by Lê Hương

On Saturday mornings, before most cafés in Hà Nội begin serving coffee, a narrow alley off Yên Lãng Street is already crowded with elderly patients waiting quietly for their names to be called at Mơ Phố Cafe, where volunteer doctors offer free check-ups, medicine and something many residents value just as much — reassurance.

Inside the modest 40sq.m space, volunteer doctors and medical students move quickly between rows of waiting patients, carrying out blood pressure checks, ultrasound scans, diabetes tests and consultations in an atmosphere that feels part clinic, part community gathering.

For many low-income residents, the space serves as a small "community hospital" built on compassion and solidarity.

Mơ Phố is one of the Volunteer Doctors Association's key projects. The organisation was founded in October 2015 by doctors and pharmacists with a shared goal of improving access to healthcare for disadvantaged people, particularly in remote and mountainous areas.

Dr Ngô Tuấn Anh, head of the Cardiovascular Surgery Department at Central Military Hospital 108 and chairman of the association, said the initiative was established to help underserved communities access basic healthcare services.

Volunteer doctors conduct a free health check-up session in the northern province of Lai Châu. VNS Photo Minh Anh

Healing space

“Our goal is to provide access to primary health care for disadvantaged people in remote and especially difficult areas,” he said.

“After only one year of operation, we established Mơ Phố. It is not only the headquarters of the association, but also a place that generates funding for our charitable activities through a coffee business and other services. All profits are used to support free medical missions.”

More than simply a fundraising cafe, Mơ Phố has been organised as a small clinic, with general examinations, medications and specialised consultations. Equipment such as ultrasound machines and ear, nose and throat endoscopy systems has helped many patients detect illnesses at an early stage.

People gather at Mơ Phố Cafe in the evening, where coffee sales help fund the association’s charitable activities.- VNS Photo Minh Anh

For many local residents, Mơ Phố has become a familiar address for regular health monitoring.

Nguyễn Thị Hoa, who has visited the clinic many times, said she appreciated both the quality of care and the dedication of the volunteers.

“I went to see the doctor because of a headache. It is close to my home and I have been here many times before. It is free of charge, the doctors are very dedicated and the young volunteers provide attentive care. I have also recommended several others to come here for check-ups.”

Similarly, Nguyễn Thị Thắng said she trusted the model because it offered services comparable to those provided by formal health care facilities.

“I have many health conditions: diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and joint problems. Compared with hospitals, this free medical check-up model is quite similar. It is also very clean. I trust it a lot and come here regularly for health check-ups,” she said.

Patients receive free basic health check-ups at Mơ Phố Cafe on Saturday mornings.-VNS Photo Lê Hương

The clinic also supports patients from suburban areas. Hoàng Thị Thanh from Đông Anh Ward has been undergoing kidney dialysis for more than 23 years. With elderly parents and difficult family circumstances, free consultations help ease part of her financial burden.

“The doctors and volunteers here are very enthusiastic and guide patients carefully step by step. I think this is a very meaningful activity for poor patients like us,” she said.

Beyond free medicine, what leaves the deepest impression on many patients is the attentiveness of the doctors, who take time to listen and explain medical conditions in detail.

Shared mission

Dr Nguyễn Thị Thơ, formerly of Saint Paul Hospital, has worked with the association for many years. Even after retirement, she continues to take part in voluntary health care trips in Hà Nội and remote provinces.

Volunteer doctors bring a mobile clinic model to remote areas to provide free medical services for local residents.- VNS Photo Minh Anh

“Patients really like coming here because we have more time to spend with them, to talk, share and truly listen. They feel more at ease and their symptoms are often greatly relieved,” she said.

She acknowledged that travelling to mountainous regions can be physically demanding, especially for elderly doctors, but said the appreciation shown by local people remained a strong source of motivation.

“At my age, travelling to remote areas can be quite tiring, and the food and accommodation are not always as expected. But in return, I feel that the local people truly appreciate us and better understand their own health conditions. That makes me feel encouraged and not tired at all,” she said.

“I find my life very meaningful. I am very fond of and proud to have chosen this profession.”

A volunteer doctor performs an endoscopy examination on an elderly patient at Mơ Phố Cafe.- VNS Photo Minh Anh

The association has also attracted many young volunteers. Nguyễn Ngọc Phúc Minh, 23, first learned about the organisation while in high school and later decided to study medicine partly because of that experience.

“During a summer holiday in Grade 10, I happened to read information about the association. I thought its activities were meaningful, so I registered to join for a trial session,” Minh said.

“At first, I carried out simple tasks such as arranging patient queues and providing support. The more I participated, the more I witnessed the dedication of the doctors and volunteers towards patients and the community. That became my motivation to pursue medical studies.”

Minh now continues to work with the association, helping patients connect with specialised hospitals when advanced treatment is required.

“For patients who require more specialised treatment, we have contacted leading hospitals to refer them for advanced care. This is part of our public health efforts to help people access specialised medical services, especially those from mountainous areas and those facing difficult circumstances in Hà Nội,” Minh said.

Beyond healthcare

Many volunteers said they had found purpose and personal growth through community service.

Ngô Vũ Đức Lộc, both a patient and volunteer, said he wanted to help expand the model further.

“I came for an electrocardiogram and a blood test. I’ve been here many times before. The volunteers are very enthusiastic and the doctors are highly dedicated,” he said.

“I want to help spread this model more widely. I have previously joined the association’s volunteers in distributing leaflets to night-shift workers.”

Dr Đinh Xuân Dũng also described voluntary work as a valuable source of experience and empathy.

“Being able to volunteer makes me very happy. It also gives me valuable experience and helps me develop a greater appreciation for people,” he said.

In addition to providing free medical services, the association has implemented a range of community programmes, including building schools for children in mountainous areas, constructing charity houses, donating books and promoting public health education.

A volunteer doctor teaches children basic first aid skills during a free lesson at Mơ Phố Cafe.- VNS Photo Minh Anh

Over the past decade, the organisation has carried out more than 100 community health care programmes, providing medical examinations to more than 166,000 people and distributing over 44,000 free prescriptions across provinces, including Điện Biên, Sơn La, Lào Cai, Thanh Hóa, Nghệ An, Hà Tĩnh and Quảng Trị.

With total funding exceeding VNĐ19.2 billion (US$729,000), the figures reflect not only the scale of the association’s activities but also the dedication of volunteer doctors who place professional responsibility and compassion at the centre of their work.

Beyond the statistics and medical missions, what Mơ Phố ultimately offers is something less measurable but deeply human: a place where compassion is practised as carefully as medicine itself. VNS