Medical Tourism in Ho Chi Minh City: Where I Went + Prices

My second trip to Vietnam for medical tourism in Ho Chi Minh City: what went well and what I would change next time.

Many travelers automatically turn to Thailand, Turkey, or Malaysia when considering medical or dental work abroad. Vietnam rarely makes the top of the list, yet Ho Chi Minh City has rapidly grown into a high-value hub for preventive health, specialized consultations and routine dental procedures.

I travel full-time as a tax paying Canadian resident, but because I am out of the country for extended periods, I do not qualify for provincial healthcare.

Rather than seeing this as a burden, it has given me a chance to explore affordable options around the world. After a full year of baseline medical testing across Vietnam, I returned to Ho Chi Minh City to follow up on my bone health, track hormone levels, fix my vision setup, and deal with two unexpected medical emergencies.

Nothing is sponsored. I paid for every treatment mentioned below. Here is what it actually costs to navigate medical tourism in Ho Chi Minh City, from walk-in private scans to public emergency rooms.

And if you’re new to my site and want to start from the beginning, here’s last year’s healthcare visits in Saigon and Da Nang.

Watch the Video: Medical Tourism in Ho Chi Minh City

1. DEXA Bone Density Scan

• Location: Vinmec Central Park International Hospital
• Cost: $25 USD

Last year during my initial medical checkups in Da Nang, a DEXA scan revealed I had osteopenia, a precursor to osteoporosis. I learned that up to 25% of women in their 40s have early bone density loss, often without realizing it.

I immediately started hormone replacement therapy using estrogen patches and oral progesterone to address the issue.

This year, I walked into Vinmec Central Park in Saigon without an appointment to get a follow-up scan. The registration process took minutes, and unbelievably I had printed results in hand under an hour.

While the scan showed my osteopenia is still present. It’s not ideal but now I know and I can look at how to address it before it becomes osteoporosis, having affordable.

2. Preventive Blood Work

• Location: Diag Laboratories
• Cost: $95 USD

In North America, ordering custom blood panels without a doctor’s order can be frustrating and expensive. In Saigon, Diag operates a network of testing centers that allow you to select tests à la carte or choose structured packages.

I contacted their team directly via Zalo (Vietnam’s primary messaging application) in English. By comparing my specific test list against their pre-made packages, they helped me build a custom order that saved money.

I walked into the nearest clinic, waited ten minutes, and had three vials drawn without any pain. The full digital results came back online just a few hours later.

• The Good News: My iron levels fully normalized after being low last year. That was great as I hated taking iron pills. Also calcium, vitamin D were optimal this meant my osteopenia was not caused by a calcium or vitamin D deficiency. Also liver enzymes, metabolic baseline and inflammation markers were all optimal.
• The Bad News: My free testosterone levels were extremely low, explaining months of lingering fatigue and brain fog.

PRO TIP: To get an accurate measure of active hormone levels, you need 3 tests to cover: Total Testosterone, Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG), and Albumin. Medical practitioners use these three components Free and Bioavailable testosterone.

If you’re a woman ensure that wherever you go has these three tests as it may appear you have adequate testosterone but SHBG and Albumin shares how much of the total is actually available.

3. HRT Management and Women’s Health

• Location: FV Hospital
• Doctor: Dr. Nguyen Duc Truong
• Cost: $25 USD (Consultation)

Low testosterone had left me struggling to get through two hours of work a day. I booked a consultation with an OB-GYN at FV Hospital using Zalo. In advance I asked them to confirm the doctor prescribed testosterone to women. Then I sent over my recent Diag blood work, past hospital reports and DEXA scans.

Dr. Truong reviewed my paperwork thoroughly before the appointment. He agreed that I was a prime candidate for testosterone therapy and prescribed daily Androgel.

Within a week, my daily energy returned, the brain fog lifted, and my overall focus stabilized. While clinical evidence is mixed on whether testosterone directly restores bone density alongside estrogen, tracking these metrics annually gives me total clarity on my long-term health trajectory.

Since the visit I was able to get a nurse practitioner to help me with HRT in Canada but I’m still going to keep updating the doctor as he was really keen to follow my progress as it could help other women.

