Two ministries partner to build Vietnam into a medical tourism destination

The Ministry of Health has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to develop medical tourism for the 2025–2030 period, aiming to build Vietnam’s brand as a trusted destination for healthcare and medical services in the region and beyond.

40,000 Vietnamese people travel abroad for medical treatment each year

Under the agreement, the two ministries will work together to leverage the potential, strengths, and resources of both the health and tourism sectors, contributing to socio-economic development.

Mr. Ha Anh Duc, Director of the Medical Service Administration under the Ministry of Health, said the ministry is currently seeking feedback on a draft master plan for developing high-quality healthcare services in combination with medical tourism to attract international visitors and affluent Vietnamese patients during the 2025–2030 period.

The plan aims to improve the standards of leading hospitals toward meeting national and international benchmarks, gradually attracting more foreign patients while reducing the trend of Vietnamese citizens traveling abroad for medical treatment.

At present, about 40,000 high-income Vietnamese seek treatment overseas each year, resulting in foreign currency outflows and undermining the reputation of domestic hospitals.

According to Mr. Duc, countries such as Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, and Malaysia have successfully developed medical tourism models. 

In contrast, in Vietnam, although some hospitals have been renovated and upgraded, infrastructure and patient services remain inconsistent and fail to fully meet the demands of patients willing to pay for premium care; certain specialized departments are also experiencing chronic overcrowding.

Connecting healthcare and tourism

By 2030, the plan aims for at least 15 hospitals in Vietnam to meet international quality standards (JCI or equivalent), including a minimum of five public hospitals. All pilot facilities will be required to establish international marketing and communications units, providing information in at least three languages.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan noted that Vietnam’s health sector, with a 70-year history of development, has mastered many advanced techniques on par with global standards, such as robotic surgery, organ transplantation, cancer treatment, and cardiovascular, ophthalmological, and ENT surgeries. Some techniques, including endoscopic cardiac surgery and thyroid tumor removal, have even attracted foreign practitioners to come and learn from Vietnam’s experience.

In addition, traditional medicine with its long history—such as acupuncture and acupressure—is gradually gaining international recognition. Over the past five years, the quality of medical examination and treatment in Vietnam has improved markedly, with hospitals adopting more patient-centered services to enhance satisfaction.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung said the tourism sector will encourage wellness services in connection with healthcare facilities, while the health sector will step up investment in high-quality services and partner with travel businesses to attract international visitors seeking medical treatment in Vietnam.

The two ministries will also coordinate to promote Vietnam’s strengths in medicine—particularly traditional medicine and high-quality healthcare services—through domestic and international tourism promotion programs.