A draft national plan would connect hospitals and tourism businesses, while addressing gaps in pricing, insurance and patient protection.
Vietnam wants to attract around 750,000 medical tourists a year by 2030 under a draft Ministry of Health plan that would make healthcare a larger part of its travel economy.
The proposal sets two financial targets: about $1 billion from medical treatment and healthcare services, and $2.5 billion in total spending by patients and their companions. The larger figure includes accommodation, transport, meals and other expenses. It isn’t hospital revenue alone.
The 2026–2030 strategy is being circulated for public feedback, according to Vietnamese media reports. It sets out ambitions rather than an approved program.
Vietnam would be competing with established destinations such as Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, which already market healthcare services to international patients.
The starting point is hard to measure
Officials estimate that around 300,000 foreigners use healthcare services in Vietnam each year, with associated spending of $1 billion to $2 billion, VietnamPlus reported.
But that count includes foreign residents who receive care in the country, as well as visitors who travel there for treatment. Medical fees also aren’t tracked separately from wider spending.
That makes it difficult to establish how many people currently choose Vietnam specifically for medical care—or to measure future growth against a consistent starting figure.
Dental care, fertility and aesthetics draw patients
Existing demand includes cosmetic dentistry, fertility treatment, aesthetic procedures and general health checks. Patients include overseas Vietnamese and visitors from Cambodia, Laos, South Korea, Japan, Australia and Europe, according to VietnamPlus.
Ho Chi Minh City accounts for about 40% of reported international medical tourists, followed by Hanoi. Da Nang, Hue and Khanh Hoa are developing services that combine healthcare with tourism and traditional medicine.
The national healthcare system provides a substantial base: VietnamPlus reports 2,107 hospitals and more than 105,000 doctors. Those totals describe the wider health system, though, not the number of facilities ready to treat international visitors.
Some clinics are already building services around overseas patients. A VnExpress profile of Wedo Skin Clinic in Ho Chi Minh City describes consultations before treatment, English-speaking staff and guidance afterward. The clinic reports rising demand from expatriates and visitors, although one provider’s account cannot establish a national trend.
What the plan would change
The draft proposes an initial phase from 2026 to 2028, with work on regulations and trials of coordinated medical tourism services in five to seven locations. Wider expansion would follow in 2029 and 2030, Tuoi Tre News reported.
By 2030, the ministry wants at least 20 hospitals to meet international quality standards, including at least five public hospitals. It also proposes at least 30 standardized medical tourism packages.
A multilingual national portal and medical tourism database are planned from 2028. These could give prospective patients a clearer place to start comparing services, if the information is kept accurate and current.
Deputy Health Minister Tran Van Thuan has also proposed a national medical tourism association. If run effectively, it could help “improve the quality of medical care,” he said, according to Vietnam News.
Price is only part of the decision
For now, Vietnam lacks a comprehensive framework specifically covering medical tourism. Standardized packages remain at an early stage, making prices and service quality difficult to compare, according to the ministry’s assessment reported by Tuoi Tre News.
Insurance adds another complication. Direct payment arrangements with international insurers are available only at some private facilities, VnExpress reported. Patients shouldn’t assume their chosen hospital can bill their insurer, even if they have overseas health coverage.
The proposal also has a domestic purpose. Officials want better services to expand access for Vietnamese patients and reduce the need to seek treatment overseas, Vietnam News reported.
Aftercare has to be part of the trip
For patients, a treatment package needs to explain more than the procedure and hotel stay. It should make clear who provides follow-up care, what it costs and how complications will be handled after the patient returns home.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises people considering treatment abroad to discuss their plans with their regular healthcare professional, check insurance coverage and arrange care for possible complications. It also recommends obtaining medical records in English for subsequent treatment.
Recovery can limit the holiday element. Swimming, strenuous sightseeing and sunbathing after surgery can interfere with healing, the CDC warns. It also cautions that international accreditation does not guarantee a good outcome.
These considerations apply to medical travel anywhere. For Vietnam’s proposed pilot projects, a useful test will be whether a patient can get clear answers about the treating clinician, the full bill and care after returning home—before paying a deposit.
