Healthcare in Vietnam for Foreigners
Healthcare in Vietnam for foreigners is not free, even in public hospitals, says the US State Department. Vietnam Social Security says 95.16 percent of the people had health insurance by the end of 2025. For one visit to a state hospital, Circular 21/2023 of the Ministry of Health set a price range of 30,100 to 45,900 dong. Private hospitals set their own prices, and the law says they must post them. This guide covers how the system works, who can join health insurance, which hospitals foreigners use, emergencies and how to check a licence.
This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not back any hospital, treatment or drug. In an emergency, dial 115.
Short answer
- Is healthcare in Vietnam free?
- No. The US State Department says you will pay even in a public facility. Smartraveller says hospitals expect payment before they treat you, even in an emergency. For insured people outside the groups paid at higher rates, Vietnam's health insurance fund pays 80 percent of covered costs.
- What does a doctor visit cost?
- At a state hospital, Circular 21/2023 set a national range of 30,100 to 45,900 dong for one examination, and provinces set local prices under the Ministry of Health framework. We could not confirm whether a later circular replaced that range. Private hospitals set and post their own prices. We found no official price list for them.
- Which hospitals do foreigners use?
- The US Embassy list names international hospitals and clinics in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang. The table below gives a selection of names from that list and the UK list. The Embassy endorses none of them.
- What number do I call in an emergency?
- Dial 115 for emergency medical services. The US State Department says a taxi or your own car to the nearest major hospital can be faster than waiting for an ambulance.
Sources: US State Department, Vietnam travel guidance, Health; Smartraveller (Australia), Vietnam, Health; Law 51/2024/QH15 amending the Health Insurance Law; Circular 21/2023/TT-BYT, Annex I; Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 15/2023/QH15 (consolidated text); US Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam, Medical Assistance list
How does healthcare in Vietnam work?
Vietnam has state and private care, and one law covers both. The Law on Medical Examination and Treatment puts every site, state or private, into one of three levels of care. The law also has rules just for foreign patients, such as rules on language, covered below.
| Level | What the law says it does |
|---|---|
| Primary level | Outpatient care, primary health care, and managing disease and rehabilitation in the community. |
| Basic level | General outpatient and inpatient care. |
| Intensive level | Specialist outpatient and inpatient care, specialist training and research, and passing on techniques. |
You will still see the older hospital classes, such as class I or class III. The national price table for a doctor visit uses them. Many guides also split care into public hospitals, private hospitals and international clinics. The US Embassy list uses groups like these, such as public hospitals and international clinics and hospitals. That is a handy way to sort, not a legal term.
Big hospitals are busy. The World Health Organization says the government plans to invest in district and commune care to reduce crowding in central hospitals. Its page is not dated. Outside the cities, choice shrinks. The US State Department says health facilities exist in all major cities, but adequate care may be hard to find in rural areas. Canada says facilities and supplies are limited outside Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Sources: Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 15/2023/QH15 (consolidated text); US Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam, Medical Assistance list; WHO Viet Nam, Hospitals in Viet Nam; US State Department, Vietnam travel guidance, Health; Government of Canada, Vietnam travel advice
Is healthcare free in Vietnam?
No. The US State Department says medical care is not free in Vietnam. You will pay even if you are treated in a public facility. It adds that hospitals and doctors often want payment before service or admission. Smartraveller (Australia) says the same, including in an emergency. Some hospitals may talk to your travel insurer to secure payment. Others may want money up front before they start.
Vietnam does have a national health insurance scheme, called BHYT. It is not universal yet. Vietnam Social Security says 95.16 percent of the population took part by the end of 2025. It says coverage is close to the goal of insurance for everyone. That figure is for the whole population. It does not say how many foreigners are covered.
Insurance does not mean free care either. The Health Insurance Law was changed in 2024. Most of the new text took effect on 1 July 2025, and some parts on other dates. Under it, the fund pays 80 percent of covered costs for insured people outside the groups paid at higher rates. In an emergency, an insured person gets 100 percent of their own benefit rate at any hospital. That benefit rate is itself 80 percent for many people, not the whole bill. The rate also depends on the hospital level and on the rules for where you register and how you are sent on. This page does not cover those rules.
If you have no insurance card, a state hospital charges you its set price for the services on the insurance list. Services you ask for on demand are priced on their own.
Sources: US State Department, Vietnam travel guidance, Health; Smartraveller (Australia), Vietnam, Health; Vietnam Social Security, health insurance article, 3 February 2026; Law 51/2024/QH15 amending the Health Insurance Law; Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 15/2023/QH15 (consolidated text)
Can foreigners join Vietnam Social Security health insurance?
