Vietnam targets 20 internationally certified hospitals in medical tourism push

A 2026-2030 plan would link healthcare and tourism services across eight destinations while safeguarding access for domestic patients.

Vietnam is preparing to turn medical care into a tourism draw, with the Ministry of Health proposing an eight-locality program for 2026-2030 and a target of at least 20 hospitals meeting international quality standards.

The draft Medical Tourism Development Plan, now under ministry review, identifies Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Haiphong, Quang Ninh, Da Nang, Hue, Khanh Hoa and An Giang, including the Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone, as the proposed destinations.

At the center of the plan is an effort to create medical tourism products that can compete regionally and gradually establish a Vietnamese brand in the global market. The ministry aims for at least 20 hospitals to secure international quality certification, including no fewer than five public hospitals.

Priority services would range from health check-ups, screening and early disease detection to dentistry, fertility support and specialized treatment. The portfolio would also include traditional medicine, rehabilitation, wellness-oriented care and service for elderly people.

Localities would be assessed not only on clinical expertise, infrastructure and service quality, but also on tourism assets, transport links, accommodation and market demand. The approach is designed to connect healthcare capacity with a wider eco-system of tourism, transport and support service.

For international patients, the draft calls for an end-to-end service process covering consultation, appointment scheduling, admission, treatment, payment, and post-treatment follow-up. Quality and pricing information would be published in multiple languages, while visa, accommodation, cross-border payment and insurance policies would be studied to ease the journey for patients and caregivers.

The rollout is structured into three stages. In 2026-2027, authorities would prepare implementation conditions and select suitable products and locations. The program is expected to launch in chosen localities in 2028, before effectively models are refined and selectively expanded in 2029-2030.

The ministry says expansion must remain anchored in clinical quality and patient safety. It also stresses that attracting overseas patients must not reduce treatment quality or make healthcare less accesible to people in Vietnam.

Business & Integration - Vietnamese version: Đề xuất phát triển du lịch y tế tại 8 địa phương; reported by Thien Phuong