FairWait
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Healthcare in Vietnam: cost & waiting times
Statutory health insuranceSocial health insurance, managed by Vietnam Social Security, covers most of the population, with care at registered public facilities and co-payments. Public hospitals are often crowded; international hospitals and clinics in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang serve foreigners and those paying privately.
Emergency number: Ambulance 115 Β· Police 113 Β· Fire 114
How residents get care
- Register with a facility β Insured people register with a primary facility, which refers them on.
- Public hospitals β Low-cost but often overcrowded.
- International hospitals and clinics β Book directly; English is spoken; prices are higher.
- Emergencies β Call 115 β operators speak Vietnamese only, so ask a local to help or go to an international hospital.
Official waiting-time source
Vietnam doesn't publish waiting times; international hospitals are quick.
No public waiting-time statistics β
Typical private costs
Typical self-pay prices β for an exact figure use the official links above or ask a clinic for a written quote.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| International clinic GP consultation | β«1,000,000ββ«3,000,000 |
| International clinic specialist | β«1,500,000ββ«4,000,000 |
| MRI (international hospital) | β«4,000,000ββ«9,000,000 |
| Cataract surgery, per eye (private) | β«29,000,000ββ«42,000,000 |
| Hip replacement (private) | β«140,000,000ββ«190,000,000 |
Typical waits & prices by procedure
Typical averages for comparison, not quotes. Public care is free or nominal at the point of use unless noted. Private care has no standard queue β availability depends on the provider. Where an official statistic exists (UK, Ireland, Poland) the interactive guide shows it, dated and sourced.
| Procedure | Typical public wait | Typical private price |
|---|---|---|
| GP / primary-care appointment | ~5 days | β«720,000ββ«1,400,000 |
| Specialist consultation (first) | ~91 days | β«2,200,000ββ«3,600,000 |
| MRI scan (one area) | ~42 days | β«4,200,000ββ«7,200,000 |
| CT scan | ~42 days | β«4,800,000ββ«8,400,000 |
| Gastroscopy / endoscopy | ~63 days | β«19,000,000ββ«29,000,000 |
| Cataract surgery (per eye) | ~126 days | β«29,000,000ββ«42,000,000 |
| Knee arthroscopy | ~175 days | β«54,000,000ββ«78,000,000 |
| Inguinal hernia repair | ~154 days | β«36,000,000ββ«54,000,000 |
| Gallbladder removal | ~182 days | β«66,000,000ββ«96,000,000 |
| Hip replacement | ~210 days | β«140,000,000ββ«190,000,000 |
| Knee replacement | ~238 days | β«160,000,000ββ«200,000,000 |
| Tonsillectomy | ~175 days | β«36,000,000ββ«48,000,000 |
| Carpal tunnel release | ~168 days | β«22,000,000ββ«32,000,000 |
| X-ray | ~14 days | β«960,000ββ«1,800,000 |
| Ultrasound scan | ~28 days | β«1,800,000ββ«3,400,000 |
| Echocardiogram | ~42 days | β«3,000,000ββ«5,000,000 |
| Colonoscopy | ~70 days | β«22,000,000ββ«34,000,000 |
| Coronary angiogram | ~42 days | β«30,000,000ββ«46,000,000 |
| Varicose vein removal | ~140 days | β«36,000,000ββ«54,000,000 |
| Lumbar disc surgery (discectomy) | ~189 days | β«110,000,000ββ«160,000,000 |
| Rotator cuff repair (shoulder) | ~175 days | β«78,000,000ββ«110,000,000 |
| Hysterectomy | ~140 days | β«84,000,000ββ«130,000,000 |
| Vasectomy | ~70 days | β«4,800,000ββ«8,400,000 |
| Bunion surgery | ~175 days | β«48,000,000ββ«66,000,000 |
Prescriptions
Many medicines are sold over the counter; buy from reputable pharmacies to avoid counterfeits.
Dental care
Dental care is mostly private; Ho Chi Minh City has dental tourism.
Adult public dental cover: limited. Typical self-pay prices:
| Treatment | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Check-up + X-rays | β«411,230ββ«925,265 |
| Scale & polish | β«616,840ββ«1,233,685 |
| Filling | β«925,265ββ«2,056,140 |
| Extraction | β«925,265ββ«2,570,175 |
| Root canal | β«3,084,210ββ«7,196,490 |
| Crown | β«4,112,280ββ«9,252,630 |
| Implant (post only) | β«12,336,840ββ«25,701,750 |
| Implant + crown | β«20,561,400ββ«35,982,450 |
| Veneer (per tooth) | β«4,112,280ββ«9,252,630 |
| Full denture (per arch) | β«5,140,350ββ«12,336,840 |
Finding a doctor or specialist
Well-known hospital groups (listed, not vetted or ranked):
Check a provider's inspection rating or registration with Ministry of Health β Medical Services Administration β.
Health insurance
Insurers and schemes people in Vietnam commonly use, and cover for visitors. Listed for comparison, not recommended β check the policy wording yourself.
| Insurer | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam Social Security (health insurance) β | National / public scheme | Social health insurance. |
| Bao Viet Insurance β | Local health insurer | Health and travel insurance. |
| PVI Insurance β | Local health insurer | Health insurance. |
| Bupa Global β | International / expat cover | International health plans for expats. |
Visiting Vietnam?
Your entitlement: None β no agreement with the UK and the GHIC isn't valid. Visitors pay, mostly at international hospitals.
EHIC / GHIC: EHIC/GHIC not valid.
Pharmacies: NhΓ thuα»c β everywhere; use reputable chains (Pharmacity, Long ChΓ’u).
Insurance: Travel insurance with evacuation cover is essential; serious cases may be evacuated to Bangkok or Singapore.
Useful links
- Ministry of Health β Medical Services Administration β
- Vietnam Social Security β
- GOV.UK β Vietnam health β
Content last checked: 2026-10-02. Figures are typical/official-source references, not quotes β see the links above for the current real number.