Some can. Under the amended law, a foreign employee working in Vietnam on a fixed term contract of 12 months or more with an employer in Vietnam is in the scheme. There are exceptions, such as people moved within a company. The older rule used a 3 month contract.
For other foreigners, such as retirees or people on a family visa, we could not confirm the current rule. In 2023, Vietnam Social Security told a reader that a foreigner on temporary residence was not in the household insurance group. That answer used a decree that has since been replaced. A Lao Cai office gave a different answer under the same old rules. So we do not say yes or no for voluntary cover since 1 July 2025.
The UK FCDO says residents should take out a suitable health insurance policy. Our health insurance in Vietnam guide goes into cover in more depth.
Sources: Law 51/2024/QH15 amending the Health Insurance Law; Vietnam Social Security Q&A, 30 June 2023; Chinhphu.vn policy Q&A, 21 November 2023; UK FCDO, Living in Vietnam
How much does it cost to see a doctor in Vietnam?
For one examination at a state hospital, Circular 21/2023 of the Ministry of Health set a national range on 17 November 2023: from 30,100 dong at the lowest level to 45,900 dong at the highest. We could not confirm whether a later circular has replaced that table. This is a national range, not a local price list. It is the price of the examination service itself.
| Facility | Minimum (dong) | Maximum (dong) |
|---|---|---|
| Special class hospital | 42,100 | 45,900 |
| Class I hospital | 42,100 | 45,900 |
| Class II hospital | 37,500 | 41,000 |
| Class III hospital | 33,200 | 35,800 |
| Class IV hospital | 30,100 | 32,700 |
| Commune health station | 30,100 | 32,700 |
The real local price is set by each province. The law says the provincial People's Council sets prices for state facilities in its area. They may not go above the Ministry of Health price. We could not confirm the local figures for Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi or Da Nang, or that no later circular replaced this table.
Private and international hospitals are different. The law says a private facility decides its own prices. It must declare them and post them in public. Facilities must post prices at the facility and on the official information system for medical care. That is why we found no official price list for private hospitals. You also have the right to ask for the charges to be given and explained.
Governments warn about private bills. Canada says care at private clinics and hospitals can be expensive. The US State Department says US citizens have filed many complaints about unethical business practices. They raised concern about high prices and how some private hospitals collect bills. It says to get full details on billing, prices and the planned procedure before you agree to care.
Sources: Circular 21/2023/TT-BYT, Annex I; Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 15/2023/QH15 (consolidated text); Government of Canada, Vietnam travel advice; US State Department, Vietnam travel guidance, Health
Hospitals in Vietnam for foreigners: Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang
The US Embassy keeps a list of hospitals and clinics in Vietnam. It says many of the international sites have foreign doctors on staff who speak English. The UK FCDO has a similar list, last updated on 24 June 2022. Smartraveller says foreign private clinics can be found in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.
The table gives names only from those two lists. It is not a ranking. The US Embassy says it takes no responsibility for the ability or reputation of anyone listed, and that the list is not complete. The UK FCDO says none of its listed providers is endorsed or recommended.
| City | Name | Named by | Address or note in the list |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ho Chi Minh City | Franco-Vietnamese hospital (FV) | US Embassy; UK FCDO | Nguyen Luong Bang St, Tan My Ward. The US Embassy lists it under international clinics and hospitals. The UK list marks it private, with English speaking staff marked yes. |
| Ho Chi Minh City | American International Hospital | US Embassy | 199 Nguyen Hoang, Binh Trung Ward. |
| Ho Chi Minh City | City International Hospital (CIH) | US Embassy | No. 3, Street 17A, An Lac Ward. |
| Ho Chi Minh City | Vinmec Central Park International Hospital | US Embassy | 208 Nguyen Huu Canh, Thanh My Tay Ward. |
| Ho Chi Minh City | Centre Medical International (CMI) | US Embassy | 30 Pham Ngoc Thach, Xuan Hoa Ward. |
| Ho Chi Minh City | Victoria Healthcare Vietnam | US Embassy | Location 1: 20 Dinh Tien Hoang, Dakao Ward. |
| Ho Chi Minh City | Cho Ray Hospital (public) | US Embassy; UK FCDO | The US Embassy notes English speaking staff on the 10th floor, which is set aside for foreigners. The UK list marks it public, with some English speaking staff. |
| Hanoi | Hanoi French Hospital | US Embassy | 1 Phuong Mai Street, Kim Lien Ward. 24/7 emergency line in the list: (+84-24) 3574-1111. |
| Hanoi | Vinmec Times City International Hospital | US Embassy | 458 Minh Khai Street, Vinh Tuy Ward. 24/7 emergency line in the list: (+84 24) 3974-4333. |
| Hanoi | Family Medical Practice Hanoi | US Embassy | Van Phuc Diplomatic Compound, 298 I Kim Ma Street, Ngoc Ha Ward. 24/7 emergency line in the list: (+84-24) 3843-0748. |
| Da Nang | Vinmec Danang International Hospital | US Embassy | 30/4 Street, Hoa Cuong Bac Ward. |
| Da Nang | Hoan My Danang Hospital | US Embassy | Listed as a private international hospital. 291 Nguyen Van Linh, Thac Gian Ward. |
| Da Nang | Da Nang Family Medical Practice | US Embassy | Listed as an international clinic. 96-98 Nguyen Van Linh, Hai Chau Ward. |
Names and phone lines change, so check the Embassy list itself before you rely on a number. Three Hanoi entries carry a 24/7 emergency line in the list. That does not mean every international hospital has one.
