ĐÀ NẴNG – Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, the world’s only flying eye hospital and a globally recognised non-profit organisation, officially paid a visit to Đà Nẵng International Airport on July 28, beginning eye care professional skills support and community programmes in the central city.

Global eye care nonprofit Orbis International is marking three decades of collaboration with Việt Nam’s eye health community, a long-term partnership that has helped build local expertise, strengthen institutions, expand access to eye healthcare, and support Việt Nam’s growing position in eye health across the Asia-Pacific region.

Through clinical training and mentorship across specialties, the project will help approximately 230 eye care professionals build skills that will benefit communities for years to come, while supporting access to specialised services for nearly nine million people in central Việt Nam and the Central Highlands.

Through Cybersight, Orbis’s telemedicine and e-learning platform, participants can consult with global experts, access ongoing education, and continue building skills long after the project concludes, extending the impact of the Flying Eye Hospital far beyond the aircraft itself.

“This project is not a standalone intervention; it is the latest chapter in a long-term partnership to advance Việt Nam’s eye health system,” said Phạm Ngọc, Orbis Việt Nam Country Director.

“The most important outcome is not what Orbis has done in Việt Nam, but what Vietnamese institutions and eye care professionals can now do themselves. Our role at Orbis is to support, convene, innovate, and accelerate that local leadership so progress continues long after the Flying Eye Hospital departs.”

“Around the world, Orbis is focused on creating lasting change by investing in people, institutions, technology, and local leadership,” said Kathleen Sherwin, President and CEO of Orbis International.

“The Flying Eye Hospital is one part of that larger model – bringing intensive, hands-on training together with tools like Cybersight, artificial intelligence (AI), and research so local teams can continue improving care long after a project ends. Việt Nam shows what is possible when long-term partnership helps proven solutions take root and scale.”

Building on decades of progress, Việt Nam is emerging as a regional leader in eye health, with strengths in pediatric care, diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, workforce development, and technology-enabled care. Its growing experience in AI-supported screening, implementation and research can help inform eye health progress across the Asia-Pacific region.

FedEx, a title sponsor for this Flying Eye Hospital project in Việt Nam, donated the MD-10 aircraft that serves as the Flying Eye Hospital and continues to provide essential logistical, financial, and operational support. 

“At FedEx, we believe that connecting people goes beyond delivering packages – it is about creating opportunities and helping communities thrive,” said Ee-Hui Tan, managing director of FedEx Việt Nam and Cambodia.

Over the past 30 years, Orbis has supported the training of more than 40,000 eye care professionals and helped expand access to care for millions of people across Việt Nam. 

Looking ahead, Orbis will continue working with partners across Việt Nam to scale proven solutions through workforce development, technology, Cybersight, AI-supported screening, research, and stronger health systems – so that more people can receive quality eye care closer to home.

Since its first mark in 2006 in Đà Nẵng, the organisation has completed 11 major projects across the country, leaving a significant impact in cities like Huế, HCM City, Hà Nội, and Cần Thơ.

Beyond clinical training, the project also strives to raise public awareness of the importance of eye health – an area often overlooked despite its critical role in overall well-being. VNS