Silent guardians in white coats: missing Tet, saving lives

For doctors, the most meaningful moments during Tet are not measured by the number of cases treated, but by the patients who recover in time to return home to their families. Seeing the happiness on their faces is a powerful reminder of why they do what they do. No matter how exhausting or stressful a shift may be, moments such as these serve as a great source of motivation, strengthening their resolve to keep giving their all even during the most festive days of the year.

“There was another night when, just as I had returned home, an urgent call from the hospital came in. The patient was a young man in his twenties who had suffered respiratory failure and cardiac arrest. In such cases, both in Vietnam and worldwide, the emergency window is typically no more than 30 minutes. Yet, despite over an hour of intense resuscitation efforts, there was still no sign of improvement. The team contacted me to seek my guidance on whether to continue or call time on the intervention. It was an agonising decision. At such a young age, even the slimmest chance of survival was worth pursuing. Yet, even if the patient could be revived, there was the looming risk of severe neurological damage, a possibility that could mean a lifetime of dependence and hardship for his family.

“After careful consideration, I realised there was still a glimmer of hope. I instructed my team to continue resuscitation and not to give up until I arrived. When I returned to the hospital, what had seemed impossible had come true. That perseverance paid off—the patient not only survived but has since regained his health, returned to work, and resumed a normal life,” Dr Hau recalled, his voice filled with emotion.

To endure the relentless pressure of Tet, Dr Hau believes that optimism and solidarity within the medical team are critical. “We always hold on to hope and never allow ourselves or our colleagues to fall into despair. When a doctor remains steadfast, that confidence is felt by the patient, inspiring them to fight for their own recovery,” he says.

Tet is not only a test of medical expertise but also a challenge of endurance and team spirit. The story of Dr Nguyen Viet Hau and his colleagues at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City is a testament to the steadfast sense of duty, dedication, and compassion of these “white-coat warriors.” Regardless of the season, they remain persistent in their mission—ready to face every challenge, bring hope, and, above all, save lives.

For more than 30 years, Dr Trinh Van Hai, Head of the Emergency Department at FV Hospital, has remained steadfast in his commitment to medicine, working tirelessly especially during Tet. To him, the holiday is not a time of rest, but a period when the emergency department is pushed to its limits.

“Tet is a time for family reunions, for travel, for celebration. You can feel the festive atmosphere everywhere,” he says. Yet, for emergency doctors, Tet is a time of constant readiness, where duty takes precedence over celebration. In those quiet moments between urgent cases, a sense of longing can creep in—a touch of sadness, a flicker of solitude, and the fleeting feeling of being out of step with the joyous world beyond the hospital doors.

Working in emergency medicine demands not only vast knowledge and experience but also the ability to act with speed and precision. From paediatric cases to the elderly, from internal medicine to surgical trauma, and even acute psychiatric emergencies, doctors must be prepared for anything. With years of expertise in emergency resuscitation and the weight of leadership on his shoulders, Dr Hai deeply understands the pressures his colleagues face—particularly the strain of working through the holidays, when staff shortages and patient overload push the department to breaking point. “During Tet, outpatient clinics are closed, so patients flood the emergency room—some critically ill, others simply in need of specialist advice,” he says.

“We are not made of stone,” Dr Trinh Van Hai admits, watching families reunite as Tet arrives. The burden of responsibility is immense, yet the work of saving lives holds a meaning far greater than any material reward. He is acutely aware that, in the midst of celebration, there are countless individuals working quietly behind the scenes to ensure that others can enjoy a safe and joyous new year.

After more than three decades in emergency medicine, Dr Hai likens himself to a devoted gardener, tending to the springtime of countless families. He firmly believes that his work contributes, even in some small way, to the happiness of others. “Beyond the professional responsibility, there is also a deep sense of joy in what we do. When we see patients recover and return home before New Year’s Eve, it fills us with pride, knowing we have played a part in making their reunion possible.”

If Tet is a time of reunion, then for obstetricians and gynaecologists, it is also a season of new beginnings. Dr Vo Trieu Dat, Head of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at FV Hospital, shares that the end of the year often marks a peak in births. While the festive spirit fills the streets, he and his team remain quietly on duty, ensuring the safe arrival of new life with each delivery.

“The first cry of a newborn—especially on New Year’s Eve—is not just a moment of joy for the family, but a reminder of why I love this job,” says Dr Dat. Behind each seamless birth is a well-coordinated effort, meticulously planned in collaboration with the anaesthesia and resuscitation teams to prepare for any emergency. 

For Dr Dat, working through Tet is an act of solidarity with colleagues. Often, he volunteers for shifts so that others may spend more time with their families. “Team spirit is the most essential element that helps us overcome every challenge,” he says.

As the New Year approaches, everything seems to awaken, ready to welcome the season of birth—a sacred transition from the old to the new. For obstetricians and gynaecologists, this is not only a time of new life but also a deeply meaningful journey, as they accompany mothers through the profound experience of “going as one and returning as two.” While families gather around reunion dinners, these doctors remain diligent in their duty, ensuring the safety and happiness of every birth. These quiet yet extraordinary moments serve as a source of motivation for doctors, inspiring them to continue their dedication to the mission of medical ethics.

For Dr Vo Trieu Dat, Head of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at FV Hospital, being on duty during Tet is not only a professional obligation, but a sacred responsibility to his patients. At FV Hospital, meticulous planning and seamless collaboration among medical teams ensure that each case is handled with the utmost care. Dr Dat often takes on additional shifts, allowing his colleagues more time with their families. For him, even though he may return home later than others, the satisfaction of fulfilling his duty brings its own quiet joy.

For obstetricians and gynaecologists, the greatest reward is witnessing the arrival of a newborn—particularly on New Year’s Eve, when the jubilation of a family’s first embrace is shared by those who helped bring that moment to life. For Dr Dat, the most essential element of working through Tet is team spirit. The doctors at FV Hospital stand by one another, from the anaesthesia and resuscitation teams to those prepared for emergency interventions.

Reflecting on the challenges of Tet shifts, he offers words of encouragement to his colleagues: “Work hard, and if you face difficulties, never hesitate to call for support.” He firmly believes that in the medical profession, no doctor is ever truly alone—solidarity and unity are the very foundations that allow them to overcome any challenge, even during Tet.

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