
Currently, the Ministry of Health is soliciting opinions on the "Medical Tourism Development Plan for the period 2026-2030". Meanwhile, the Da Nang Global Business Summit 2026 is scheduled to take place in mid-May in Da Nang, bringing together leaders, policymakers, and international investors to address the future of the elderly care and integrated healthcare sectors in Vietnam.
A market with great potential.
Recently, Vinh Duc General Hospital (Dien Ban Ward) performed surgery on an American patient at a price reportedly much cheaper than in other countries. Travis Carrasquillo suffered a fractured cheekbone and several other facial injuries while playing sports in Da Nang. He was taken to Vinh Duc General Hospital for first aid and then chose to have surgery there.
Along with professional techniques and attentive care, the cost of treatment was what shocked Travis the most. Without health insurance, he paid a total of over 28 million VND. Travis believes that, considering the number of hospital days and surgical costs, it could have cost around $6,000 elsewhere, or even much higher in the United States.
Price competitiveness is the first advantage identified when developing medical tourism in Vietnam. Accordingly, medical services in Vietnam are only about 30-50% of those in countries like Singapore or Thailand, while the quality is approaching international standards, creating a competitive advantage to attract patients from developed countries and the Vietnamese community abroad.
Furthermore, Vietnam has strengths in rehabilitation services, traditional medicine, and physiotherapy, combined with abundant medicinal resources. This represents a comprehensive healthcare approach with its own unique characteristics that many countries in the region lack.
At a joint in-person and online meeting to review the progress of the "Medical Tourism Development Plan for the period 2026-2030" (April 3rd), Professor Tran Van Thuan, Deputy Minister of Health and Chairman of the National Medical Council, stated that Vietnam has many advantages for developing medical tourism, such as rich natural landscapes, diverse culture, and a safe environment; at the same time, the level of medical expertise is increasingly approaching international standards, with many techniques reaching a high level.
Reportedly, one of the key focuses of the project is to pilot an integrated medical tourism model combining hospitals, hotels, and resorts in localities with advantages such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Quang Ninh, and Khanh Hoa.
According to the Ministry of Health, Vietnam's medical tourism market could grow to nearly US$4 billion by 2033, with an average growth rate of approximately 18% per year. Vietnam has also been voted a safe and friendly destination. Statistics show that by 2025, more than 20 million international tourists are expected to visit Vietnam.
Optimizing access to healthcare services.
Medical tourism should not be limited to healthcare and medical treatment, but should also include cultural and travel experiences.

The "Medical Tourism Development Plan for the period 2026-2030" sets out six specific goals, ranging from perfecting the institutional framework and policy mechanisms for medical tourism development; developing medical tourism product packages and value chains, linked to the expertise and tourism resources of localities; enhancing professional capacity and the quality of medical tourism services; building and positioning a national brand for Vietnamese medical tourism; applying information technology and digital transformation in the management and operation of medical tourism services; and strengthening international cooperation in medical tourism development.
Da Nang is considered to have a system of central-level hospitals, specialized hospitals, and a team of highly qualified doctors and medical staff; it is also a major tourist center with comprehensive accommodation, transportation, and service infrastructure.
In addition, Da Nang has also set a strategy to become a medical tourism center with clear objectives: attracting international visitors seeking high-quality treatment, rehabilitation, and healthcare; and retaining long-stay, high-spending tourists.
According to the organizers of the Da Nang Global Business Summit 2026, in the context of a global aging population, Vietnam is emerging as a key market. According to a report by Phoenix Research (2025), the elderly care market in Vietnam is expected to reach US$1.79 billion by 2033 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1%.
Notably, Da Nang and the Central region are projected to lead the country with an impressive growth rate of 9.1%. Therefore, the conference is expected to work with international experts to create a modern living community based on Da Nang's potential, making it the "heart" of medical tourism.
With its competitive advantages in scenic resources and affordable medical service costs, medical tourism is expected to become a "gold mine" in the future.
Source: https://baodanang.vn/cho-cu-hich-tu-du-lich-y-te-3334510.html











