Vietnam is eyeing a slice of the estimated US$80 billion global medical tourism pie, after authorities inked a deal to develop a roadmap to position the nation as a healthcare tourism hub by 2030.
At the 19th International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City, representatives from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism signed an MoU to develop medical tourism between 2025 and 2030.
Minister of tourism, Nguyen Van Hung, said developing medical tourism would diversify Vietnam’s tourism portfolio. Efforts will include developing medical tourism, especially in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), as well as wellness tourism concepts that are centred around the country’s natural resources.
He noted that under the MoU, regulations in line with international standards will be developed, as well as high-quality medical facilities.
Le Troung Hien Hoa, deputy director of HCMC Department of Tourism, told TTG Asia that dental and cosmetic tourism in Vietnam are gaining traction, especially in Ho Chi Minh City, among Asian and Australian markets.
“We see a lot of potential to explore in this area, but we need regulations, which we are working on. We want to mainly focus on building Vietnam’s dental and cosmetic surgery offerings,” he said.
Giang Nguyen, sales and marketing manager at Benh Vien Rang Ham Mat Saigon dental hospital, noted a steadily rising number of patients from Japan, Australia and the US.
“They usually combine (treatment) with a one- to two-week holiday,” she said. “There is a lot of potential in Vietnam to grow this sector.”
However, Marie Kaalund Winther, managing director of Lotus Rejser in Denmark, said it may be difficult to lure Europeans.
“I think it would be difficult to gain trust from European markets, plus we have many affordable and reliable dental options much closer to home, such as Turkey and Hungary,” she opined.
