Emergency Numbers & Access
Call 115 for ambulance — dispatchers rarely speak English. In practice, taking a Grab car or taxi to the nearest international hospital is faster and more reliable than waiting for an ambulance in traffic. Family Medical Practice (FMP) in Hanoi and HCMC has 24/7 English-speaking ER. Vinmec hospitals have modern emergency departments. For serious trauma or conditions, medical evacuation to Bangkok or Singapore is standard practice — ensure your insurance covers this. Public hospital ERs will treat regardless of ability to pay but conditions are basic and very crowded.
Response time: 15-45 minutes in cities (heavily traffic-dependent — motorbike gridlock delays ambulances significantly); 45-120+ minutes in rural/mountainous areas. In HCMC and Hanoi, a taxi or motorbike taxi (Grab) to hospital is often faster than waiting for an ambulance.
Cost: Public hospital ER: VND 100,000-1,000,000 ($4-40) for assessment. Public admission: VND 200,000-500,000/day ($8-20). ICU (public): VND 1,000,000-5,000,000/day ($40-200). International clinic ER: $150-800 per visit. International hospital admission: $300-2,000+/day. Surgery (public): VND 5,000,000-50,000,000 ($200-2,000). Surgery (international): $2,000-20,000+. Medical evacuation to Bangkok/Singapore: $15,000-80,000+.
Healthcare System
Vietnam operates a public hospital system with 4 tiers (commune, district, provincial, central). Central hospitals in Hanoi (Bạch Mai, Việt Đức) and HCMC (Chợ Rẫy) are highly skilled but severely overcrowded — 2-3 patients sharing a bed is common. International clinics (Family Medical Practice, Raffles Medical, Vinmec) offer Western-standard care with English-speaking doctors at 10-30x public prices. Vietnam is an emerging medical tourism destination — dental and cosmetic surgery particularly popular. The private hospital chain Vinmec (part of Vingroup conglomerate) has rapidly expanded with JCI-accredited facilities nationwide. Traditional medicine (thuốc nam, thuốc bắc) is widely practised alongside Western medicine.
Designed for: Vietnamese citizens with BHYT (Bảo Hiểm Y Tế) social insurance; visitors rely on international clinics and private hospitals in Hanoi, HCMC, and Da Nang
GP Access & Costs
NO formal GP/family doctor system — patients go directly to hospital outpatient departments (khoa khám bệnh) or private clinics (phòng khám). International clinics offer Western-style GP consultations with appointments. Public hospitals: walk-in registration — arrive early (6-7am) to get a queue number. Self-referral to specialists is normal — patients choose their own department.
Typical wait: Public hospital outpatient: 2-5 hours (arrive very early). Private Vietnamese clinic: 30-60 minutes. International clinic: same-day to next-day appointment. Specialist at central hospital: 1-3 weeks for senior doctors.
Availability: Excellent international options in Hanoi, HCMC, and Da Nang. Vinmec hospitals in Hanoi, HCMC, Nha Trang, Hải Phòng, Đà Nẵng. Limited English-speaking care outside major cities — translation essential in provincial areas.
GP Visit
Public hospital consultation: VND 30,000-150,000 ($1
Private GP
Public hospital outpatient: VND 30,000-150,000 ($1.20-6). Private Vietnamese clinic: VND 200,000-500,000 ($8-20). International clinic GP: VND 1,500,000-4,000,000 ($60-160). Specialist (international): VND 2,000,000-6,000,000 ($80-240). Dental: VND 200,000-1,000,000 ($8-40) local — Vietnam is a dental tourism hotspot.
ER Without Insurance
Public ER: VND 200,000-2,000,000 ($8-80). International clinic ER: $150-800. Public hospital admission: VND 200,000-500,000/day ($8-20). International admission: $300-2,000+/day. Surgery (public): VND 5,000,000-50,000,000 ($200-2,000). Medical evacuation to Bangkok/Singapore: $15,000-80,000+.
Medication
Medications at local pharmacies (nhà thuốc) are extremely affordable — antibiotics VND 20,000-100,000 ($0.80-4), common medications VND 10,000-200,000 ($0.40-8). Pharmacies are ubiquitous — multiple per street in cities. Many medications sold without prescription including antibiotics (technically regulated but loosely enforced). Quality varies — buy from reputable chains (Pharmacity, Long Châu, An Khang). Counterfeit medications are a concern — avoid unmarked or suspiciously cheap products. International clinic pharmacies charge 5-15x more but guarantee quality.
Pharmacy & Medication
Hours: Local pharmacies (nhà thuốc): generally 7am-9pm daily. Chains: Pharmacity, Long Châu, An Khang — 8am-10pm. Hospital pharmacies: 24/7 at major hospitals. 24-hour pharmacies available in HCMC District 1 and Hanoi Old Quarter.
OTC: Very wide range — antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, codeine-containing products, and many prescription-only medications (by Western standards) available over the counter. Pharmacists will diagnose and prescribe for minor conditions. Language barrier significant — bring medication names in generic/chemical form.
Controlled substances: EXTREMELY strict drug laws — Vietnam applies the DEATH PENALTY for drug trafficking. ANY amount of recreational drugs can result in severe prison sentences. Cannabis is illegal — zero tolerance. Carry an official doctor's letter for ALL prescription medications, especially opioid painkillers, ADHD medications (methylphenidate/amphetamines), and benzodiazepines.
Practical Tips
- Family Medical Practice (FMP) — the gold standard for expat/tourist care in Hanoi, HCMC, and Đà Nẵng, with 24/7 emergency
- Vinmec International Hospital — JCI-accredited chain with modern facilities in Hanoi, HCMC, Nha Trang, and 5 other cities
- Raffles Medical in HCMC — excellent Singaporean-run clinic with English-speaking doctors
- Download Grab app — essential for getting to hospital quickly (often faster than ambulance)
- Carry your hotel address in Vietnamese — taxi/Grab drivers may not read English addresses
- For rabies post-exposure treatment, go to Pasteur Institute (Viện Pasteur) in Hanoi or HCMC — they stock reliable vaccine
- Register with your embassy — evacuation coordination may be needed in emergencies
- Bring mosquito repellent with DEET 30%+ — dengue is endemic and there's no specific treatment
- Cash (VND) is essential — many local clinics and pharmacies don't accept cards
- IQAir app for real-time air quality monitoring — especially important in Hanoi Oct-Mar
What is the emergency number in Vietnam?
Ambulance: 115, Police: 113, Fire: 114. Emergency operators rarely speak English. In Hanoi and HCMC, international clinics (Family Medical Practice, Raffles Medical, Vinmec) have their own ambulance services — call them directly for faster English-speaking response.
Is healthcare affordable in Vietnam?
Public hospitals are very cheap ($5–$20 for a visit) but overcrowded — 2–3 patients sharing a bed is common. International clinics charge $50–$150 per GP visit and $200–$1,000+ for ER visits. The private chain Vinmec offers JCI-accredited facilities nationwide at mid-range prices.
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Sources: Vietnam Ministry of Health (Bộ Y tế), WHO Vietnam Country Office, CDC Travelers' Health — Vietnam 2024, Family Medical Practice Vietnam, Vinmec International Hospital, Pasteur Institute Ho Chi Minh City
Last reviewed: March 2026 by Gewardz Health
Further Reading
Healthcare in Thailand
Compare Vietnam with Thailand — a more established medical tourism destination.
Read guideHealthcare in Indonesia
Compare Vietnam with Indonesia — both have similar healthcare challenges for visitors.
Read guideHealthcare in Singapore
Singapore is a common evacuation destination from Vietnam for complex cases.
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