent the day playing quietly, keeping them hydrated with Pocari Sweat.

We thought we were out of the woods,

but the next morning after breakfast, my husband suddenly said, "I don't feel so good."

And just like that, my husband's stomach flu symptoms kicked in.

At first, we thought it was just a simple case of traveler's diarrhea.

It wasn't until we were on our way to VinWonders, chatting with other moms

from our kid's daycare, that we realized... "Wait, this is Norovirus!" lol.

(Which was so bizarre because our family barely even eats seafood...)

---

After visiting the safari at VinWonders,

it was my turn. My body started acting up.

I started vomiting, too.

My husband and I had to take turns

watching the kid while racing back and forth to the restroom.

Oh, it was a living nightmare...

We finally managed to check into our resort,

and as I lay there sipping Pocari Sweat,

I started worrying: 'Can a pregnant woman survive this on over-the-counter pharmacy meds alone?'

After much agonizing, I headed back to Vinmec Hospital... haha.

If my husband had just come with me, we could have saved on taxi fares by going together,

but he insisted on staying behind, trying to tough it out with meds delivered from a local pharmacy.

(Seriously, why do husbands never listen? 🙄)

I got an ultrasound to check on the baby

(and unlike her exhausted mom, she was kicking away, showing off her strong presence).

I was prescribed IV fluids and had some blood work done.

And yes, pregnant women can safely get IV fluids too..!

Finally, around 10 PM after I returned,

my husband decided he couldn't take it anymore and headed back to Vinmec Hospital as well.

(If only he had just gone with us from the start! haha)

​

The diagnosis for all three of us was exactly the same:

Viral Gastroenteritis.

After getting the IV fluids, our fevers went down,

and by the next day, though not 100% perfect, we felt relatively back to normal.

How to Deal with Norovirus as a Pregnant Woman

​

Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to dehydration,

so if you experience vomiting or diarrhea,

it is crucial to seek IV fluid treatment quickly.

Since standard antidiarrheal or antiemetic medications

can affect the fetus,

you must always consult with a medical professional before taking any prescription.

​

​

​

What to Bring to Vinmec Hospital

​

Passport

Credit Card, Travel Insurance

Total medical bills for our family of three: ~~$640

(Thankfully, our travel insurance covered the entire cost!)

​

Vinmec Hospital neatly packs all your receipts, medical certificates, and prescriptions

into an envelope for you.

You don't even have to ask—they prepare them automatically, so don't worry!

Though our Da Nang vacation turned into a battle against Norovirus,

thanks to Vinmec Hospital, we were able to recover and fly back home safely.

To anyone planning a trip to Da Nang,

especially if you are traveling with young kids or are pregnant,

please make sure to get travel insurance and save Vinmec Hospital's location in advance! :)

​