Vietnam has many conditions and opportunities to develop medical tourism combined with healthcare. In the photo: A team of doctors from Tu Du Hospital and Children's Hospital 1 (Ho Chi Minh City) successfully performed a cardiac catheterization procedure on a 41-year-old Singaporean pregnant woman - Photo: Provided by Tu Du Hospital.
According to estimates by the Ministry of Health , an average of about 300,000 people from abroad come to Vietnam each year for medical examinations and treatment.
The tourism call center system 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 relevant departments such as Tourism and Industry and Trade, should promptly develop a plan to establish a special mechanism for implementation in the near future.
Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, Tang Chi Thuong
Opens up many prospects
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 new techniques, but also serves as a boost to attract foreigners to Vietnam for medical examination and treatment.
Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan sent a letter of commendation to the team and leadership of the two hospitals. According to the minister, the success of fetal cardiac intervention techniques has opened up many prospects for the development of high-tech and specialized techniques in medical examination and treatment, building trust, image, and international prestige for the country's healthcare system.
Not long ago, at Saint Paul Hospital, an Australian family living in Bali (Indonesia) brought their 4-year-old daughter to Vietnam for single-port laparoscopic surgery to treat a choledochal cyst – a technique currently only successfully performed at two centers worldwide.
After the surgery, the little girl recovered quickly with a small incision that left no large scar, and the family was completely satisfied with their choice to come to Vietnam.
At Viet Duc Hospital (Hanoi), Ms. NTNA (30 years old, a Vietnamese expatriate from New Zealand) underwent reconstructive surgery of the perineum and anal sphincter after three failed surgeries in New Zealand. Discharged healthy after 10 days, she and her Iranian husband expressed absolute satisfaction with the quality of treatment and the dedication of the medical team.
Recently, the Colorectal and Perineal Surgery Center at Viet Duc Hospital has received a series of patients who had previously received unsuccessful treatments in Poland, Hungary, Japan, and the UK, seeking treatment for anal fistulas and anal abscesses in Vietnam.
The reasons that attract many foreigners to Vietnam for medical services include the improving quality of healthcare, significantly lower treatment costs compared to abroad, and the fact that Vietnamese doctors are just as skilled as those in developed countries.
In particular, Ho Chi Minh City – which accounts for over 40% of foreign visitors using medical services nationwide – has great potential for developing medical tourism if it is strongly promoted and has appropriate policies.
A team of doctors from Children's Hospital 1 and Tu Du Hospital performed fetal cardiac catheterization on a Singaporean pregnant woman - Photo: Provided by Tu Du Hospital
Hospitals are seizing the opportunity.
The increasing number of foreigners seeking medical treatment has opened up significant opportunities for medical tourism, an industry with considerable growth potential in Vietnam. To capitalize on this trend, major hospitals have been actively training high-quality personnel, investing in infrastructure, and promoting international cooperation.
Speaking to Tuoi Tre newspaper on June 1st, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tuyen, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Traditional Medicine, said that the institute has been implementing medical tourism for about three years now. This is part of the institute's development orientation, but the effectiveness of the medical tourism program so far has been limited and not commensurate with the unit's potential.
In reality, although the institute always collaborates with the tourism department and travel companies in promotional and introductory programs, this has mainly focused on understanding and introducing the services, and there haven't been many medical tourism groups coming for actual cooperation as desired. Because the potential for group tours hasn't been fully exploited by travel companies, the institute primarily receives individual visitors.
However, medical tourism remains a priority for the institute in the coming period, focusing on finding common ground with travel companies to meet the diverse needs of international tourists.
In addition, we need to develop a team of highly qualified doctors and medical staff with excellent communication skills, providing comprehensive support from reception to treatment.
"The needs of visitors from different countries vary greatly, depending on disease patterns and care requirements, or their desire to learn about Vietnamese medicine. The Institute needs to approach and offer cooperation models that suit the specific needs of each group," Mr. Tuyen said.
The head of a top-tier specialized hospital in Ho Chi Minh City that offers medical services also stated that medical tourism is still difficult to develop in public hospitals, with a low percentage of foreigners seeking treatment. Foreign tourists and patients still tend to go to cosmetic surgery hospitals or large private centers.
As a top-tier specialized hospital, Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital has become a trusted destination for domestic and international clients seeking treatment for skin diseases and cosmetic procedures.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Phan Thuy - the hospital director - said that the biggest attraction of the hospital is the solid expertise of its team of highly trained doctors, combining modern medicine with advanced cosmetic technology.
Currently, the hospital is expanding its range of specialized services, including comprehensive rejuvenation, post-treatment skin care, beauty treatments combined with skin disease treatment, and "medical tourism" programs specifically for Vietnamese expatriates.
Meanwhile, at Military Central Hospital 108, the hospital's leadership also stated that the hospital's development orientation in the coming time is to continuously promote training, strengthen research cooperation, and improve skills through learning with more than 40 countries and many international organizations to absorb experience, techniques, and the best of medicine in the world.
Accordingly, the achievements of domestic medicine not only bring opportunities to improve the quality of life for patients but also demonstrate the strong capacity and efforts of Vietnamese medicine to integrate with the world.
The 108 Central Military Hospital strives to become a reputable and friendly healthcare facility not only for soldiers and civilians but also for foreigners visiting, living, and working in Vietnam.
Graphics: TAN DAT
Vietnam has sufficient resources and capabilities.
According to Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, an increasing number of international tourists are coming to Vietnam for medical treatment due to the high quality of services and competitive costs.
