Each year, around 40,000 high-income Vietnamese citizens travel overseas for medical treatment, causing a significant loss of foreign currency, according to the Ministry of Health.

To address this, the Ministry is gathering public feedback on a draft resolution to approve a master plan for developing high-quality healthcare services and promoting medical tourism from 2025 to 2030. The goal is to attract both foreign nationals and affluent Vietnamese seeking premium medical services.

This marks the first time the Ministry has introduced a comprehensive strategy with long-term vision, although for over a decade, it has been grappling with how to retain wealthy citizens for treatment in Vietnam and draw in international patients and expatriates.

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Ho Chi Minh City Blood Transfusion Hematology Hospital, Campus 2. Photo: BVCC

According to the Department of Medical Services Administration (MoH), which authored the draft, very few public hospitals in Vietnam currently meet international accreditation standards.

Ho Chi Minh City’s Blood Transfusion Hematology Hospital became the country’s first public hospital to receive JCI certification (Joint Commission International) in early 2025. Hùng Vương Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City was the first public hospital to obtain ACHSI certification from the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards International.

However, national-level independent quality assessments and public reporting have not yet been implemented. This shortfall has limited the recognition of Vietnam’s medical services by international insurance providers.

Other systemic challenges include rigid financial policies, inadequate facilities, regulatory gaps, limited support services and communications, and underdeveloped human resource standards. The lack of a flexible compensation mechanism for foreign medical experts has made it difficult to compete with global salary levels. Additionally, Vietnam's health insurance options - both public and commercial - fail to meet the needs of foreign nationals and affluent Vietnamese.

“This situation leads to around 40,000 high-income Vietnamese going abroad for medical treatment each year, resulting in considerable foreign exchange losses,” the Department noted.

Estimates from previous years suggest that Vietnamese citizens spend approximately $2 billion annually on overseas medical treatment, with projections reaching $3–4 billion in the near future. According to World Data Lab, Vietnam is expected to add 4 million people to its middle class in 2024, and 23.2 million by 2030 - ranking among the countries with the fastest-growing middle class this decade.

Speaking to VietNamNet on September 12, Dr. Duong Huy Luong, Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Services Administration, said: “As incomes improve, it's clear that people increasingly demand higher-quality healthcare services.”

Pilot programs in five provinces to link hospitals with hotels and resorts

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Medical staff at Ho Chi Minh City’s Children’s Hospital No. 1 care for a young patient. Photo: Duy Anh

In the draft proposal, the Ministry of Health aims to have at least 15 hospitals nationwide certified to international standards (JCI or equivalent) by 2030, including a minimum of five public hospitals.

At least five key localities - Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Quang Ninh, and Khanh Hoa - will implement integrated medical tourism models linking hospitals, hotels, resorts, and travel agencies. These provinces were selected based on their existing tourism strengths.

During Phase 1 (2025–2027), the plan will pilot services in selected hospitals and regions, developing 10 to 15 combined medical-wellness-tourism packages. Phase 2 (2027–2030) will expand the model nationwide.

Which specialties will lead Vietnam’s medical tourism push?

Priority medical tourism services include oncology, cardiology, in vitro fertilization, dentistry, cosmetic surgery, physical rehabilitation, and high-quality general check-ups. These specialties offer Vietnam a competitive edge in the regional healthcare market.

Other targeted offerings include wellness packages blending traditional medicine with natural therapies - acupuncture, massage, herbal remedies, mineral baths - integrated with local cultural and ecological settings in regions with natural advantages.

Medical tourism is considered a strategic component in developing Vietnam’s healthcare system, boosting economic growth, and enhancing national prestige.

In Thailand, affordable heart and cosmetic surgeries (costing $25,000–$30,000 compared to $100,000 in the US) generate $600–$700 million in annual revenue. South Korea earns $4.3 billion yearly from cancer treatment and cosmetic procedures while promoting K-pop culture. Japan’s onsen tourism and cancer care industry generates $13 billion annually, preserving cultural traditions and boosting local economies.

Vo Thu