Hospitals by city
- Hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City: the government lists, JCI status and the 115 line.
- Hospitals in Hanoi: the listed hospitals and how each rates English.
- Da Nang hospitals: where the lists agree and where they differ.
- Hoi An hospitals: care for visitors and why addresses name two places.
- Phu Quoc hospitals: care on the island and getting off it.
Sources: US Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam, Medical Assistance list; UK FCDO, List of medical facilities in Vietnam (24 June 2022); Smartraveller (Australia), Vietnam, Health
Which hospitals in Vietnam are JCI accredited?
On 13 October 2026, with the country set to Vietnam, the JCI directory showed these eight hospitals under its Hospital Program, listed below. Joint Commission International (JCI) checks and accredits hospitals in many countries. The US CDC says many foreign hospitals and clinics hold JCI status, and it points to the JCI website for the list. JCI calls its directory the complete list of current accredited groups.
| Hospital | City | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Vinmec International Hospital, Times City | Hanoi | 25 April 2015 |
| FV Hospital | Ho Chi Minh City | 5 March 2016 |
| Vinmec International Hospital, Central Park | Ho Chi Minh City | 28 April 2017 |
| American International Hospital | Ho Chi Minh City | 11 November 2022 |
| Phuong Chau International Hospital | Can Tho | 24 September 2022 |
| Blood Transfusion Hematology Hospital | Ho Chi Minh City | 22 November 2024 |
| Phuong Chau Soc Trang International Hospital | Soc Trang | 7 December 2024 |
| Phuong Nam Hospital | Ho Chi Minh City | 13 December 2024 |
Accreditation is not a ranking. For any hospital not in this table, check the JCI directory yourself. This page makes no claim either way about hospitals it does not list here.
Sources: Joint Commission International directory, Vietnam filter, checked 13 October 2026; CDC Travelers Health, Vietnam
What do governments say about hospitals in Vietnam?
Several governments describe care in Vietnam for their own citizens. We found no official ranking of its hospitals. These are their words, not ours.
- The US Embassy says care in Vietnam generally falls below US standards.
- Smartraveller (Australia) says the standard of care varies. It says care is generally below Australian standards, and may lack medicine and supplies. It says care at most public hospitals is poor, mainly outside Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
- The UK FCDO says the standard of care in public hospitals is different from in the UK.
- Canada says good health care is limited. It says quality varies greatly across the country. In Canada's words, private clinics and hospitals are usually better equipped. Canada says they usually have qualified staff who speak English or French well.
- The US State Department says public clinics may lack basic supplies.
Sources: US Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam, Medical Assistance list; Smartraveller (Australia), Vietnam, Health; UK FCDO, Living in Vietnam; Government of Canada, Vietnam travel advice; US State Department, Vietnam travel guidance, Health
Can you find an English speaking doctor in Vietnam?
Yes, at international facilities. The US Embassy says many of them have foreign doctors on staff who speak English. Elsewhere, the US State Department says staff may speak little or no English. It adds that public hospitals have only a few staff at night in wards that are not for emergencies. At Cho Ray, a public hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, the Embassy list notes staff who speak English on the 10th floor. That floor is set aside for foreigners.
