The Vice President sincerely thanked the US-based volunteer organisation for its ophthalmological technology transfer and free eye surgeries given to hundreds of patients. She expressed her wish that the flying hospital, operated by the Orbis International, would make more visits to Vietnam.

Drew Doshell, the hospital's director, assured the Vice President that the flying hospital will come back to Vietnam in the near future.

The DC-10 aircraft touched down in Da Nang on October 7 and is serving as a hospital at the city's airport where local doctors, nurses and technicians were asked to work alongside Orbis's medical team in order to share experience in preserving and restoring sight.

Orbis International is currently carrying out a US$500,000 project to make the Da Nang Eye Hospital a leading ophthalmological treatment centre in Vietnam's central region.