Medical Tourism from Vietnam: Market Trends, Patient Insights, and Global Opportunities

25Jun2025

B&Company

B&Company is the first Japanese company specializing in market research and investment consulting in Vietnam since 2008.

In this section “Vietnam Briefing”, young researchers of B&Company will provide timely information of Vietnam’s industrial trends, consumer trends, and social movements.

This article is written in English and automatic translation is used for other language versions. Please refer to the English version for accurate content. Although we strive to ensure the accuracy of the original information, please check separately for each information. Interpretations and future prospects are the personal opinions of each researcher.

According to a report by IMARC Group, Vietnam’s medical tourism market in Vietnam is valued at 722 million USD in 2024 and is projected to reach nearly 4 billion USD by 2033, with a CAGR of 18% during the 2025–2033 period[1]. This significant growth reflects the increasing demand among Vietnamese patients for high-quality medical services abroad, highlighting the rapid expansion of medical tourism from Vietnam.

Why is Medical Tourism Increasingly Popular in Vietnam?

From a social perspective, the quality of healthcare services in Vietnam remains uneven, particularly between public and private medical facilities—and even among different public hospitals themselves. For example, Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi currently has around 3,600 inpatient beds but frequently accommodates 4,000 to 4,500 inpatients, alongside 7,000 to 8,000 outpatient visits daily[2]. Similar situations occur at other major hospitals such as Viet Duc Hospital (Hanoi) and Cho Ray Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City), as well as other frontline medical centers, all struggling with overcrowding. Additionally, outdated infrastructure, complex administrative procedures, and inconsistent patient service quality contribute to a declining public trust in domestic healthcare. This lack of confidence has directly driven the increase in medical tourism from Vietnam.

Many major hospitals in Vietnam are struggling with overcrowding

Source: Thuvienphapluat

From a demographic perspective, Vietnam has seen significant growth in its middle class, which now represents approximately 56% of Vietnamese households as of 2024[3]. With rising living standards, Vietnamese consumers are increasingly willing to invest more in high-quality medical care and services abroad, spending on average around 2 billion VND annually per patient for overseas treatment[4].

Additionally, many patients combine healthcare with leisure travel. Some countries have developed attractive medical tourism strategies, allowing patients to recover in comfortable and modern environments. For example, Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok, one of Southeast Asia’s leading private hospitals, offers high-quality healthcare services paired with high quality facilities. It provides specialized treatment packages and collaborates with luxury hotels like the Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort to deliver an integrated healthcare and wellness experience for international patients. Alongside this, the rise of service providers offering comprehensive support, from consultation and appointment scheduling to interpretation and logistics, has made healthcare travel for Vietnamese patients increasingly accessible.

Modern Facilities at Bumrungrad International Hospital, Bangkok

Source: Bumrumgrad International Hospital

Popular Destinations for Vietnamese Medical Tourists

Countries such as Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, and Japan are the most popular destinations for medical tourism from Vietnam. These countries offer advanced medical technologies such as proton therapy, robotic surgery, early cancer diagnostics and many other advanced treatments that remain limited in Vietnam. Additionally, with visa policies allowing stays of up to 90 days for medical purposes, they have become highly attractive options for Vietnamese patients seeking treatment abroad.

Some Popular Medical Tourism Destinations for Vietnamese Patients

Country	Strengths	Medical Fees	Advantages	Disadvantages	Popular Hospitals
Singapore	Cancer, cardiovascular, organ transplant, and imaging diagnostic	Very High	International-quality services, reputable medical teams, and a professional environment	High costs, especially for specialized treatments	Mount Elizabeth, Raffles, Gleneagles, Parkway East
Thailand	Cosmetic surgery, dentistry, infertility treatment, orthopedics	Medium	Short waiting times, reasonable costs, combined with tourism	Variable quality among some hospitals requires careful selection	Bumrungrad, Bangkok Hospital, Sukhumvit
Korea	Cosmetic surgery, cancer treatment, and advanced endoscopy	Medium to high	Advanced technology, specialized services for Vietnamese patients	Language barriers without interpreters, relatively high costs	St. Mary’s Seoul, Korea University Anam, Severance
Japan	Cancer, cardiovascular, chronic diseases, early diagnostics	High	High treatment accuracy, long-standing reputation, and modern medical equipment	Complex procedures and language difficulties require thorough preparation	Keio University Hospital, St. Luke’s International Hospital

Source: B&Company Synthesis

B&Company’s Consulting Solutions for Medical Tourism

With over 15 years of experience in the Vietnamese market, B&Company has deep insights into the behaviors, needs, and preferences of local consumers, particularly in the healthcare sector. We support international hospitals and medical institutions in attracting Vietnamese medical travelers through the following services:

– In-depth Market Research: Analysis of the medical tourism market in Vietnam, providing data on the market size, outbound treatment trends, and specific behaviors and needs of Vietnamese patients.

– Target Audience Analysis: Identifying potential patient segments by age, income level, geographic location, and preferred medical services.

– Market Entry Strategy Consulting: Recommending communication strategies and promotion channels tailored to Vietnamese consumer psychology, including word-of-mouth marketing, social media engagement, and doctor referrals.

– Partnership Development in Vietnam: Facilitating connections with local medical tourism agencies, international healthcare brokers, media partners, and organizing themed seminars or roadshows.

– Marketing Content Development: Supporting the creation of localized Vietnamese-language materials such as brochures, introduction videos, social media content, and other marketing assets to build credibility and improve outreach.

– Survey and Performance Evaluation: Measuring brand awareness, patient satisfaction, and customer feedback following the implementation of marketing and patient acquisition activities.

Conclusion

Medical tourism from Vietnam is rapidly accelerating, fueled by a growing middle class and rising expectations for quality healthcare. For international healthcare providers, success in this competitive space depends on deep market insight, cultural alignment, and strategic engagement. With one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing economies and an increasingly health-conscious population, Vietnam presents a high-potential source of international patients and a valuable market for global medical institutions.

[1] IMARC Group (2025). Vietnam Medical Tourism Market Report <Access>

[2] Bao Moi (2025). Situation of Frontline Medical Centers in Vietnam <Access>

[3] Cimigo (2024). Vietnam Consumer Trends in 2024 <Access>

[4] Tuoi Tre Online (2024). Vietnam Medical Sector Lost Billion dollars to People Going Abroad for Medical Treatment <Access>

* If you wish to quote any information from this article, please kindly cite the source along with the link to the original article to respect copyright.

B&Company

The first Japanese company specializing in market research in Vietnam since 2008. We provide a wide range of services including industry reports, industry interviews, consumer surveys, business matching. Additionally, we have recently developed a database of over 900,000 companies in Vietnam, which can be used to search for partners and analyze the market.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries.

info@b-company.jp + (84) 28 3910 3913