Medical Tourism in Vietnam: Opportunities and Challenges for Foreigners

Medical tourism in Vietnam offers opportunities for foreign patients and businesses serving international healthcare demand. The decision is more complex than comparing procedure prices: patients need reliable clinical advice, clear quotations and continuity of care, while investors need a business model that meets Vietnam’s regulatory requirements.

This guide explains the available market evidence, the practical checks before travelling and the commercial opportunities worth assessing. For businesses evaluating demand, InCorp’s Vietnam market research services can help test assumptions before committing capital.

How Large Is Vietnam’s Medical Tourism Market?

Recent reporting citing the Ministry of Health provides a useful indication of demand, but the figures below should be read with their stated limitations.

Indicator	Reported estimate and meaning
International users	Around 300,000 visitors annually use healthcare services in Vietnam.
Visitor spending	US$1-2 billion annually includes treatment and spending on accommodation, transport, food and other services.
Leading destination	Ho Chi Minh City accounts for approximately 40 percent of international visitors seeking healthcare services.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Health is developing a medical-tourism scheme for 2026-2030, aimed at making the country a more competitive healthcare destination in Southeast Asia. The draft proposes expanding modern medical treatment, traditional medicine, rehabilitation, preventive healthcare and elderly-care services, while improving service standards and building a national medical-tourism brand. It also calls for closer cooperation between hospitals, tourism businesses and government agencies to combine treatment with accommodation, transport and recovery stays. For foreign investors and entrepreneurs, these priorities suggest opportunities in specialist clinics, rehabilitation facilities, medical equipment, healthcare technology and partnerships between healthcare providers and hospitality operators.

Why Foreign Patients Consider Vietnam?

Vietnam’s appeal to foreign patients rests on competitive prices, specialist healthcare and services that combine medical appointments with travel and accommodation. These factors also help investors identify where demand exists.

Lower Treatment Costs

Vietnam offers a significant price advantage for certain procedures. Vietnam News reports that a dental implant costs approximately US$1,000-1,500 per tooth in Vietnam, compared with around US$5,000 in the United States. This makes dental treatment an attractive option for overseas patients paying out of pocket, especially those requiring several implants. For investors, the price difference supports the commercial case for dental clinics serving international customers through clearly priced treatment packages. These are reported indicative prices; the final bill depends on the procedure and materials used.

Access to Specialist Medical Expertise

Vietnam has a specialised healthcare network comprising 103 hospitals, including 13 providing highly advanced technical services. Facilities offer procedures such as robotic surgery, cardiovascular intervention, cancer treatment and assisted reproduction. This gives foreign patients reasons to consider Vietnam beyond routine check-ups or cosmetic treatments. For investors, these capabilities suggest opportunities in specialist healthcare partnerships, diagnostic equipment and technologies supporting complex treatment.

Availability of Internationally Accredited Hospitals

International accreditation gives overseas patients a recognised benchmark when comparing providers. Vinmec reports that two hospitals in its network have achieved Joint Commission International standards, which address hospital quality and patient safety. For businesses entering this market, this illustrates why investment in clinical governance, staff training and documented quality systems matters alongside facilities and equipment. The figure refers specifically to Vinmec’s network, rather than the national total.

Opportunities for Foreign Businesses

Foreign businesses can participate in Vietnam’s medical-tourism sector by operating healthcare facilities, investing in existing providers, supplying equipment or offering services that support international visitors. The opportunities below draw on medical-tourism activity and the wider healthcare market that supports it.

Specialist Clinics and Treatment Centres

The US International Trade Administration reports that Vietnam has 384 private hospitals, representing 24% of hospitals but only 5.8% of national hospital-bed capacity. Many concentrate on specialities such as dentistry, ophthalmology, dermatology, cardiology and oncology. This illustrates an established market for focused healthcare businesses alongside large general hospitals.

Foreign operators could explore specialist clinics serving both international visitors and local customers. Potential models include dental centres, diagnostic facilities and rehabilitation clinics, with multilingual appointment management and follow-up services built into the offering.

