Hospitals and pharmacies in Vietnam for foreigners

How healthcare in Vietnam works — three tiers

Healthcare in Vietnam is a lottery. You might land in a modern, JCI-accredited hospital treating by international protocols. Or you might end up in a district clinic with a four-hour queue and not one member of staff who speaks English. Knowing the tiers before you need them saves the panic.

State hospitals are the cheapest option. Staff rarely speak English, paperwork is Vietnamese-only and wards are spartan. For a minor complaint it is simpler to walk into a pharmacy; for anything serious, go straight to an international clinic.

Private clinics are the middle ground. Equipment beats the state hospitals, though doctors trained on Vietnamese programmes. Fine for the simple stuff: lab work, X-rays, uncomplicated injuries.

International hospitalsare the default for foreigners. JCI accreditation (Joint Commission International) means treatment protocols meet global standards. With direct billing you don't pay out of pocket if you carry travel health insurance.

The best clinics for foreigners

Four networks cover the main destinations, and all bill international insurers directly.

Vinmec

The largest network of international hospitals in Vietnam, part of the Vingroup conglomerate. It was the first and only chain in the country to earn JCI accreditation, and it partners with the Cleveland Clinic (USA). It has treated over 500,000 foreign patients from 200+ countries.

Direct billing with 30+ insurers: Cigna, Bupa, Aetna, AXA, Pacific Cross, Allianz, International SOS.

FV Hospital

A French-Vietnamese hospital in District 7 of Ho Chi Minh City, widely rated the best international hospital in town. English- and French-speaking doctors, full range of specialities. The downside: prices run 2–3× higher than Vinmec for comparable procedures.

Family Medical Practice (FMP)

A general-practice chain in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang, popular with expats for everyday needs: colds, minor injuries, vaccinations, paediatrics. It is not a hospital — serious cases are referred on to Vinmec or FV Hospital.

Raffles Medical

A Singaporean network with a clinic in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City. Premium tier — the pick if you want a Singapore standard of service.

💬 "Vinmec Central Park runs about 30–40% cheaper than FV Hospital for comparable procedures, while keeping JCI accreditation and the Cleveland Clinic partnership." — medicaltourism.vn, 2026

Hospitals city by city — where to go

• Vinmec Central Park (Bệnh viện Vinmec Central Park): JCI, 208 Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh, Bình Thạnh — Consult from 440,000 VND (~$17)
• FV Hospital (Bệnh viện FV): 6 Nguyễn Lương Bằng, District 7 — Top international hospital in HCMC
• Vinmec Times City (Bệnh viện Vinmec Times City): 458 Minh Khai, Hai Bà Trưng, Hanoi — Largest Vinmec in the country
• Vinmec Nha Trang (Bệnh viện Vinmec Nha Trang): 42A Trần Phú, Nha Trang — The city's only international clinic
• Vinmec Da Nang (Bệnh viện Vinmec Đà Nẵng): 30 Tháng 4, Hải Châu, Da Nang — English, Japanese, Korean interpreters
• Vinmec Phu Quoc (Bệnh viện Vinmec Phú Quốc): Phu Quoc — Opened 2024, international standard

Ho Chi Minh City

• FV Hospital — 6 Nguyễn Lương Bằng, District 7. Best for serious cases
• Vinmec Central Park — 208 Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh, Bình Thạnh. JCI, more affordable
• Raffles Medical — 167A Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, District 3
• Family Medical Practice — Diamond Plaza, 34 Lê Duẩn, District 1

For a full picture of the city — districts, transport, where to base yourself — see the Ho Chi Minh City guide.

Hanoi

• Vinmec Times City — 458 Minh Khai, Hai Bà Trưng. Largest Vinmec in the country
• Family Medical Practice — 298 Kim Mã, Ba Đình
• SOS International — Suite 606, 31 Hai Bà Trưng

More on the capital — neighbourhoods, getting around, what to see — in the Hanoi guide.

Nha Trang

• Vinmec Nha Trang — 42A Trần Phú. The only international clinic in the city
• Bệnh viện Khánh Hòa — state hospital, for budget cases

If it is your teeth you came for, dental care in Vietnam is covered in a separate guide.

Da Nang

• Vinmec Da Nang — 30 Tháng 4, Hải Châu. English, Japanese and Korean interpreters
• Family Medical Practice Da Nang — 96-98 Nguyễn Văn Linh

Phu Quoc

• Vinmec Phu Quoc — opened 2024, international standard
• District hospital — serious cases are evacuated to Ho Chi Minh City

💬 "Vinmec — the place to go, especially if you are a foreigner. Modern facilities and professional service-oriented staff with good English." — SafetyWing, 2025

Pharmacies — where to buy medicine

Pharmacies in Vietnam are on every corner. In the tourist zones of Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang they sit 100–200 metres apart. Look for the sign "NHÀ THUỐC" or the green cross.

The big chains

Long Châu is the best bet for foreigners: English-speaking pharmacists, transparent prices and a logo that is a blue "L" on white. Per FPT Retail, the chain now covers all 63 provinces of Vietnam.

What you can buy over the counter

Vietnam is one of those countries where drugs that are officially prescription-only are sold freely. Antibiotics (Amoxicillin, Azithromycin, Ciprofloxacin) are available at almost any pharmacy.

