Vu Thanh Hoa's Journey to Find His Bright Smile

	Swedish Experts Help Children with Facial Differences Face The World with A Smile
	Four Charities Received New Zealand's Fresh Fruits

Vu Thanh Hoa after cleft palate surgery. (Photo: Operation Smile Vietnam)

Born into a poor family with no land to farm, Hoa faced the challenges of a facial deformity from birth. Her father, Vu A Co, cultivated a small crop of cassava on relatives' land and took on labor jobs to provide for the family. Unable to breastfeed due to her condition, Hoa relied on powdered milk—an expense far beyond the family's means. Desperate to ensure her nourishment, her parents borrowed money from every possible source to afford the milk she needed.

At the end of 2023, when three-year-old Hoa started kindergarten, her teacher shared her story with journalist Chao Man On in Dien Bien. Moved by Hoa’s situation, On swiftly reached out to a volunteer doctor long associated with Operation Smile Vietnam, helping to arrange Hoa’s journey to Hanoi for an examination at the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Hospital on January 3, 2024.

On their first trip to the capital, Hoa and her father received unwavering support from a volunteer dentist, who guided them through the examination, testing, and hospitalization process. Thanks to the collective effort, Hoa's cleft lip surgery was a success. In May 2025, Co brought his daughter back to the hospital for cleft palate surgery, continuing her journey toward recovery.

From a baby burdened with both physical and emotional challenges, Hoa reclaimed a normal, radiant smile—all made possible by the kindness of strangers.

Hoa is one of more than 75,000 Vietnamese children who have received free medical care from Operation Smile Vietnam since 1989.

In May 2025, the organization launched another Surgery Program in Hanoi, offering life-changing procedures for children with facial deformities, including cleft lip, cleft palate, and other maxillofacial conditions.

The screening examinations will take place at Hospital E (87 Tran Cung, Nghia Tan, Cau Giay, Hanoi) starting at 7:00 a.m. on May 26, with surgeries scheduled from May 27-30.

All procedures will be provided free of charge, with additional financial support for travel and accommodation during hospitalization, ensuring that every child has the opportunity for a brighter future.

Eligible Cases:

• Congenital cleft lip and cleft palate (all ages) that have not undergone surgery. Children with cleft lip must be at least 6 months old and weigh 6kg or more. Children with cleft palate must be at least 12 months old and weigh 8kg or more.
• Sequelae of congenital cleft lip and palate at all ages, including lip scars, palatal holes, nasal deformities, and dental arch clefts.
• Extra fingers (hands, feet), excluding motor deformities, clubfoot, etc.
• Congenital ptosis deformities (not related to ophthalmological diseases) for children aged five years and older.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Children must not have congenital diseases such as heart conditions, epilepsy, or neurological disorders.
• They must not be sick, feverish, or suffering from infections at the time of examination.

Five Charities Received New Zealand's Fresh Fruits Five beneficiaries have received fresh fruits from seven New Zealand fruit exporters aiming to support the vulnerable populations of Vietnam.

Swedish Experts Help Children with Facial Differences Face The World with A Smile The program "For the Smile of a Child" is a cooperation and support between the Uong Bi's Vietnam-Sweden General Hospital , the Blekinge Uong Bi ...