Under the plan, by 2030, five localities, namely Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Quang Ninh, and Khanh Hoa, will pilot integrated medical tourism models combining hospitals, hotels, resorts and travel services, which is being reviewed by the public.
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A surgeon performs an operation at HCMC Children’s Hospital 2 in July 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran |
According to the ministry, Vietnam’s medical tourism market was valued at approximately $700 million in 2024 and is projected to expand to nearly $4 billion by 2033, representing an average annual growth rate of around 18%. The figures underscore the sector’s considerable potential.
Vietnam benefits from several competitive advantages, including relatively low costs, a highly skilled medical workforce, and the capability to perform complex procedures in fields such as cardiology, organ transplantation, in vitro fertilization (IVF), and dentistry. These strengths position the country to compete with established regional medical hubs.
The plan further envisages establishing at least 15 internationally accredited hospitals by 2030, including five public institutions. In parallel, service packages will be diversified to include advanced medical treatment, traditional medicine combined with wellness retreat, and comprehensive healthcare packages.
According to Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Tourism, between 30 – 40% of patients seeking medical treatment in the city come from other provinces or overseas. While most international patients originate from neighboring countries such as Cambodia and Laos, there has also been notable growth from markets including the US, Australia, Canada and Japan, as well as overseas Vietnamese communities.
Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan affirmed that Vietnam’s competitive costs, improving medical expertise, and rich tradition of traditional medicine not only enhance domestic healthcare services but also open up a promising new avenue for the country’s tourism and healthcare industries.
