Healthcare for foreigners in Vietnam

  • 06/01/2025
  • Posted by: Thao Tran
  • Category: Blog
No Comments

When you choose to live long-term in a foreign country, selecting a healthcare provider for yourself and your family is of course something essential. Having a basic understanding of the healthcare system in the country where you reside can help you find the appropriate and prompt assistance when needed. In this blog, we are going to have a closer look at healthcare for foreigners in Vietnam. A first relevant point to note is that in Vietnam there is a public healthcare system, and a private healthcare system.

Classifying the system in Vietnam

Public healthcare system

In the public sector, there is a classification system according to levels, whereby each higher level indicates more advanced care. The highest-level hospitals are typically located in the major cities, making them easily accessible by different forms of transportation. In Ho Chi Minh City, for example, the technical skills of medical staff in general are considerably developed. Some fields have even achieved high recognition in the whole region. Vietnam also serves as a treatment destination for patients from neighboring countries such as Cambodia and Laos, who often make use of the public system. Furthermore, there are many overseas Vietnamese seeking medical care in Vietnam while they are in the country to visit family. It is estimated that around 300,000 foreigners come to Vietnam for medical support every year, and the number is increasing.

Emergency unit of a public hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.

In recent years, the Vietnamese Ministry of Health has implemented policies to enhance public hospital facilities. The goal is to offer training programs, and to support lower-level hospitals to balance the expertise across the country. This has helped alleviate the issue of patients flocking only to top-level hospitals in the major cities. It is also meant to ensure that medical professionals in smaller towns and regions receive better training, facilities, and infrastructure.

Picture of one of the top public hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City.

Private healthcare system

In the private sector, healthcare services are diverse and cater to a wide range of customer needs. This includes both medical treatment, and health-related services such as wellness and cosmetic care. Private hospitals often invest in modern infrastructure and adopt professional service standards. In recent years, the trend of “medical tourism” in Vietnam has gained attention. It is especially developing in cities / regions with strong tourism potential. This model attracts international patients who visit Vietnam for both medical treatment and leisure.

Like the public system, most private hospitals are located in major cities, but their services generally come at a higher cost than public healthcare. The quality of care in private facilities is often perceived as more personalized and efficient. This makes it generally more appealing to foreigners and to Vietnamese who have experience with healthcare overseas.

Preferred option for foreigners in Vietnam

The private healthcare sector stands out as the generally preferred choice for many foreigners living in Vietnam. This is due to several key advantages that the private system has over the public system:

  • Multilingual staff: many private hospitals employ staff who are fluent in foreign languages, which significantly eases communication for international patients. This makes it easier for foreigners to understand the information, treatment plans, and medical instructions, contributing to a more comfortable healthcare experience.
  • Personalized and efficient care: private hospitals tend to offer a higher standard of patient care with shorter waiting times, more focus on patient privacy, and adherence to appointment schedules. These attributes are particularly appealing to foreign nationals, who are used to a certain standard of healthcare in their home countries, and who prefer a more tailored service.
  • International standards: many private hospitals in Vietnam aim to meet international standards in both medical procedures and patient care. This has made them popular among expatriates and other foreigners, as they often seek healthcare facilities that mirror the level of care they would receive in their home countries.
  • Medical tourism: in addition to regular healthcare services, Vietnam has developed a niche in medical tourism, offering foreigners the opportunity to receive high-quality care at a lower cost than in many Western countries. Hospitals in cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City attract patients from abroad who combine medical treatment with tourism, benefiting from the country’s modern healthcare infrastructure and affordable services.

Despite the higher cost of services in the private sector, many foreigners in Vietnam are willing to pay for these conveniences. They appreciate the level of comfort, faster services, and the ability to receive care in an environment that aligns with their expectations.

Picture of a reputable private hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.

Some popular private options

For the reasons mentioned above, most foreigners prefer the private healthcare system in Vietnam over the public healthcare system. Here below are a few such private options, including contact details:

Picture of Family Medical Practice in Ha Noi.

Conclusion

For foreigners living in Vietnam, both the public- and the private healthcare system offer their own comparative advantages. The public system provides advanced medical care with a network of specialized hospitals. Whereas the private healthcare sector excels in personalized services, multilingual staff, and adherence to international care standards. In practice many foreigners prefer private healthcare facilities for their convenience, quality of care, and more flexible services. This is despite the fact that the associated costs are generally higher than under the public healthcare system.

VNHL is here to support you

VNHL is here to give you a hand with your journey in Vietnam. Whether you are already living here, of whether you are planning to move here. Our team already knows its way around Vietnam, and it would be our pleasure to help you find yours. One of our co – Founders is a Vietnamese trained doctor, so this particular topic is especially close to her heart. Therefore, please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions. You can reach to us via the chat button on the right of this page, or via our contact us page. Our three main services are: (i) consulting, (ii) networking, and (iii) supporting. We look forward to hearing from you.

*Dear reader, even though our VNHL Consulting team always tries its very best to provide its Clients with correct and complete info: we are not a Vietnamese law firm. The information in this post is therefore not meant to, and should also not be construed to, constitute legal advice. For specialized advice in the fields of law, accounting, tax, etcetera: we always recommend our Clients to speak with qualified specialists in those fields. We have several such specialists in our nationwide network, and we are always happy to introduce our Clients to them, when appreciated.



Leave a Reply