Hundreds of patients and their relatives at major hospitals in Hanoi have had to sleep on the floor despite the bitterly cold weather.

Mr. Manh said they had earlier hired a room to stay in to wait for the medical check-up at Bach Mai Hospital, but they had been anaesthetised by someone who stole their belongings. After regaining consciousness, their possessions were missing.

Nguyen Thi Nhan, 60 from Haiphong City, who has received cancer treatment for three years, has also been left to sleep on cardboard as she cannot afford to hire a room.

Some more lucky patients have found benches to lie on.

When night falls at Bach Mai Hospital, lots of the patients spread their mats along the corridors, but despite wearing many of the clothes they brought with them, they still feel the cold.

Mrs. Pham Thi Phuong in Quang Ninh Province, who brought her husband to Bach Mai Hospital for stroke treatment said “The hospital is completely overcrowded with two or three patients having to share beds. Therefore, in the evening, many patients have to sleep under the beds along with their possessions. It’s really lucky if you find such a seat because many others have to stay outside.”

Patients are only allowed to have a single relative with them. If additional family members have visited, they are forced to stay outside.

Relatives of patients shelter from the cold at the National Maternity Hospital.