Besides investing in infrastructure, hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City are improving their professional quality, aiming for international standards, in order to attract international insurance companies and facilitate treatment for foreigners.
Speaking to Tuoi Tre newspaper, Dr. Vu Nam - from the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality at the National Economics University, former Deputy Director of the Tourism Market Department, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism - said that medical tourism and health tourism/wellness tourism are among the types of tourism that are attracting attention and development in many countries around the world.
In Vietnam, we have sufficient resources and capabilities to develop both types of tourism.
Health tourism, including hot spring tourism, spa treatments, meditation, and wellness programs, has become very popular. However, medical tourism, which involves specialized medical examinations and treatments, has significant potential for future growth.
Firstly, we now have a modern hospital system, with many hospitals meeting international standards, especially in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Secondly, Vietnam's medical team is considered highly skilled, on par with regional and global standards.
Thirdly, in addition to Western medicine, Vietnam also has great potential for medical tourism with traditional medicine and herbal remedies such as acupuncture or the use of herbal medicine in treating diseases.
Finally, the cost of medical treatment in Vietnam is significantly cheaper than in other countries in the region and around the world.
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 and cultural resources and promote national identity.
To become a leading healthcare hub in the ASEAN region.
In 2024, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee approved the project "Developing Ho Chi Minh City's healthcare system into a regional ASEAN healthcare center from now until 2030 and beyond".
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, this is not only a strategic step to improve the quality of healthcare services but also to realize the goals set out in Resolution No. 31 of the Politburo on the direction and tasks for the development of Ho Chi Minh City until 2030, with a vision to 2045.
With a sustainable development strategy and the determination of the entire system, Ho Chi Minh City is gradually realizing its goal of becoming a leading healthcare center in the ASEAN region.
The city not only meets the medical needs of domestic people but also attracts international patients, contributing to affirming Vietnam's position on the world medical map.
A great opportunity for the tourism industry.
According to Dr. Vu Nam, in reality, combining medical tourism with healthcare is a rapidly developing trend in the tourism industry.
"According to a report by the Global Wellness Institute (GWI), the global health tourism industry continues to grow rapidly, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, with an estimated market value of approximately US$850 billion by 2025, projected to grow at an average annual rate of 7-8% in the coming years. Therefore, this presents a great opportunity for Vietnam's tourism industry," Dr. Nam emphasized.
What should Vietnam do to stay ahead of this trend?
Doctors examine a Cambodian patient at the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital - Photo: DUYEN PHAN
Dr. Vu Nam - Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality, National Economics University - analyzed that currently, there are several tourism models in the world, typically four models of medical tourism: cosmetic surgery and appearance care tourism; treatment of serious and life-threatening diseases (such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, organ transplantation...); medical tourism combined with wellness tourism; and traditional medicine tourism associated with health care.
"Of the four models mentioned above, except for the one related to cosmetic surgery and appearance care, we may not be able to compete with countries like Thailand or South Korea at the moment. However, for the other three models, we can absolutely compete on equal footing with other countries in terms of natural conditions, climate, abundant medicinal resources, and the skill level of Vietnamese doctors," Mr. Nam analyzed.
According to him, Vietnam has many conditions and opportunities to develop medical tourism combined with health care. However, to turn medical tourism and health care into a key product of the industry, there is still much to do.
Firstly, Vietnam needs a clear strategy for the development of healthcare and medical services. In 2023, the Ministry of Health issued a plan for the development of traditional medicine services and products to serve tourists by 2030.
"However, in my opinion, we need a broader and more comprehensive strategy that encompasses all the models I have presented above and has a clear development roadmap for each specific model."
To achieve this, the tourism and healthcare sectors need close cooperation, as well as joint support and guidance from the Government.
Secondly, we need specific planning for destinations, medical facilities, or service facilities catering to medical and healthcare tourists, and based on that, develop specific medical or healthcare tourism products.
Thirdly, the State and businesses need to cooperate more closely in promoting these tourism products and services, building Vietnam's brand as a leading medical tourism and healthcare destination in the region, especially in medical fields or healthcare services where Vietnam has strengths such as dental services, traditional medicine healthcare, rehabilitation...", Mr. Nam proposed.
We need hospitals that are on par with regional and world standards.
According to Mr. Duong Huy Luong, Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management (Ministry of Health), statistics from previous years show that Vietnamese people spend approximately 2 billion USD annually on medical examinations and treatment abroad, a figure that could increase to 3-4 billion USD in the near future.
Therefore, the solutions aimed at becoming a healthcare hub for the ASEAN region need to focus on comprehensively promoting many factors, from training high-quality medical personnel, investing in good infrastructure, developing specialized medical services, medical tourism combining modern and traditional medicine, promoting digital transformation, research, development, innovation, simplifying administrative procedures related to medical examination and treatment, and ensuring competitive medical costs...
Mr. Luong also stated that the government is encouraging both public and private hospitals to develop into specialized medical centers, including hospitals that meet regional and global standards.
The Ministry of Health has developed a project titled "High-quality medical examination and treatment to attract foreigners and those who can afford medical examination and treatment in Vietnam".
According to this plan, the domestic healthcare system will serve a wide range of groups. It will ensure medical care for all citizens, including vulnerable groups and the poor, while also meeting all needs for high-quality and advanced medical services.
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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/viet-nam-diem-den-hap-dan-cua-du-lich-y-te-20250602082504375.htm#content-1
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