Vietnam's law has language rules for this. A foreign doctor may use a language other than Vietnamese with a foreign patient. Decree 96/2023 says a foreigner must register for care and state their language needs with the facility. If the facility cannot arrange this, the patient must arrange an interpreter, and is responsible for what the interpreter says.
Sources: US Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam, Medical Assistance list; US State Department, Vietnam travel guidance, Health; Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 15/2023/QH15 (consolidated text); Decree 96/2023/ND-CP
What do you do in a medical emergency in Vietnam?
Dial 115 for emergency medical services in Vietnam.
115 is the number given by the US State Department, the US Embassy list, the UK FCDO and Canada. The UK FCDO says to dial 115 and ask for an ambulance. It says to call your insurer quickly if you are sent to a hospital for care.
Ambulances are limited. The US State Department says ambulances, even in large cities, often have little or no medical gear. It says they are not usually staffed with trained paramedics. It says a very ill or hurt traveller might prefer a taxi or their own car to the nearest major hospital, as that can be faster. Canada says response times may be slow because of traffic. The CDC says emergency care may not be there or may not meet US standards if you are seriously injured. It says trauma centers are rare outside cities.
The law gives emergencies priority. A hospital may turn away care that is beyond its skills, but not in an emergency. It must give emergency patients first call on staff, equipment and drugs, and on transfer to a suitable hospital. That is a legal duty, not a promise about how any hospital performs. Payment can still come first, as Smartraveller warns.
Sources: US State Department, Vietnam travel guidance, Health; US Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam, Medical Assistance list; UK FCDO, Vietnam travel advice, Health; Government of Canada, Vietnam travel advice; CDC Travelers Health, Vietnam; Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 15/2023/QH15 (consolidated text); Smartraveller (Australia), Vietnam, Health
Medical evacuation and travel insurance
Serious cases may leave the country. Smartraveller says a person who becomes seriously ill or hurt may need medical evacuation to Bangkok or Singapore. It says this can be very expensive. It says care at most public hospitals is poor, and that you may need evacuation to a major centre even for minor operations. Canada says you may need to go to a nearby country.
The US and UK governments do not pay their citizens' medical bills abroad. The US State Department says most US health plans do not cover costs abroad, and the US government does not pay medical bills. It strongly recommends extra insurance for evacuation, and says you must claim the money back yourself. The UK FCDO says the UK government does not pay overseas medical bills, and the patient pays all hospital costs.
The UK FCDO lists what a travel policy should cover. The list is health problems you already have, an air ambulance, full medical cover, and bringing remains home. It also says to read the contract for how much you must pay up front before you can claim.
Sources: Smartraveller (Australia), Vietnam, Health; Government of Canada, Vietnam travel advice; US State Department, Vietnam travel guidance, Health; UK FCDO, Vietnam travel advice, Health; UK FCDO, Living in Vietnam
Medicines and pharmacies
Medicine is easy to buy, and that carries a risk. The US State Department says medicines are usually easy to buy with few controls. It says counterfeit medicine is common and may not work, may have the wrong strength, or may have dangerous ingredients. It says to buy with the help of a medical professional, from trusted places like hospital pharmacies. The UK FCDO says some medicines are hard to find and many are fake.
Some drugs are restricted. The US State Department says Vietnam bans or strictly limits drugs with narcotics, psychotropic substances and drug precursors. Its examples are high dose codeine, pseudoephedrine and strong sedatives. Our pharmacy in Vietnam guide covers what you can buy without a prescription.
Sources: US State Department, Vietnam travel guidance, Health; UK FCDO, Vietnam travel advice, Health
How to check a hospital or doctor licence in Vietnam
Every clinic and hospital needs a licence. The law says a site may open only after the right authority has given it a licence to operate. A doctor may work only with a licence that is in force and a registration to practise, with a few exceptions. The authority that licenses a hospital must publish its list of practitioners on the official information system for medical care.
- Ho Chi Minh City: the city health lookup at thongtin.medinet.org.vn lets you search for a doctor, a clinic or a beauty clinic. It is in Vietnamese.
- Hanoi: the lookup at suckhoethudo.vn/data-lookup lets you search clinics, licences to practise and other data. It is in Vietnamese.
- Da Nang: the city health department says it is following a Ministry of Health plan of 13 November 2025 to roll out a national system. We could not confirm a public lookup there.
The Ministry of Health has asked provincial health departments to publish lists of facilities that broke the rules, were suspended or lost their licence. Its letter says this is so people can pick a safe facility and help watch them.
For surgery, the US State Department says Vietnam has many elective or cosmetic surgery sites and the quality of care varies widely. It says to make sure emergency medical facilities are available, and that the professionals are accredited and qualified.
