Vietnam is now emerging as a medical tourism hub

Vietnam is now emerging as a Southeast Asian hub for medical tourism.

As the formerly war-torn country continues to emerge as a Southeast Asian success story, its new focus is on medical tourism. According to Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Tourism, numbers of arrivals from overseas for the purpose of medical tourism have been on the increase since 2017. Treatments range across all medical and surgical specialities and include cardiology intervention, fertility treatments, cosmetic surgery and dental care.

During 2019, over 350,000 foreign patients arrived for checkups and treatment, with some 57,000 requiring in-patient care. Total revenue generated was around $2 billion, and the popular Ho Chi Minh City University’s Medical Centre sees an average of between 40 and 50 foreign patients every day. According to the hospital, patients from 80 world countries have been treated, with the main drivers of Vietnam’s medical tourism development being advanced technology, highly competent doctors and modern infrastructure.

For example, dental costs in Vietnam are between three and 10 times less than in the rest of Asia, even in spite of the sector’s excellent reputation for care and professional expertise. On average, 100,000 visitors arrive annually for dental care, and an increasing number of expatriates from neighbouring states including Thailand are also taking advantage of the sector’s high quality and low prices.

Plans to develop the sector still further between now and 2025 are expected to increase its attraction for expats as well as tourists. According to the city’s Department of Health deputy director, expat numbers in the city are on an increase, as is tourism, resulting in higher demand than ever before for international standard healthcare.