Rules worth knowing

• Buy only at chain pharmacies (Long Châu, Pharmacity, An Khang). Market stalls risk counterfeits
• Check the expiry date and that the packaging is intact
• Drug names are international (Latin), so searching for them is easy
• Hours: 7:00–22:00, up to 23:00 in tourist zones
• 24/7 pharmacies sit inside the big hospitals

💬 "Locating pharmacies in Vietnam isn't difficult — most streets have at least one or two, with bright green cross signs. Major chains like Pharmacity and Long Chau have well-trained staff who often speak English." — sungetawaystravel.com, 2025

What to pack in your first-aid kit

Almost everything below is buyable locally, but the first days are jet lag, heat and unfamiliar pharmacies. Bring a small kit for the first 24–48 hours.

Bring

1. Hand sanitiser — before street food. Wet wipes too
2. Painkillers — ibuprofen or paracetamol, a brand you know
3. Anti-diarrhoeal / oral adsorbent — an upset stomach is the most common traveller problem
4. Antihistamine — cetirizine or loratadine, for mosquito bites and reactions to exotic fruit
5. DEET repellent 30%+ — against mosquitoes (dengue carriers). Buyable locally, but not on your first evening
6. Sunscreen SPF50 — the first days are when you burn most easily
7. Plasters and sterile wipes — for small cuts and blisters
8. Oral rehydration salts — for dehydration from heat or diarrhoea

Skip (cheaper to buy on the spot)

• Antibiotics (available over the counter)
• Bulk diarrhoea remedies (cheaper here)
• Vitamins
• Tiger Balm and similar — locally it costs almost nothing

Emergency medical care

When minutes matter, know the numbers by heart.

What to do in a serious emergency

1. Dial 115, or ask hotel staff to call the ambulance
2. In parallel, call your insurer's assistance line (number on your policy)
3. If the person is stable enough, take a Grab to the nearest international clinic
4. At the clinic, show your passport and insurance policy

Ambulances in Vietnam are slower than you may expect. In big cities the wait is 15–30 minutes, up to an hour at peak traffic. A Grab is often faster. In Ho Chi Minh City there is also a private 24/7 medical response service on 9999, with better-equipped ambulances and more English than the state line (welcome.vn).

Embassy contact

Save your embassy's number before you travel — most run a 24-hour emergency line for citizens abroad, and consulates in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang can help if you lose your passport or end up hospitalised. If you do lose your passport, see the guide on safety in Vietnam.

Common medical problems for travellers

Food poisoning. The most common cause. Diarrhoea, nausea, fever. Treatment: an oral adsorbent, plenty of fluids, rehydration salts. See a doctor if your temperature is above 38.5°C, there is blood in the stool, or symptoms last more than two days.

Heatstroke. 35–40°C at 80%+ humidity is a real strain. Dizziness, nausea, weakness. Treatment: shade, cool water on the neck and wrists, rehydration salts. See a doctor if there is confusion or loss of coordination.

Sunburn. The tropical sun burns in 20–30 minutes, even on a cloudy day. SPF50 every two hours is a must.

Dengue. Spread by day-active Aedes mosquitoes. Symptoms appear 4–14 days later: high fever, pain behind the eyes, body aches, rash. There is no reliable vaccine for travellers. If you suspect it, see a doctor at once.

Coral and sea-urchin cuts. On wild beaches wear water shoes. Coral cuts heal slowly in the tropical climate — clean them with antiseptic twice a day.

FAQ

Do doctors in Vietnam speak English?

At international hospitals (Vinmec, FV, Family Medical Practice, Raffles) doctors and reception speak fluent English — that is what you are paying for. State and small private hospitals rarely do. If you end up somewhere without English, your insurer's assistance line can add a phone interpreter, and Google Translate's camera reads prescriptions well enough.

Can you buy antibiotics without a prescription?

Officially prescription-only. In practice they are sold freely. Name the international drug (Amoxicillin, Azithromycin) and the pharmacist hands it over. Still, the WHO strongly advises against taking antibiotics without a doctor's guidance.

How much does an ambulance cost?

The state ambulance (115) is free. Wait times are 15–30 minutes, up to an hour in traffic. Private ambulances from international hospitals start around 1,000,000 VND (~$40). A Grab to the hospital is often faster and costs 30,000–80,000 VND (~$1–3).

Do hospitals accept foreign insurance?

International hospitals (Vinmec, FV, Raffles) do direct billing with major global insurers such as Cigna, Bupa, Aetna, AXA and Allianz. Smaller plans work on reimbursement — you pay, keep the receipts and claim later. Check your insurer's network before travelling.

What if you get sick on an island?

Phu Quoc has Vinmec Phu Quoc and a district hospital. Serious cases are evacuated to Ho Chi Minh City, about an hour by plane. Con Dao has only basic care. Insurance with medical-evacuation cover is essential here.

Are pharmacies open 24 hours?

24-hour pharmacies sit inside the big hospitals (Vinmec, FV). Chain pharmacies run until 22:00–23:00. Late at night you can find small outlets in tourist areas, but the range of stock is limited.

Useful phrases for the pharmacy and hospital

Data current as of July 2026. Prices and conditions change — verify with official sources before you travel.