Sources: Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 15/2023/QH15 (consolidated text); Ho Chi Minh City health lookup (medinet); Hanoi health data lookup; Da Nang Department of Health, national system rollout; Ministry of Health, Department of Medical Examination and Treatment, Official Letter 1703/KCB-QLHN; US State Department, Vietnam travel guidance, Health
Before you need care: what to check, and who says it
This table puts each official check in one place, with the body that says it. Each line is that body's own advice for its readers, not ours.
| Check | Who says it | What they say |
|---|---|---|
| Your home health plan | US State Department | Find out if your plan covers medical costs abroad. It says most US plans do not, and the US government does not pay medical bills. |
| Cover for evacuation and hospital stays | Government of Canada; US State Department | Canada says to get travel insurance that covers medical evacuation and hospital stays. The State Department strongly recommends extra insurance for evacuation. |
| What you must pay up front | UK FCDO | Read your insurance contract closely, mainly the amount you must advance for care before you can claim it back. |
| Billing, prices and the planned procedure | US State Department | Get full details on billing, pricing and the proposed procedures before you agree to any care. |
| Posted prices and an explained bill | Vietnam, Law 15/2023 | A facility must post its prices at the facility and on the official information system for medical care. A patient may ask for the charges to be given and explained. |
| The facility licence | Vietnam, Law 15/2023 | A clinic or hospital may operate only after it has an operating licence. Lookups exist for Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. |
| Your language needs | Vietnam, Decree 96/2023 | A foreigner must register for care and state their language needs with the facility. |
| Where you buy medicine | US State Department | Buy medicine with the help of a medical professional, from trusted places like hospital pharmacies. |
| Before any surgery | US State Department | Make sure emergency facilities are available and that the professionals are accredited and qualified. |
Sources: US State Department, Vietnam travel guidance, Health; Government of Canada, Vietnam travel advice; UK FCDO, Living in Vietnam; Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 15/2023/QH15 (consolidated text); Decree 96/2023/ND-CP
Treatment and beauty guides
Many people look at Vietnam for one treatment. Each guide below covers one, from official sources.
- Plastic surgery in Vietnam: costs, risks and clinic checks.
- Breast augmentation in Vietnam: implants, costs and recovery.
- Hair transplant in Vietnam: FUE vs DHI, costs and risks.
- Pharmacy in Vietnam: what you can buy without a prescription.
- Choosing a dentist in Vietnam and dental tourism in Vietnam, with dental implants and veneers, and how a free dental concierge in Vietnam works.
- IV therapy in Vietnam, IV therapy in Ho Chi Minh City, NAD therapy and exosome therapy.
More healthcare guides
- Vaccines for Vietnam: which shots to plan for before you travel.
- Travel insurance for Vietnam: what cover visitors are told to have.
- Therapy in Vietnam: finding a therapist or psychologist.
- IVF in Vietnam: the law, the process and checking a centre.
- Laser eye surgery in Vietnam: LASIK, SMILE and recovery.
Dental guides by city and treatment
- Da Nang dental clinics: clinics named in city health notices and how to check a licence.
- Dental clinic Hanoi: looking a clinic up on the Hanoi health register.
- Dentist Hoi An: licence checks after the 2025 Da Nang merger.
- Teeth whitening in Vietnam: methods, risks and where to go.
- Teeth whitening in Hanoi: what to ask a clinic before a whitening visit.
- Teeth whitening in Ho Chi Minh City: the plan and price to get first.
- Invisalign in Vietnam: how clear aligners work and finishing at home.
What we could and could not confirm
This page was built from official records, read in October 2026. We did not visit a hospital for it. We could confirm:
- The health law, the amended insurance law and Decree 96/2023, in the Official Gazette.
- The national price range in Circular 21/2023, checked against the scanned Gazette copy.
- The US Embassy list, the State Department page, Smartraveller and the JCI directory. We read them in a browser on 13 October 2026.
- The UK FCDO pages, Canada's advice and the CDC page.
We could not confirm:
- The price of a visit at any private hospital. We found no official figure.
- The local state hospital price in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi or Da Nang. We also could not confirm that no later circular replaced the 2023 table.
- Whether a foreigner who is not an employee can join BHYT since 1 July 2025.
- A current official count of hospitals in Vietnam.
- JCI status for Vietnam hospitals not in the saved directory result we read on 13 October 2026.
- Whether travel insurance is required to enter Vietnam.
