Being away from your familiar country can be a frightening experience, especially if you are sick or need medical attention. Hopefully, our guide will equip you with essential knowledge of health care in Vietnam to ensure your safety during your visit so that you can fully experience the best that the S-shape nation has to offer.
Overview of the Health Care System in Vietnam
Healthcare facilities and services are especially scarce in rural areas compared to major cities like Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi. Do your research before going on a trip to remote places by checking out the full list of hospitals in Vietnam here (note that the region code has changed since 2017; check the list for the updated new regional code). It would be best if you also remembered that all hospitals in Vietnam only accept payment in Vietnam Dong while some accept major credit cards.
However, the Vietnamese government is still extremely underfunded in terms of healthcare. This means that the insurance plan itself doesn’t cover many treatments. As a result, many travelers usually choose an international health insurance plan before their arrival in Vietnam. Before receiving any treatment, be sure to check with the hospital and your healthcare provider about the kind of treatment your health insurance can cover.
Public Health Care Services
Public services include governmental insurance and public hospitals. Due to the greater number of demands, these services are usually cheaper but often of lower quality.
In 2015, 13.4% of Vietnamese people joined the government’s social insurance plan, and 75% joined medical insurance. In 2016, the medical insurance rate was over 86%, but it was still not enough for the government welfare system to develop.
Governmental Health Insurance in Vietnam
The government provides three types of health insurance in Vietnam: medical insurance, accident insurance, and social insurance. Vietnamese insurance law defines social insurance as compulsory for some locals and foreigners.
For employees who have been in contact with an organization for more than 3 months, the total cost of medical insurance is 4.5% of their salary. They will pay 1.5%, and their employers will pay 3%. The amount paid for medical insurance is also the amount they have to pay for their mandatory social insurance.
The fee for medical check-ups and treatment is only exempted for some cases, such as children under 6 years old and disabled people who are not capable of working and without income. If you are not on this list, you will have to pay medical fees, with or without insurance coverage.
Vietnamese mostly use governmental insurance for major surgery and treatments where the process will cover a long time and the fee is really high, such as orthopedic surgery and cancer treatments. For minor cases such as health check-ups, Vietnamese will often disregard the insurance because the procedures are too complicated.
Procedures at Public Hospitals
Before the check-up, you must provide your information and register with the hospital, pay the fee first, take the number, and wait for your turn. If you want to use insurance, you will have to present it when registering for a check-up procedure before the fee payment. When you check up at times other than office hours, the insurance will not cover your payment. If you are hospitalized or need urgent surgery, you must pay the medical fees before getting any treatment.
You have to go to the chosen hospital when signing up for the insurance. When you come to other hospitals other than the one you’ve registered, it is most likely that your insurance will be denied unless the registered hospital doesn’t have the specialization to cure your sickness. Sometimes, your insurance may be accepted when you come to hospitals of the same level (e.g. provincial and national).
The hospital quotes their fee for each situation, depending on whether you have an insurance card or not, and what type of insurance card you have.
If you have insurance types 1, 2, and 5, your insurance will cover 100% of your medical fees with different levels of limitation to other fees like medicines and hospital transfers. Insurance type 3 will cover 95% and 100% in some cases, and type 4 will cover 80%. Also, not all types of diseases or medical fees will be paid by insurance. Examples of non-coverage fees are regular pregnancy check-ups that are not for treatment, use of the prosthesis, and vision problems treatment.
Public Health Care Facilities
Public Hospitals in Vietnam
Most public hospitals in Vietnam are generally underfunded, have basic medical equipment, and are generally overcrowded. The majority of staff includes nurses and doctors who only speak Vietnamese. Nevertheless, the large size of public hospitals means that they have various medical departments to treat a wide range of illnesses. Government subsidies also help to reduce expenses.
The quality and access to medical services, like the number of doctors and advanced equipment for treatment in urban cities, are higher than those in rural areas. This is part of why many hospitals in big cities in Vietnam are packed with people from many provinces nearby seeking medical treatment. Also, the incapable facilities and insufficient rooms for all the patients, like in orthopedic hospitals, have made many patients stay in the hallways.
Pharmacies in Vietnam
Hospitals have pharmacies on site where you can purchase the prescribed medicine after the check-up. However, only some medicines are covered by insurance.
Emergency Services in Vietnam
The number for the medical emergency dial-in in Vietnam is 115. However, ambulances in Vietnam called “xe cap cut” usually have a slow response time, partly due to heavy traffic. Therefore, it is recommended that you call a taxi to drive you to the nearest hospital in case of emergency.
