Healthcare in Vietnam Is Better Than You Think
One of the biggest concerns for people moving to Vietnam is healthcare — and it’s mostly based on outdated information. Saigon has excellent private hospitals and clinics that serve the international community, with English-speaking doctors, modern equipment, and prices that make Western healthcare costs look absurd.
The system works differently than what you’re used to, but once you understand how to navigate it, you’ll have access to quality care at a fraction of the cost.
Private vs. Public Hospitals
Vietnam has a dual healthcare system: public hospitals that serve the general population and private hospitals that cater to those who can afford premium care. As an expat, you’ll almost certainly use the private system.
Public Hospitals
Public hospitals are crowded, chaotic, and overwhelming — even for Vietnamese patients. Wait times are long, English is rarely spoken, and the facilities vary dramatically in quality. The doctors are often excellent (many trained internationally), but the patient experience is challenging. Some expats use public hospitals for emergencies or specialist referrals, but they’re not the default choice for routine care.
Private Hospitals
Private hospitals and international clinics are where most expats go. They offer English-speaking staff, appointment systems, modern facilities, and a patient experience closer to what you’d expect in a Western country. The cost is higher than public care but still dramatically cheaper than equivalent care in the US, UK, or Australia.
Where Expats Actually Go
FV Hospital (District 7)
The gold standard for expat healthcare in Saigon. Full-service hospital with emergency department, specialist departments, and international-standard facilities. English-speaking doctors across most specialties. Prices are the highest among Saigon’s private hospitals but still reasonable by international standards. A GP consultation runs about 800,000–1,200,000 VND ($32–48).
Raffles Medical (District 1)
Singapore-based clinic chain with a central location. Excellent for general practice, health screenings, and specialist referrals. Popular with corporate expats whose companies have insurance partnerships with Raffles. Consultations around 700,000–1,000,000 VND.
Columbia Asia (District 1 and Binh Duong)
Malaysian-owned international hospital chain. Good all-around care with a focus on accessibility. Slightly more affordable than FV while maintaining international standards.
Family Medical Practice (District 1 and District 2)
Long-established expat clinic with Western and Vietnamese doctors. Known for good GP care, vaccinations, and travel medicine. Smaller and more personal than the large hospitals.
District 2 and Thao Dien Clinics
Several smaller clinics serve the expat population in Thao Dien — Victoria Healthcare, CarePlus, and various dental and specialist clinics. These are convenient for routine visits without trekking to District 7 or District 1.
Common Medical Situations
Getting Sick
The most common expat health issues in Saigon are stomach bugs (usually from street food or water during your first month), respiratory issues from air pollution, skin issues from the heat and humidity, and motorbike-related injuries. For minor illnesses, a GP visit at a private clinic, diagnosis, and medication will typically cost 500,000–1,500,000 VND ($20–60) all-in.
Pharmacy Access
Vietnamese pharmacies are remarkably flexible by Western standards. Many medications that require prescriptions in your home country are available over the counter in Vietnam — antibiotics, pain medications, allergy medications, and many others. Pharmacists often speak enough English to help, and pointing at a phone translation works for the rest.
Common medications cost very little: a course of antibiotics might be 50,000–150,000 VND ($2–6), antihistamines 30,000–80,000 VND, and basic painkillers 15,000–40,000 VND. If you take regular medication, bring a 3-month supply from home and use that time to find a local equivalent.
Dental Care
Dental care in Vietnam is genuinely excellent and one of the biggest healthcare bargains. A dental cleaning costs 300,000–500,000 VND ($12–20). Fillings: 300,000–1,000,000 VND ($12–40). Even cosmetic dentistry — veneers, crowns, whitening — costs 30–50% of Western prices at comparable quality. Many expats fly to Vietnam specifically for dental work. Rose Dental, Elite Dental, and Nhan Tam are popular choices among the expat community.
Emergency Care
For genuine emergencies, go directly to FV Hospital or the nearest major private hospital. They have 24/7 emergency departments. Ambulance service exists (dial 115) but is slow and unreliable — taking a Grab or taxi to the hospital yourself is almost always faster. If you’re in a serious motorbike accident, bystanders will typically help you and call for assistance.
Health Insurance Options
International Insurance
Companies like Cigna, Allianz, BUPA, and Aetna offer international health insurance plans that cover you in Vietnam and worldwide. These typically cost $100–300/month depending on your age, coverage level, and whether you include the US. They cover private hospital visits, emergency evacuation, and repatriation. This is the safest option but also the most expensive.
Local Insurance
Pacific Cross, Bảo Việt, and Liberty Insurance offer Vietnam-specific health plans at much lower costs — typically $30–80/month. Coverage is more limited and often restricted to hospitals within Vietnam, but it covers the essentials: inpatient care, outpatient visits, and emergency treatment. These are good enough for most healthy expats under 40.
Going Without Insurance
Many expats (especially younger ones) go without health insurance and pay out of pocket for routine care. Given how cheap healthcare is here, this can make financial sense — but it’s a gamble. A serious accident or illness that requires surgery or extended hospitalization can cost 50–200 million VND ($2,000–8,000) even at private hospitals. Without insurance or savings to cover that, you’re in a difficult position.
At minimum, consider a catastrophic/emergency-only plan that covers hospitalization and emergency evacuation. These are cheap ($30–50/month) and protect against the scenarios that would actually be financially devastating.
Mental Health
Mental health services for expats in Saigon have improved significantly. Several international clinics now have English-speaking psychologists and counselors. Online therapy platforms (BetterHelp, Talkspace) also work from Vietnam. The Ho Chi Minh City expat community has support groups for various issues — check expat Facebook groups for current options.
The combination of culture shock, isolation from family, heat fatigue, and the adjustment period can genuinely affect mental health. This is normal and more common than most expat blogs admit. If you’re struggling, reaching out to a professional isn’t a sign of failure — it’s the smart move.
Vaccinations and Preventive Care
Before moving to Vietnam, check with a travel health clinic about recommended vaccinations. The standard recommendations include Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Japanese Encephalitis (if spending time in rural areas), and routine boosters (tetanus, measles). These can also be done cheaply in Vietnam at places like VNVC vaccination centers, which are modern, efficient, and very affordable.
Health screenings are also incredibly cheap. A comprehensive health check including blood work, chest X-ray, and basic screening can cost 1–3 million VND ($40–120) at private hospitals. Many expats do an annual check-up here that would cost several hundred dollars at home.