Vietnam's medical tourism could bring in billions of dollars each year

When deployed synchronously, including suitable service packages, domestic medical tourism and healthcare tourism are expected to bring in revenue of billions of USD/year.

The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism agreed to cooperate in developing tourism and healthcare effectively and sustainably in the 2025-2030 period, with the goal of maximizing the potential, advantages and resources of the healthcare and tourism sectors, contributing to the socio-economic development of the country in the new era.

Good human resources and modern technology at international standards deployed by the health sector in hospitals are among the strengths of developing medical tourism.

PHOTO: NGOC DUONG

Building the Vietnamese brand to become a destination with prestigious tourism and medical services in the region and the world , increasing the attraction of domestic and international tourists to use tourism and medical services at medical examination and treatment facilities in Vietnam.

Building a system linking medical services with tourism and resort services to attract tourists and promote Vietnam's medical potential and advantages; creating favorable conditions for implementing a model of tourism services combined with medical services to improve the capacity to provide medical tourism services associated with tourism development.

That is the common goal of the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in effective and sustainable tourism and healthcare development for the 2025-2030 period, recently signed by Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung.

With this memorandum, the two ministries will coordinate to develop, advise, propose, and submit to competent authorities to issue policies to facilitate tourism businesses to access medical examination and treatment facilities that provide quality medical services; at the same time, support medical facilities to develop strategies and specific service packages to attract tourists to use medical services.

The tourism industry expands and encourages healthcare tourism services to connect with medical facilities in tourism service establishments and specialized activities; the health sector increases investment in high-quality services, connects with travel businesses to promote attracting foreigners to Vietnam for medical examination and treatment...

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) and the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management (Ministry of Health) are the focal points for implementing cooperation contents.

In Ho Chi Minh City alone, the dental industry earns more than 3,000 billion VND/year.

According to Dr. Ha Anh Duc, Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, domestic healthcare with the quintessence of traditional medicine; modern medicine with a team of highly specialized doctors, high-quality medical staff and modern equipment, will be a trusted and chosen destination for domestic and foreign tourists, when implementing a systematic medical tourism service, with suitable medical service packages and commensurate quality, bringing satisfaction.

"According to the latest estimates, in Ho Chi Minh City alone, the revenue from the maxillofacial specialty has reached more than 3,000 billion VND/year. In the future, the revenue from medical tourism is estimated to reach billions of USD/year, when implemented synchronously, with strong specialties, in provinces and cities," said Mr. Duc.

A leading dental expert said that many foreign patients and overseas Vietnamese have chosen to receive treatment, dental care, orthodontics, and surgery at the leading prestigious facilities in the country. At central hospitals, it is estimated that every year thousands of foreigners and overseas Vietnamese use this service, with a total payment of millions of USD.

The Ministry of Health aims that by 2030, at least 5 key localities (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Quang Ninh, Khanh Hoa) will deploy a medical tourism model integrating hospitals - hotels - resorts - travel agencies; at the same time, develop high-quality medical examination and treatment services to attract foreigners.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/du-lich-y-te-cua-viet-nam-co-the-dem-lai-ca-ti-usd-moi-nam-185250913160105672.htm