Ho Chi Minh City to fully cover tuition for medical residents

Tang Chi Thuong, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, announced the plan at a meeting hosted by the Standing Committee of the municipal Party Committee to honor healthcare workers ahead of the 2026 Lunar New Year holiday, due in the middle of this month.

He said the Standing Committee had recently agreed with the ‘Young Medical Talent Training Project,’ which focuses on residency programs.

Under the new policy, medical residents will no longer have to pay tuition, which currently costs from VND30 million (US$1,160) to VND40 million ($1,550) per year, and will also receive additional benefits and preferential policies.

Thuong explained that medical residents are considered the ‘elite force’ of the healthcare sector.

They are rigorously selected, undergo four years of intensive training after graduation, and are expected to master advanced techniques and take on leadership roles in the future.

The project was developed over the past year with input from relevant departments and has been endorsed by the Standing Committee.

The initiative aims to remove financial barriers, making residency training more attractive and sustainable, while ensuring the city has a strong pipeline of highly skilled doctors.

Thuong expressed optimism that the new policy would motivate young doctors to pursue residency programs and strengthen the city’s healthcare system.