Opening the way for medical tourism in Quang Nam province.

Recently, Quang Nam - Da Nang tourism has begun to explore medical tourism. If the unique advantages of each side are effectively combined, the goal of becoming a world-class medical tourism center is achievable.

Tourists experience herbal massage in a restaurant in Tra Que vegetable village (Hoi An city). Photo: QUOC TUAN

Trends of the future

Essentially, medical tourism is a form of tourism that combines healthcare services and travel, stemming from the need for affordable healthcare, higher quality services, or access to modern treatments not available locally.

According to forecasts by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), medical tourism will be one of the six major trends in global tourism.

Ms. Ngo Thi Kim Yen, President of the Da Nang City Medical Association, believes that medical tourism is not only an innovative economic model but also an integrated solution offering many benefits such as improving public health, increasing revenue from tourists, promoting investment in healthcare, and showcasing the local image.

Global revenue from this industry is estimated to exceed $100 billion per year and is growing steadily at around 15-20% annually. In Vietnam, experts estimate that Ho Chi Minh City accounts for approximately 40% of the country's medical tourism revenue. Meanwhile, in Central Vietnam, this type of tourism is only just beginning to develop in its incomplete forms.

In Quang Nam province, the adoption of this new form of medical tourism is still at a basic level, mainly involving relaxation combined with physiotherapy at some coastal accommodations. A small number of international tourists visiting Hoi An have used medical services and appreciated the quality and cost, but these are mostly unplanned and spontaneous visits.

According to Mr. Ngo Duc Hai, General Director of Thien Nhan Hospital in Da Nang, the core conditions for promoting the "medical tourism industry" are the need for unique medical products, unique tourism products, and modern transportation. Combining these elements will create a competitive advantage over other medical tourism destinations.

What opportunities are there for Quang Nam - Da Nang?

According to experts, Quang Nam - Da Nang generally possesses many advantages for medical tourism. Some of the outstanding strengths include being the "gateway" to Central Vietnam and Southeast Asia; having built a leading resort tourism brand in Vietnam; good climate and living environment; abundant medicinal resources; and continuously improving healthcare quality.

Quang Nam province possesses many natural resources suitable for developing medical tourism, but these have not been effectively exploited. In the photo: Experiencing hot spring bathing at Phu Ninh Lake. Photo: QUOC TUAN

Mr. Le Tan Thanh Tung, Deputy General Director of VITRACO tourism, events, and transportation company, stated that Da Nang (including Quang Nam) first needs to identify potential tourist markets in the field of medical tourism.

Each market will have its own specific needs to determine the appropriate type of tourism. For example, European, American, and Australian tourists who need extended vacations, rehabilitation treatments, or post-treatment health care will find wellness tourism (travel experiences aimed at relaxation and improving physical and mental health) to be the suitable option.

Japanese tourists have a high proportion of elderly people, so there is a demand for senior care combined with healthcare. The type of tourism suitable for Japanese tourists is senior tourism combined with therapeutic relaxation…

Drawing further insights from tourism businesses, Quang Nam - Da Nang possesses ample resources to develop unique tourism packages tailored to specific markets, such as: "Elderly tourism - extended vacations" for international tourists, featuring stays at high-end, tranquil resorts; regular health check-ups; meditation, yoga, and music therapy; cultural experiences, etc. Alternatively, health tourism packages for Vietnamese seniors could include relaxing in areas with favorable climates (Nui Thanh - Hoi An - Son Tra Peninsula, etc.), mineral baths and traditional medicine treatments, meditation and wellness practices, and visits to traditional craft villages.

However, a common weakness is the lack of integrated tour packages linking destinations to serve medical tourism. Furthermore, some resources for medical tourism remain undeveloped and untapped, especially in Quang Nam province.

In the short term, if they truly want to launch this sector, the two localities need to quickly build an integrated medical tourism "ecosystem," develop a brand for medical tourism destinations, and establish specific linkage models between the parties.

In May 2024, the People's Committee of Quang Nam province issued a plan to implement the project on developing traditional medicine services and products to serve tourists by 2030 in the province. The plan aims to promote the value of traditional medicine in providing services and products for international and domestic tourists; to make traditional medicine a leading, high-quality tourism product line, bringing economic benefits to both tourism and healthcare.

Meanwhile, in March 2025, the Da Nang City People's Committee issued a plan for the development of medical tourism in the city for the period 2025-2030, with a vision to 2050. This plan views the development of medical tourism as one of the solutions to improve service quality; build an advanced and modern healthcare system; and develop several high-tech fields with the goal of making Da Nang's healthcare sector a leading healthcare center in Southeast Asia.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/mo-loi-cho-du-lich-y-te-xu-quang-3153202.html