- A public licence lookup for Da Nang.
Sources: Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 15/2023/QH15 (consolidated text); Law 51/2024/QH15 amending the Health Insurance Law; Decree 96/2023/ND-CP; Circular 21/2023/TT-BYT, Annex I; US Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam, Medical Assistance list; US State Department, Vietnam travel guidance, Health; Smartraveller (Australia), Vietnam, Health; Joint Commission International directory, Vietnam filter, checked 13 October 2026; UK FCDO, Vietnam travel advice, Health; Government of Canada, Vietnam travel advice; CDC Travelers Health, Vietnam
Healthcare in Vietnam questions
Are public hospitals free in Vietnam?+
No. The US State Department says medical care is not free in Vietnam, and you will pay even in a public facility. Vietnam's law says a state facility charges the set price to a patient with no health insurance card. Smartraveller says doctors and hospitals expect payment before they treat you, including in an emergency.
Do Vietnamese people get free healthcare?+
Not as a rule. Vietnam has a national health insurance scheme called BHYT. Vietnam Social Security says 95.16 percent of the population took part by the end of 2025. Under the amended Health Insurance Law, the fund pays 80 percent of covered costs for insured people outside the groups paid at higher rates, and 100 percent of that benefit rate at any facility in an emergency.
How much does it cost to see a doctor in Vietnam?+
For one examination at a state hospital, Circular 21/2023 of the Ministry of Health set a national range of 30,100 to 45,900 dong in November 2023: 30,100 to 32,700 dong at class IV hospitals and commune health stations, up to 42,100 to 45,900 dong at special class and class I hospitals. Provinces set local prices under the Ministry of Health framework, and we could not confirm whether a later circular replaced the 2023 range. Private and international hospitals set their own prices and must post them, so we found no official figure for them.
Does Vietnam have good healthcare for foreigners?+
We found no official ranking, but several governments describe it. The US Embassy says care in Vietnam generally falls below US standards. Smartraveller says the standard varies and is generally below Australian standards. Canada says good care is limited and quality varies greatly across the country, and that private clinics and hospitals are usually better equipped.
What is the best hospital in Ho Chi Minh City?+
We found no official ranking of hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City. The US Embassy list names international hospitals and clinics there, including the Franco-Vietnamese hospital (FV), American International Hospital, City International Hospital, Vinmec Central Park, CMI and Victoria Healthcare. The Embassy says it takes no responsibility for the listed facilities. JCI accreditation is a separate check, and you can look up any hospital in the JCI directory.
Can Americans get health insurance in Vietnam?+
The US State Department says most US health plans do not cover medical costs abroad, and it strongly recommends extra insurance for medical evacuation. Under Vietnam's amended Health Insurance Law, a foreign employee on a fixed term contract of 12 months or more with an employer in Vietnam is in the scheme, with some exceptions. Whether other foreigners can join BHYT since 1 July 2025 is not confirmed in the official records we read.
Do tourists need health insurance for Vietnam?+
The US, UK and Canadian advisories used here all urge cover. Canada says to get travel insurance that covers medical evacuation and hospital stays. The UK FCDO says to check a policy covers existing conditions, an air ambulance, full medical cover and repatriation. We did not find an insurance rule in the entry sections we read, so check current entry rules before you travel.
Sources: US State Department, Vietnam travel guidance, Health; Smartraveller (Australia), Vietnam, Health; Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 15/2023/QH15 (consolidated text); Law 51/2024/QH15 amending the Health Insurance Law; Vietnam Social Security, health insurance article, 3 February 2026; Circular 21/2023/TT-BYT, Annex I; US Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam, Medical Assistance list; Government of Canada, Vietnam travel advice; UK FCDO, Vietnam travel advice, Health
Related reading
Health Insurance in Vietnam
What cover looks like for foreigners
Pharmacy in Vietnam
What you can buy without a prescription
GLP-1 in Vietnam
Access, options and cost for GLP-1 medicines
Peptide Legality in Vietnam
What is legal and how prescriptions work
Spotting a Counterfeit GLP-1
How to check a pen or vial
IV Therapy in Vietnam
Drip types, evidence and what to expect
This guide is general information only. It is not medical advice, and it does not back any hospital, treatment or drug. Hospital names come from the US Embassy list (read 13 October 2026) and the UK FCDO list (last updated 24 June 2022). JCI status comes from the JCI directory (checked 13 October 2026). Check current details with the source and the hospital. For a medical concern, see a licensed doctor. In an emergency, dial 115.