Vietnam in the medical and tourism game
The Ministry of Health is seeking opinions on the draft project on developing high-quality medical examination and treatment services for the period 2025-2030, aiming to attract foreigners and Vietnamese people with affordability, while limiting the situation of going abroad for treatment.
The goal is that by 2030, at least 5 key localities including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Quang Ninh, and Khanh Hoa will deploy integrated hospital - hotel - resort - travel medical tourism models.
The project aims to improve the quality of hospitals to meet national and international standards; develop at least 15 hospitals to meet international standards (including 5 public hospitals). At the same time, build service packages such as high-tech treatment, traditional medicine combined with resorts, and comprehensive health care.
Currently, about 40,000 high-income Vietnamese people go abroad for medical treatment each year, causing foreign currency losses and affecting domestic medical reputation.
Despite many advances in technology such as robot surgery, organ transplantation... the health system still has limitations in international standards, financial mechanisms, insurance and attracting foreign experts.
The project is implemented in 2 phases: pilot 2025-2027 with 10-15 service packages; then nationwide expansion in the 2027-2030 period, completing the process and increasing international insurance links.
Vietnam Medical Tourism: Impressions
Vietnam is gradually becoming a reputable medical tourism destination in the region, not only thanks to reasonable costs but also thanks to high professional qualifications and advanced techniques.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, Vietnam's medical tourism reached about 700 million USD in 2024 and is forecast to increase to nearly 4 billion USD in 2033, with a growth rate of about 18%/year.
Vietnam has a great advantage thanks to competitive costs, high professional skills and the ability to perform many complex medical techniques such as cardiology, organ transplantation, IVF, dentistry. In addition, traditional medicine and abundant tourism resources help combine treatment with relaxation.
Vinmec Ocean Park 2 Hospital (Hung Yen) has just launched a treatment model combined with resort, allowing patients to recover in a private villa space but still receive 24/7 medical monitoring and personalized care.
Prof. Dr. Doan Quoc Hung - Director of Vinmec Ocean Park 2 Hospital - said that the appearance of closed medical complexes is considered a specific step to concretize the health tourism development roadmap for the period 2025-2030 of the health sector. According to the assessment of management agencies, this field not only contributes to improving the quality of health services but also creates motivation for economic growth.
The operating model follows a closed ecosystem, integrating the entire process from examination, treatment, surgery to recovery and nursing in the same campus. The hospital has a scale of more than 31,000 m2, 114 inpatient beds, 14 specialties, and a modern equipment system serving diagnostic and intensive treatment.
Also according to Prof. Dr. Doan Quoc Hung, the Ministry of Health is developing a project to develop health combined with tourism, aiming to attract both domestic people and international visitors to Vietnam for medical examination and treatment. The health sector is encouraged to apply high and modern techniques to retain domestic patients and attract foreigners, gradually forming a health care ecosystem associated with tourism.
Medical tourism is a global trend, Vietnam has many advantages in nature, cost and safe environment. However, for strong development, it is necessary to improve service quality, policies and strengthen coordination between the healthcare and tourism sectors.
The number of international visitors to Vietnam is increasing rapidly, leading to an increasing demand for healthcare. Despite its high potential, Vietnam's medical tourism revenue is still modest compared to countries in the region, so the treatment model combined with resort is expected to create a breakthrough.
