A medical centre dedicated to LGBT people has opened in Saigon.

The centre will offer free counselling and low cost health monitoring to people in the LGBT community, including for people diagnosed with HIV, those who take hormones and people who have recently undergone a surgical sex change in other countries.

Foreigners who live and work in Vietnam can also access the same services.

The centre is co-run by two social enterprises – the men’s health centre, and G-link, which provides health care and advocates for transgender women and men.

The health centre will also provide free HIV tests, and free screenings for sexually transmitted diseases.

Although Vietnamese law recognises transgender people, it is still not yet legal to undergo hormone therapy or surgery for a sex change in the country.

Many instead turn to neighbouring countries such as Thailand.

One woman told the Vietnam News website that her friends who experienced post-surgical complications felt uncomfortable visiting Vietnamese health facilities.

Doctors at the new clinic say the space offers LGBT people a safe place to receive health advice.