Medical Equipment Supply and Maintenance

Vietnam imports around 90% of its medical equipment. Its medical-device market was valued at US$1.9 billion in 2024 and is forecast to reach US$2.8 billion by 2029. These figures cover the wider healthcare market, including hospitals and clinics serving overseas patients.

Opportunities include supplying diagnostic imaging systems, dental equipment, surgical instruments and rehabilitation devices. Suppliers can also generate recurring business through maintenance contracts, replacement parts, consumables and equipment training.

Acquisitions and Partnerships With Existing Providers

Foreign investment in established healthcare businesses already has a significant precedent. Singapore’s Thomson Medical Group completed its acquisition of FV Hospital in early 2024, in a transaction reported at US$381.4 million.

Acquisitions give investors access to an operating facility, clinical teams and an existing customer base. Smaller businesses could explore equity partnerships with specialist clinics or commercial agreements to develop international-patient services. Potential areas of cooperation include overseas marketing, appointment coordination and hospital management.

Digital Healthcare and International-Patient Software

By July 2026, 163 of Ho Chi Minh City’s 164 hospitals had adopted electronic medical records. However, full operational implementation stood at approximately 64% of public hospitals and 65% of private hospitals.

These figures suggest opportunities for software integration and implementation services. For providers serving international patients, practical applications include multilingual booking portals, secure pre-arrival document uploads, digital billing and follow-up appointment systems. Technology companies could sell these services directly to hospitals and clinic groups.

Accommodation, Transport and Visitor Coordination

The Ministry of Health’s medical-services department estimates annual spending by foreign healthcare users at US$1-2 billion, including treatment, accommodation, transport and food. This estimate includes foreign residents as well as visitors travelling specifically for treatment.

The spending extends business opportunities beyond clinical care. Hotels and serviced-apartment operators could partner with hospitals to provide accommodation near treatment facilities. Other potential services include airport transfers, interpreters and appointment coordination, helping visitors organise their stay through a single provider.

Challenges for Foreign Businesses

Foreign investors face challenges in estimating demand, competing with overseas providers and delivering consistent services. These affect where to invest, how much capital to commit and how to attract international customers.

Competition From Overseas Healthcare Providers

Vietnamese residents themselves spend an estimated US$2-3 billion annually on medical treatment abroad. This highlights competition for healthcare spending from providers outside Vietnam. For businesses targeting international patients, competitive pricing needs to be supported by specialist expertise, clear communication and a credible reputation. en.vietnamplus.vn

Concentration in Major Cities

Ho Chi Minh City accounts for approximately 40% of international medical tourists. This concentration creates a location challenge: established destinations offer an existing customer base, while projects elsewhere may need to build referral networks and destination awareness. en.vietnamplus.vn

Dependence on Imported Medical Equipment

Vietnam imports around 90% of its medical equipment, including diagnostic imaging systems, dental products and orthopaedic devices.

For hospitals and specialist clinics, this creates exposure to exchange-rate movements, international delivery schedules and overseas spare-parts supply. Investment budgets must cover installation, maintenance, consumables and staff training as well as the initial purchase. Equipment downtime can also disrupt appointments for visitors with fixed travel dates.

Uneven Implementation of Digital Systems

Although electronic medical records have been widely adopted in Ho Chi Minh City, full operational implementation covers approximately 64% of public hospitals and 65% of private hospitals. english.vov.vn

For businesses coordinating international treatment, incomplete implementation can complicate document exchange, billing and follow-up between providers. A clinic or hospital partnership may therefore require additional investment in compatible software, secure document transfer and administrative staff to manage the full customer journey.

Conclusion

Vietnam offers foreign businesses opportunities across specialist healthcare, medical equipment, digital services and visitor support. A strong investment proposition starts with a defined customer group, a service with demonstrable demand and reliable local partners. Businesses that combine clinical capability with transparent pricing, clear communication and well-organised support will be better placed to compete for international patients. InCorp Vietnam can support market entry, company establishment and the licensing requirements relevant to the proposed business.