Hospitals, tourism providers and public authorities aim to strengthen international patient services as Vietnam expands its position in regional healthcare travel
Ho Chi Minh City is seeking to establish a more internationally competitive medical tourism sector by connecting specialist hospitals with tourism operators, accommodation providers and patient support services. The initiative aims to transform Vietnam's growing medical capabilities into an integrated healthcare travel offering capable of attracting more international patients.
Vietnam already benefits from comparatively affordable treatment costs, an expanding network of public and private hospitals and increasing expertise in specialised medical procedures. According to healthcare industry representatives, certain treatments cost only 30–50% of comparable services in Singapore and Thailand. Dentistry, reproductive medicine and cardiovascular treatment are among the fields attracting interest from patients in neighbouring countries.
Despite these advantages, Ho Chi Minh City has yet to develop a comprehensive service infrastructure for international medical travellers. Many hospitals remain primarily focused on domestic patients, while dedicated international patient departments, coordinated accommodation arrangements and partnerships with tourism providers are still limited. Health authorities now consider these structural weaknesses a major obstacle to the city's development as a regional medical tourism destination.
Competitive treatment costs attract international patients
Vietnam's healthcare sector has expanded its capabilities in advanced medical disciplines, including organ transplantation, cardiovascular interventions, robotic surgery, oncology and assisted reproduction. Investments in medical technology and specialist training have strengthened the country's ability to provide treatments previously associated primarily with more established regional healthcare destinations.
Professor Nguyen Van De, chairman of the Vietnam Association of Private Hospitals, has highlighted the changing direction of cross-border patient travel. While Vietnamese patients frequently sought treatment abroad three decades ago, the country is increasingly attracting patients from international markets.
Cost remains an important competitive factor. According to De, dental implants in Vietnam typically cost approximately USD 1,000–1,200, compared with prices reaching USD 5,000 in the United States. He also estimates that in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment costs around one-third of comparable procedures in Thailand and one-fifth of those in the United States.
These comparisons illustrate potential price advantages, although actual treatment costs depend on medical complexity, individual patient requirements and the services included.
Vietnam's dental sector reportedly receives around 100,000 international patients annually, generating estimated revenue of VND 3.5 trillion, equivalent to approximately USD 135.3 million. The figures underline the commercial significance of dental tourism within the country's wider healthcare travel market.
International patient services remain fragmented
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, hospitals in the city recorded hundreds of patient visits from Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia and other countries during the first nine months of 2026.
However, Dr Huynh Minh Chin, deputy director of the department, has acknowledged that relatively few hospitals currently provide dedicated services designed specifically for international patients.
The shortcomings extend beyond medical treatment itself. Coordination between healthcare facilities, tourism businesses, accommodation providers and public authorities remains fragmented. Limited market research and insufficient medical tourism data also make it difficult to develop targeted strategies for international patient acquisition.
Health officials believe Ho Chi Minh City has considerable potential in specialist treatment, dentistry, assisted reproduction, cosmetic procedures and preventive health examinations. Realising that potential will require more consistent service standards, stronger institutional cooperation and improved support throughout the patient journey.
The city's expanded administrative territory, following its merger with Binh Duong and Ba Ria–Vung Tau, creates additional opportunities to combine hospital treatment with coastal tourism, rehabilitation facilities, traditional medicine and wellness services.
This geographical integration could support more comprehensive medical travel packages, particularly for patients requiring recovery periods or extended stays.
Building a competitive healthcare destination
Vietnam is also exploring the potential of traditional medicine as a complementary component of medical tourism.
Dr Do Tan Khoa, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital of Traditional Medicine, has identified acupuncture, therapeutic exercises, herbal medicine and other traditional practices as possible elements of health-oriented travel programmes when combined with rehabilitation and appropriate medical supervision.
The broader challenge, however, is to establish an internationally recognised healthcare travel ecosystem rather than relying solely on individual hospitals or lower treatment prices.
Dr Duong Huy Luong, deputy director general of the Department of Medical Service Administration under Vietnam's Ministry of Health, has emphasised that sustainable competition with established destinations such as Thailand and Singapore requires specialised medical centres, standardised services and closer cooperation between healthcare and tourism businesses.
For international patients, such an approach could improve access to treatment information, accommodation, transport arrangements and coordinated services before and after medical procedures.
For Vietnam's healthcare and tourism industries, the proposed development represents an opportunity to move beyond price-based competition towards a more structured international patient market.
Although specific investment commitments, implementation schedules and international patient targets have not been announced, the initiative signals a strategic shift towards integrating medical expertise, patient services and tourism infrastructure. Its success will depend on whether Ho Chi Minh City can translate its existing clinical capabilities into reliable, internationally accessible healthcare travel services.
Image Credit: © AI generated illustration