See Emergency Contacts in Vietnam
Private Health Care Services in Vietnam
Private healthcare services include commercial insurance and private hospitals. They are usually more expensive than public ones but more professional in customer service.
There is not an official number on the number of people buying medical insurance from private-owned businesses. But the cost is fixed and generally higher than that of the government, so people who could afford it choose to use private services.
Commercial Insurance
Some common names of insurance in Vietnam are Prudential, Generali, Daichi-life, Bao Viet, and those discounts provided by private hospitals (for example, Hanoi French Hospital, FV Hospital, and Vinmec Hospital).
Health Care Facilities
Commercial Hospitals and Clinics
Compared to public hospitals, private hospitals in Vietnam provide more professional services. Patients receive more care and attention from foreign specialists or Vietnamese doctors who are mostly trained abroad and English-speaking staff. Some famous private hospitals in Vietnam are Hanoi French Hospital, Vinmec, FV Hospital, Hanh Phuc Hospital, and Hoan My Hospital.
Private hospitals tend to cater to expatriates and tourists, so they do accept international health insurance. However, the better the service, the more you have to pay. Plus, their sizes are often smaller than public hospitals with less staff, so you might still have to wait on a busy day despite the low number of patients.
Private clinics can be run by a private organization (like FV Saigon Clinics) or by an individual doctor from the public sector (hence, these clinics are only open in the evening).
Commercial Pharmacies
Finding medicines (both over-the-counter and prescriptions) in capital cities like Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi isn’t difficult even for new travelers as many pharmacies can be easily found on major streets, in shopping malls, and in local markets. In case of an emergency late at night, there are also convenient chains of drug stores that open till midnight, like Pharmacy and Vistar Pharmacy.
Always check for the expiration date on the package before paying, as many dishonest pharmacies can sell you counterfeit or out-of-date drugs. To take extra caution, you can bring your own medicine from your home country or purchase over-the-counter medicine in hospitals when traveling to Vietnam for a short time.
Commercial Emergency Services
Emergency Medical Response *9999. This is a private service with current coverage in Ho Chi Minh City (14 districts). You can call them 24/7, but there are different fees for in-zone subscribers, out-of-zone subscribers, and non-subscribers. The staff can speak English and Vietnamese. Check out more of their price and service coverage here.
Procedures at Private Hospitals
The check-up procedure is similar to that of the public sector. The insurance acceptance and coverage are based on the hospital’s policy, partnership with the insurance company, and the insurance policy. Some private hospitals also have membership programs for patients to receive special offers or discounts. You will also need to present your insurance card to the staff before making the payment when you register your information with the hospital.
Government insurance can also be used in private hospitals if the hospitals have contracts with the social insurance department. In urgent cases, the hospital’s policy may require you to pay a fee or deposit before treatment.
Health Risks When in Vietnam
- Water contamination is still a big challenge for the government in Vietnam. Even though tap water is safe to brush your teeth or take showers in, it is advised that you should never drink directly from the tap. If you still have concerns regarding water hygiene in Vietnam, read more in our guide.
- The chaotic pace of Vietnam traffic can frighten any first-time traveler. Follow these safety procedures carefully if you decide to use any means of transportation.
- Suppose you travel to rural areas where hygiene standards are not always guaranteed. In that case, infectious diseases like Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Tetanus can pose a major threat. Ensure you have taken all the vaccinations required before the trip.
- Minor problems such as sunburn, dehydration, sunstroke should not be taken lightly because of the tropical climate, especially during the humid summer.
You should also take these basic precautions to minimize risk and ensure that your stay in Vietnam is as safe as possible.
Traveling to Vietnam for a Medical Procedure
Many Vietnamese who are currently residing overseas, and even foreigners, choose Vietnam as their destination for various medical procedures like dental treatment, dermatology or infertility issues, etc. in combination with traveling or visiting relatives because of the significantly lower cost compared to that of Western countries.
Ask your Vietnamese friends and acquaintances for recommendations to a trusted doctor who usually treats local patients, as the price for doctors specializing in treating foreigners is significantly more expensive.
Conclusion on Health Care in Vietnam
While a trip to a foreign country can be the adventure of a lifetime, it is extremely important to take careful precautions before departure to minimize preventable risks and avoid unnecessary threats.
You could also learn how to plan your budget if you wish to save money on your trip to Vietnam.