About Vietnam Lifestyle Medicine Alliance (VLMA)

Our mission

To help transform healthcare in Viet Nam by integrating evidence-based Lifestyle Medicine into clinical practice, public health, and education - empowering healthcare professionals and communities to achieve sustainable, person-centred well-being

Our vision

A healthier, more resilient Viet Nam where Lifestyle Medicine principles guide every aspect of care and prevention.

Core Values:

Integrity – Ethical and transparent in all our actions.
Science – Grounded in evidence and continuous learning.
Collaboration – Building partnerships across disciplines and sectors.
Service – Dedicated to improving lives through prevention and compassion.

Leadership & Governance Roadmap:

As a Level 1 organisation, VLMA is currently led by an interim physician-led leadership team during its foundation-building period.

VLMA is committed to developing a transparent, membership-based governance structure and progressing toward democratically elected leadership in line with LMGA principles.

This foundation-building period allows VLMA to establish its membership base, statutes, operational policies, educational activities, and professional community before transitioning to a more formal member-elected governance model.

Get to know us

The Vietnam Lifestyle Medicine Alliance (VLMA) is a national community of physicians and healthcare professionals dedicated to advancing evidence-based Lifestyle Medicine in Viet Nam. Guided by the principles of the Lifestyle Medicine Global Alliance (LMGA) and the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine (IBLM), VLMA aims to build capacity, foster collaboration, and improve health outcomes through prevention-focused, person-centred care for individuals and communities across Viet Nam.

International Affiliation:

Vietnam Lifestyle Medicine Alliance (VLMA) is a Level 1 Sister Organisation of the Lifestyle Medicine Global Alliance (LMGA).

VLMA is committed to advancing evidence-based Lifestyle Medicine in Viet Nam through education, professional development, multidisciplinary collaboration, and community engagement. VLMA aligns its educational and professional development activities with the evidence-based principles of Lifestyle Medicine and the certification framework of the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine (IBLM).

VLMA does not independently issue IBLM certification. Certification eligibility, examination requirements, examination administration, and final credentialing decisions remain under the authority of IBLM.

Governance & Legal Status:

VLMA is currently operated through a Vietnam-registered legal entity as a mission-driven, physician-led organisation committed to advancing evidence-based Lifestyle Medicine in Viet Nam.

In line with LMGA Level 1 expectations, VLMA is developing its statutes, membership governance, financial transparency mechanisms, and a pathway toward a not-for-profit or country-equivalent professional association structure suitable for the Vietnamese legal context.

Any surplus generated from VLMA activities is committed to being reinvested into education, professional development, research dissemination, community engagement, and the long-term growth of Lifestyle Medicine in Viet Nam.

Why Is Lifestyle Medicine Essential to Sustainable Health and Healthcare in Viet Nam?

Viet Nam is experiencing a rapid rise in lifestyle-related chronic diseases that is placing growing, long-term pressure on its healthcare system. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and type 2 diabetes now account for around 80% of all deaths nationwide and more than 70% of the country’s overall disease burden.

These conditions are largely driven by modifiable lifestyle factors, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, chronic stress, and poor sleep and they demand expensive, often lifelong treatment. At the same time, they are among the most preventable and controllable health problems when evidence-based lifestyle interventions are applied. By addressing these root causes, Lifestyle Medicine offers Viet Nam a practical, sustainable, and prevention-focused path to improving population health and easing the growing strain on hospitals and the wider healthcare system.

Board of Advisors

Prof. Byung Il Yeh, MD, PhD

Nguyen Thi Tuyet, MD, PhD

Ly Dai Luong, MD, PhD

Assoc. Prof. Trung Pham, MD, FACP

Nguyen Pham, MD, DipACLM

Our team

We bring together passionate physicians, healthcare professionals, and educators dedicated to advancing evidence-based Lifestyle Medicine in Viet Nam. Guided by shared values of integrity, collaboration, and impact, we unite clinical expertise, academic insight, and community engagement to create a healthier and more sustainable future.

Nguyen Vu Truong An, MD, MSc

VLMA Interim Leadership Team 2025–2026

The Vietnam Lifestyle Medicine Alliance is led by an interim physician-based executive team committed to good governance, ethics, and alignment with LMGA principles.

Nguyen Quoc Vu Khanh, MD, SL II

Vi Thanh Hang, MD

Tran Nguyen Quynh Anh, MD, MSc

Huan Vuong, MD, MSc, DipIBLM

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

What we do

VLMA focuses on four core areas:

Education & training - CME/CPD, short courses, and capacity-building in Lifestyle Medicine for healthcare professionals.
Community & chapters - connecting like-minded clinicians and health professionals through national and local networks.
Advocacy & partnerships - collaborating with institutions and stakeholders to promote prevention-focused, person-centred care in Viet Nam.
Knowledge & practice - sharing evidence, tools, and best practices to support the integration of Lifestyle Medicine into everyday clinical care.

Who can join VLMA?
VLMA welcomes physicians, other licensed healthcare professionals, health educators, researchers, and students who are interested in evidence-based Lifestyle Medicine and prevention-focused care.

Learn more on our Membership page.

Message from the Founding President

The rising burden of lifestyle-related chronic diseases in Viet Nam calls for a stronger focus on prevention, healthy living, and person-centred care. Lifestyle Medicine offers a science-based approach that addresses the root causes of disease and supports long-term well-being for individuals, families, and communities.

The Vietnam Lifestyle Medicine Alliance (VLMA) was established as a physician-led national alliance to support the integration of evidence-based Lifestyle Medicine into clinical practice, public health, and education in Viet Nam. In alignment with the Lifestyle Medicine Global Alliance (LMGA) and the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine (IBLM), we seek to connect healthcare professionals, educators, researchers, and partners who share a commitment to prevention and sustainable health.

VLMA approaches this mission with humility, openness, and a spirit of service. We warmly welcome all who wish to contribute to a healthier and more resilient Viet Nam.

With sincere appreciation,

Binh Phuong Le, MD, PhD

FOUNDING PRESIDENT & INTERIM CHAIR (VLMA)

Editorial Board Member - Journal of Lifestyle Medicine (Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine)

Connect

Empowering health through lifestyle medicine.

Contact

contact@vlma.org

Saigon Paragon Building, No. 3 Nguyen Luong Bang Street, Tan My Ward, HCMC

Vietnam Lifestyle Medicine Alliance (VLMA) is a Level 1 Sister Organisation of the Lifestyle Medicine Global Alliance (LMGA), advancing evidence-based Lifestyle Medicine in Viet Nam and aligning with the certification framework of the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine (IBLM).

Terms and Conditions

+84 909 228 476

+84 84 9999 911