Overnight journey of Mekong Delta patients and the fear of 'missed prescriptions'

At 8:00 pm, a sleeper bus operated by Giap Diep Co. left Mau Coach Station with 20-plus berths filled, carrying patients from Ca Mau toward Ho Chi Minh City. The journey of more than 350 kilometers took nearly eight hours, with fares set at VND250,000 for a regular trip and reduced to VND200,000 for patients seeking medical care. On the 1st and 15th days of the lunar month, the company cuts prices by an additional 50%. At 3:36 am, passengers arrived at Oncology Hospital Facility 2 in Thu Duc Ward. Lung cancer patient Tran Phuoc Duc, 53, returning for his ninth treatment round, spent his life savings on travel and chose to wait overnight rather than rent a budget room.