Future Trends of Medical Tourism in Vietnam
Vietnam is becoming a popular destination for medical tourism, which attracts a growing number of international patients thanks to its top-notch, affordable services and state-of-the-art facilities. A recent survey by Indochina Research (Vietnam) – a leading regional research company, has shed the light on international patients’ emphasis on medical service quality and medical personel expertise of medical personnel in their choice of hospital.
According to the Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, international arrivals in Vietnam in November 2024 reached 1.7 million, the highest number of visits since the beginning of the year, an increase of 20.5% from October 2024 and a YoY increase of 38.8%.
For the first 11 months of 2024, international arrivals in Vietnam reached more than 15.8 million visits, a YoY increase of 41.0%. As the number of foreign patients increases, hospitals should make adaptations through strategic management and innovative services to achieve global standards and improve patient experience.
The survey by Indochina Reseach shows that, among foreigners responding to the study, Vinmec Healthcare System (Vinmec) stands out as the most recognized medical facility. Vinmec - one of the top-tier private hospital systems in Vietnam, renowned for its international standard medical services and dedicated services for foreign patients.
Vinmec is a hospital brand trusted by foreigners in Vietnam thanks to its international standard medical quality, skilled medical professionals, and inclusive care services. This healthcare system is also among the few hospitals in Vietnam which receive JCI accreditation - the world's most rigorous standard and certification on hospital quality and patient safety.
Vinmec's Cardiovascular Center is also the first Asia’s first cardiology center of excellence, accredited by ACC in two areas: heart failure management and coronary artery disease management.
The hospital gathers many leading medical experts, experienced in working at international medical facilities to ensure accurate diagnoses and advanced treatment methods. Vinmec also makes strong investments in up-to-date technologies, such as AI-based diagnosis, telemedicine, and electronic medical record management, to improve treatment efficiency and patient experience.
Personalized service delivery is also an advantage thanks to its multilingual staff who provide comprehensive support, such as consultation, appointment, treatment, and logistics. Compared to countries with developed medical systems, e.g. Singapore or Thailand, Vinmec offers international standard services at competitive costs.
Vinmec's hospitals, located in key cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and key tourist areas, give international patients easy access to modern medical services, making Vietnam become a top-of-mind destination for medical tourism. Two hospitals under the Vinmec, i.e. Vinmec Times City International Hospital and Vinmec Central Park International Hospital, are members of Cleveland Clinic Connected - a global hospital affiliation program of Cleveland Clinic (USA).
Ms. Le Thuy Anh, CEO of Vinmec Healthcare System, says: “We are proud that Vinmec is trusted by the foreign community in Vietnam. This demonstrates our commitment to the ongoing improvement of service quality and our efforts to pursue an academic medical model while maintaining strict international standards. In the future, we will make more investments in medical technologies, expand our services, and improve client experience to affirm Vinmec's position in Vietnam, the region and the world".
As reported by Indochina Research, Vinmec is the most recognized hospital system in Vietnam, with its brand recognition ranking first in major cities like Hanoi (80%), Da Nang (78%), and Ho Chi Minh City (71%). In addition to international accreditations, e.g. JCI and CAP, Vinmec also invests in AI-based diagnosis and treatment, and telemedicine, to enhance healthcare efficiency.
Vinmec believes that the report accurately indicates the advances of Vietnam’s medical system and the growing trust of international patients. There is a significant increase in the number of foreigners visiting Vietnam for medical services, especially for health checks, specialized surgeries, and advanced medical treatment.
Vietnam’s success in medical tourism relies on the strategic vision and effective leadership of hospitals. Medical facilities like Vinmec are setting new medical quality standards and showing continuous innovation to satisfy the needs of international patients.
As Vietnam continues to affirm its position in the global medical map, strategic management is the key to making Vietnam the first-choice destination for medical tourism.
