History of the Establishment and Development of Cho Ray Hospital

Cho Ray Hospital is one of the largest central general hospitals in Vietnam, playing a core role in medical examination and treatment, training, and medical research in the Southern region.

1. Early Beginnings During the French Colonial Period (1900)

• Establishment: Construction of the hospital began in 1900, and it officially opened its doors in 1901 under French colonial rule.

• Original Name: The hospital was originally named in French as Hôpital Principal de Cho-Ray (Cho-Ray Main Hospital). The name "Cho Ray" stems from the fact that it was built on a piece of land previously used as a local vegetable market (chợ rẫy in Vietnamese).

• Initial Scale: Originally built with thatched wooden structures, it was gradually fortified to serve the healthcare needs of the residents in the Cho Lon and Saigon areas.

2. Renaming and Expansion Phase (1950–1975)

• Renamed as Ham Nghi Hospital (1957): Under the Republic of Vietnam administration, the hospital was renamed Ham Nghi Hospital before eventually reverting back to Cho Ray Hospital.

• Large-Scale Reconstruction (1971–1974): With assistance from the Government of Japan, Cho Ray Hospital underwent complete reconstruction into a modern 11-story facility (which serves as Building A of the hospital today). Completed in 1974, it became one of the most advanced hospitals in Southeast Asia at the time.

3. From 1975 to the Present

• Takeover and Consolidation: Following the country's reunification in 1975, the hospital was taken over by the Government and placed directly under the management of the Ministry of Health, becoming the top-tier referral hospital overseeing the entire Southern region.

• Special Grade Hospital Classification: In 2010, Cho Ray Hospital was officially classified by the Ministry of Health as a Special Grade Hospital (alongside Bach Mai Hospital, Hue Central Hospital, and Military Central Hospital 108).

• Current Standing: The hospital has an official capacity of over 1,200 beds (operating regularly with 2,500 to 3,000 beds in practice) and houses numerous specialized centers for organ transplantation, interventional cardiology, oncology, intensive care, and orthopedics.