Medical tourism seen as key to keeping Vietnamese patients at home

The Vietnam Medical Tourism Alliance (VMTA) was officially launched in Hanoi on Tuesday, moving toward positioning Vietnam as a leading global hub for medical tourism.

Speaking at the event, Ha Anh Duc, head of the Department of Medical Service Administration under the Ministry of Health, highlighted Vietnam’s growing strengths in advanced medical expertise.

The country has successfully mastered complex procedures such as heart, lung, and liver transplants, with capabilities increasingly comparable to those in developed nations.

Besides, healthcare infrastructure has seen substantial upgrades.

Many hospitals now meet high-quality standards, with some described as equivalent to ‘five-star’ facilities in both service and professional care.

Cost competitiveness remains a key advantage in Vietnam.

Medical services in Vietnam are significantly more affordable than in many other countries.

For example, dental treatments of comparable quality can cost as little as one-fifth of prices elsewhere, making the country an attractive option for both domestic and international patients.

Waiting times are another factor working in Vietnam’s favor.

Procedures such as minimally invasive joint replacement surgeries can often be scheduled within a week, far quicker than the months patients may wait in some foreign healthcare systems.

Vietnamese patients annually spend billions of U.S. dollars on medical treatment in some nations such as Thailand and Japan.

As such, the development of medical tourism is seen as a strategic solution to retain these patients while also drawing new international visitors.

Nguyen Trung Khanh, head of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, emphasized that medical tourism extends beyond treatment to include wellness, cultural experiences, and travel.

Globally, the sector generates billions of U.S. dollars annually.

Therefore, with its rich natural resources and strong advantages in medical experience and expertise, Vietnam’s medical tourism services are poised for robust growth in the coming years.

Vietnam’s appeal as a safe and welcoming destination further strengthens its prospects.

In 2025 alone, the country welcomed more than 20 million international visitors, providing a strong foundation for expanding into medical tourism.

The Ministry of Health is currently drafting a comprehensive development plan for medical tourism, expected to be submitted to the prime minister in the near future.

The ministry also plans to standardize healthcare services through enhanced quality benchmarks, bringing Vietnam’s medical system closer to international standards, Duc said.

The strategy envisions broadening services beyond treatment to include wellness care, rehabilitation, and retirement living for both domestic and international clients.

However, achieving these ambitions will require coordinated action across multiple sectors, including healthcare, tourism, public security, and finance.

Key areas include visa policies, immigration procedures, accommodation services, and payment systems.

The alliance has set ambitious targets of attracting an additional one to two million medical tourists annually by 2030, extending average stays to 15-30 nights, and earning $3-5 billion in annual revenue.