Medical tourism in Vietnam is attracting many visitors.

(PLVN) - With its nature as a tourism model combining health care with traditional therapies and modern medical techniques, providing relaxing experiences, preventing disease-causing agents, using non-invasive cosmetic procedures or surgery, and providing specialized disease treatment, medical tourism contributes to the development of Vietnam's tourism industry.

Advantages of attracting tourists who combine exploration with medical treatment.

In recent years, in addition to exploring nature, tourists have tended to improve their health and enhance their physical and mental well-being while traveling. According to a report by Grand View Research, the global medical tourism industry will generate nearly $100 billion in revenue by 2030. Originating and developing since ancient Greece and Rome, medical tourism has become a popular global service, chosen by millions who wish to experience high-quality medical services at an ideal cost.

Vietnam is making strong strides in the healthcare tourism industry. It is considered a "gold mine" attracting international tourists due to its significant potential in developing medical tourism.

Recently, a successful fetal cardiac catheterization procedure performed on a Singaporean pregnant woman by a team of doctors from Children's Hospital 1 and Tu Du Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City) has sparked interest in the regional medical community. The success of the surgery not only demonstrates that Vietnamese doctors have successfully accessed, mastered, and applied this new technique, but also serves as a boost to attract foreigners to Vietnam for medical examination and treatment.

Visitors seeking medical treatment can also explore the rich cultural and historical heritage, admire numerous natural wonders, and enjoy the warm tropical climate. The country boasts seasonal fruits and herbs, and world-renowned cuisine. Vietnam has a coastline stretching over 3,200km with many beautiful beaches and thousands of islands, ideal for relaxation, water sports, and medical treatment. Geological surveys have revealed approximately 400 hot mineral springs, which can be used for both medicinal purposes and bottled water production. This further enhances Vietnam's appeal, making it a health and beauty destination few other countries can match.

Tourists can choose from a variety of services including: routine health check-ups, rehabilitation and convalescence, surgery and specialized treatments, dental care, infertility treatment, and cosmetic procedures. According to many experts, the demand for tourists to Vietnam combining leisure travel with medical examinations and treatment is currently very high, potentially generating approximately $2 billion in revenue annually. Vietnamese medicine combines modern and traditional medicine, coupled with the high level of expertise of its doctors and medical professionals, making these aspects significant strengths of the Vietnamese healthcare sector.

Vietnam offers affordable medical services at prices approximately 10% lower than in the US. Vietnam also has a significant advantage over other medical tourism destinations such as Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. For example, the cost of heart bypass surgery in Vietnam is $10,000-$15,000, while in Thailand it costs $25,000-$30,000. Vietnam has become a popular destination for tourists seeking dental treatment. The reason is quite simple: dental costs in Vietnam are significantly lower than in many other countries worldwide. Specifically, according to statistics from International Living magazine (Australia), dental treatment costs in Vietnam are 6 to 10 times lower than in some countries like the US, Canada, and Australia. Compared to neighboring countries like Thailand and Malaysia, dental treatment costs in Vietnam are also 30% to 50% cheaper. Despite the relatively low cost, the quality of dental services in Vietnam, as well as the investment in equipment and machinery, is on par with any country with an advanced dental industry. In 2018, International Living ranked Vietnam as one of the top three Southeast Asian countries favored by Australian tourists for its high-quality and affordable dental services.

A South Korean patient arrives at Military Hospital 108 for treatment. (Photo: An Ngoc)

Cosmetic surgery is also of great interest to many tourists. The number of clients seeking cosmetic treatments at the Dermatology and Cosmetic Department (Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital) is increasing, especially with many international tourists and overseas Vietnamese coming for beauty treatments. In 2020, the department received 41,490 clients for beauty treatments, and by 2022, this number had increased to 58,622.

Meanwhile, at the Ho Chi Minh City Heart Institute, in recent years, the Institute has provided specialized medical tourism services such as vascular and cardiovascular interventions, attracting the attention of international tourists for examination and treatment. Currently, the hospital has built a separate examination area for international tourists.

After 7 years of implementing the medical tourism model, Vietnam has been assessed as successful with many notable achievements and medical tourism products, and many activities have been implemented with high effectiveness. These include: Ho Chi Minh City has developed more than 30 combo tour programs combining medical tourism and healthcare suitable for both domestic and international markets; launched video clips introducing and promoting medical tourism products in the city; updated, supplemented, and revised the "Medical Tourism Handbook" in 6 languages ​​with concise, clear, and effective content; organized promotion and marketing of medical tourism products to attract tourists in the Cambodian market; and surveyed and learned from the experience of developing medical tourism models in Thailand...

This growth stems not only from market demand but is also driven by government incentive policies. The National Tourism Administration has identified health tourism as contributing to enhancing destination value and extending the length of stay, spending, and experiences of tourists. According to forecasts, the health tourism industry in Vietnam could reach a value of US$3 billion by the end of 2025, a 12% increase compared to 2024.

We need to develop the potential of our resources and national identity.

From 2024 onwards, Ho Chi Minh City's healthcare sector aims to develop into a modern, specialized medical center and a regional healthcare hub in ASEAN. Ho Chi Minh City – which accounts for over 40% of foreign visitors using medical services nationwide – has significant potential for developing medical tourism.

Ms. Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, assessed: “With the development of high-tech applications and specialized expertise in medical examination and treatment, as well as the professional skills of the medical staff, the city's medical tourism products will focus on the mid- and high-end tourist market segment to enhance experiences, extend stays, and increase spending when combined with leisure tourism. Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring provinces and cities are important elements for medical tourism to become a potential tourism product. The development of medical tourism products in the next 5 years will be decisive in making medical tourism a regional brand of Ho Chi Minh City.”

The exploitation of resources for the development of health and wellness tourism has contributed to diversifying products, extending the length of stay, and increasing tourist spending in Vietnam.

Foreign tourists come for medical examination and treatment. (Photo: HNLV Hospital)

However, according to experts, one of the weaknesses of medical tourism in Vietnam today is the lack of information about medical tourism services, and the limited number of travel agencies organizing tours that combine healthcare. Many hospitals have not yet met international standards such as JCI or ISO, making foreign tourists hesitant to register for medical examination and treatment services. Hospital websites lack sufficient information, some even lacking English for research, and do not offer supporting services, making it difficult for foreigners to find a comprehensive medical tourism package. Furthermore, the foreign language skills of nurses and medical staff are limited.

Furthermore, cooperation between localities, health agencies, accommodation facilities with the potential to develop medical tourism, and travel agencies is still lacking in coordination. Most tourism service businesses such as resorts, hotels, and homestays offering health care only meet the basic needs of tourists.

According to the Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, Tang Chi Thuong, the tourism hotline and international tourism portal must be completed soon, allowing citizens of countries in the region to register and book medical appointments in Vietnam. To achieve this, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, along with related departments such as Tourism and Industry and Trade, will soon develop a plan to establish a special mechanism for implementation in the near future.

Vietnam's tourism development strategy until 2030 has also particularly emphasized the development of high-quality, diverse, and distinctive tourism products, prioritizing health-related tourism such as medical tourism and wellness tourism, in order to leverage natural resources, culture, and the talent and dedication of medical professionals, and to promote the value of national identity.

Thuy Duong

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/du-lich-y-te-viet-nam-hut-khach-post553298.html