Vietnam's first successful IVF cycle was started in 1997. One year later, babies were born. Though Vietnam started IVF later than many other countries (1978) and the region (1984), it now conducts IVF the most frequently in ASEAN, and is the leading country in IVF technique in the region.

There are about 50,000 IVF cases each year, and about 200,000 babies have been born in Vietnam thanks to the technique. 

This is considered a big market that can bring profits of millions of dollars each year. However, many doctors have voiced concern that the assisted reproduction technique may be becoming commercialized.

Centers for assisted reproduction 

According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), the current infertility rate in Vietnam is 7.7 percent, which means there are about 1.1 million infertile couples. They have to pay VND80-100 million on average each time they implement IVF. People with additional co-morbidities must have genetic testing and embryo screening with total costs of up to VND200-300 million.

While more and more centers for assisted reproduction are established, the number of couples choosing IVF is increasing rapidly. The conditions of the couples vary.

N.T.H, 30, from Son La City, came to the Hanoi Hospital of Andrology and Infertility to learn about IVF service. They have a daughter and wanted one more baby, but their attempts in the last two years had failed. H and her husband decided to use IVF instead of waiting for a natural pregnancy.

Other couples present at the hospital whom VietNamNet’s reporters contacted said they wanted IVF rather than seek a medical examination to find and treat the causes of infertility.

At Hanoi Medical University Hospital, a couple from Vinh Phuc told reporters that they have been living together for three months, but the wife was still not pregnant. Meanwhile, they wanted to have a baby in March 2024, so they needed IVF service.

A doctor who has treated infertility for many years said that 10 years ago infertile couples would spend time receiving treatment to have babies naturally, but now they want to use IVF if they are only a bit late in getting pregnant. In many cases, they tell doctors to perform IVF even when the doctors don't prescribe it.

As there are many IVF centers, the centers have to compete with each other, and if doctors refuse to give IVF, couples leave for other centers. 

Previously, if women suffered from fallopian tube blockage, they would have surgery to settle the problem. But now, couples prefer IVF to be sure they would have a baby. An operation to settle the fallopian tube blockage costs VND10-20 million. For IVF, the cost would be much higher.

“Infertile couples tend to ignore doctors’ advice on taking medicine and changing lifestyle to wait for opportunities to have babies naturally. They want IVF,” the doctor said.

As demand is high, more and more centers for assisted reproduction have been set up at both private and public medical facilities. Doctor Nguyen Viet Quang, Director of the National Center for Reproductive Support, National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, said infertility treatment in general and IVF in particular is a profitable industry with an expected high growth rate.

He said that the IVF rate in Vietnam is the highest in the region. This is because the service fee in Vietnam is lower, while service quality is high. Many couples from other countries come to Vietnam to use the service.

A cycle of IVF in Vietnam costs about $3,200-4,200, in Thailand $8,000-10,000, Cambodia $7,000, Singapore $10,000, and the UK $15,000. At the Central Maternity Hospital, an IVF operation costs VND60 million.

Though the IVF cost in Vietnam is much lower than other regional countries, it is still high when compared with the average income of Vietnamese.

According to Quang, one IVF cycle costs hundreds of millions of dong, and couples may have 5-7 cycles before succeeding, so they may even sell their home to be able to pay for treatment.

Linh Trang