Anh Nguyen - Vietnam

Dual Focus: Clinical & Research

This summer, I spent five weeks in Vietnam learning about wildlife rehabilitation and companion animal care. This experience allowed me to explore a different aspect of my culture and gave me insights into what it is like to be a veterinarian in Vietnam.
 


My journey began with two weeks at Cuc Phuong National Park in Ninh Binh Province. I joined the veterinary team at Save Vietnam’s Wildlife (SVW) to provide medical care and proper husbandry to pangolins, a critically endangered species and one of the most trafficked mammals in the world. Having no prior wildlife experience, participating in conservation efforts and witnessing the challenges firsthand was invaluable to me. During my time there, I took part in daily health checks and feedings, observed pangolin ultrasounds, and provided supportive care to emergency cases. Because pangolins are not well-researched, much of their care is based on the medical knowledge we have of cats. I was surprised to learn that orphaned pangolins are also bottle-fed Kitten Milk Replacer, just like my foster kittens. Moments like this really reaffirmed my career choice in veterinary medicine.
 

Anh holding an aardvark.
An aardvark in a holding bin.


Although my primary focus at SVW was pangolins, I also participated in the care of other animals, such as leopard cats, civets, otters, and a binturong. All these animals were rescued and are currently being cared for by the SVW team. Additionally, I had the chance to visit the Endangered Primate Rescue Center (EPRC) right next door and observe their conservation efforts with gibbons, langurs, and marmosets. Between SVW and EPRC, I spoke with many of the animal caregivers, some of whom have worked at these centers for more than a decade. Their passion for their work and the love they have for the animals they care for opened my eyes to another side of veterinary medicine in Vietnam that I had not experienced before. 
 

An aardvark getting a sonigram.
Anh adding sample drops using a pipette.


The next three weeks of my trip took place in Hanoi, where I spent time at Dr. Duong Duc Hieu’s P-lab and Gaia Veterinary Clinic. At the parasitology lab, I practiced performing PCR, fecal floatation, sedimentation, and Kwik-dip staining to assist with diagnosing and treating various small animals. One of the most interesting things I learned on this trip was about Dirofilaria repens, a zoonotic blood parasite that was recently diagnosed in a few dogs in Vietnam. P-lab is currently supporting a research project on this parasite, and I had the chance to help screen blood samples for the infection. My time at P-lab reinforced the diagnostic laboratory skills I had learned in the classroom.
 

Anh feeding a kitten a bottle.


I rotated through three of branches of Gaia Veterinary Clinic, each serving different clienteles. Here, I was able to fulfill one of my main objectives for the trip: to learn and practice Vietnamese in a clinical setting. Although I am a native speaker, I had not used Vietnamese in a professional or clinical context in over a decade, as my conversations in Vietnamese were limited to family. However, the team at Gaia Clinic was very welcoming and provided a safe space for me to practice. Through many conversations, I learned more about the veterinary field in Vietnam, its improvements since I left, and the challenges it continues to face. I gained valuable insights into what it’s like to be a veterinarian in Vietnam and came to admire my colleagues for their compassion and drive to continuously improve so that their patients receive the care they need.

Through this global program, I have grown both as a Vietnamese veterinary professional and forged meaningful relationships that will inspire me to continue pursuing my passion for veterinary medicine.