4. Public Hospital ER Experience

• Location: Bệnh Viện Nhân Dân Gia Định
• Cost: $60.94 USD

Unplanned medical issues are a real stress test when you’re abroad. Late on a Saturday night, I accidentally landed on Alan’s outstretched arm while sitting on the bed. He heard a pop and experienced sudden shoulder pain.

We went straight to Bệnh Viện Nhân Dân Gia Định, a public hospital near our apartment in District 1, across from the famous Ben Thanh market.

Public facilities in Vietnam require an initial cash deposit before treatment begins. I really like the model as the medical team will determine what tests may be needed and calculate the price. You may up front and are never surprised by the costs, this is much different than my experience in a Mexican and Thai private hospital where the ER asked me to put down a large deposit and I was shocked at how much they used.

I paid a deposit of $113.97 USD, which covered potential blood work, physical exams and imaging.

The ER layout was an open ward with simple, spotless treatment bays. The medical team spoke English, eliminated the unnecessary blood work from our bill, and brought Alan in for X-rays within minutes.

An hour later, the doctor used translation apps to explain that there were no fractures or dislocations. We received a small prescription for over-the-counter pain management at the hospital pharmacy, and the front desk refunded us $53.03 USD from our original deposit.

5. Specialist Care: Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT)

• Location: Bệnh Viện Tai Mũi Họng Sài Gòn
• Cost: $65 USD (Consultation, diagnostic imaging, and medication)

Another unexpected incident occurred when Alan pushed a cotton swab too far into his ear canal at 2:00 AM. By morning, he shared why he was afraid. He’d noticed blood on the swab and worried he had ruptured his eardrum. Thankfully our apartment in Saigon was only an eight minute walk to a specialized ENT hospital.

Within twenty minutes of arrival, a specialist examined his ear using an endoscope connected to a video monitor. The doctor showed us that the eardrum was completely intact; the bleeding came from raw, scraped skin inside the canal.

Asian ear wax tends to be dry and flaky compared to Western’s wet ear wax. Alan had been repeatedly digging with cotton swabs thinking his ear was blocked, when he was actually stripping away dry skin.

The doctor asked if he would test one other issue to be thorough and after Alan was cleared, provided ear drops and oral medication. Unbelievably he also gave us his direct WhatsApp contact for follow-up questions. The entire visit took under an hour.

6. Local Dental Cleanings

• Location: Nha Khoa Lovely
• Cost: $27 USD

While high-end dental centers cater to international clients needing crowns or implants, basic maintenance does not require expensive multi-specialty setups.

We chose a neighborhood dental clinic four minutes from our apartment for routine teeth cleanings. Communication was handled easily through basic phrases and translation apps, the equipment was modern, and the service was efficient.

If you need more in-depth information on premium dental services I wrote about the great spots in Saigon and Da Nang last year.

7. Prescription Eyewear and Premium Lenses

• Location: Mắt Kính Shady
• Cost: $170 USD

Because I have a high-index prescription, purchasing glasses in Canada easily runs several hundred dollars. Last year, I bought inexpensive frames in Da Nang, but the blue-light coating created a harsh blue glare on camera in video and photos.

This year, I went to Mắt Kính Shady to purchase premium French Essilor anti-glare lenses without blue-light filters. For some reason I wanted to splurge and did not ask them about local alternatives.

The shop verified my prescription on site and fitted the custom lenses into my frames for $170 USD. Equivalent lenses in Canada start at $275 USD before frame costs or fitting fees.

My biggest regret was not looking into alternatives. I was so specific with the shop they just fulfilled my request for Essilor but I learned that there are Asian brands with similar quality but not as expensive. For example, Japanese Hoya lenses are considered comparable but typically cost between $40 USD and $80 USD in Vietnam.

My lenses are great but next time I’m going to use local expertise.

Ho Chi Minh City Healthcare Cost Summary

Although Canadian healthcare is free if you’re in the country long enough, I am blown away by the quality and service in Vietnam. The speedy responses also mean travelers could build in some medical tourism without taking up their entire holiday.

Next year I want to follow up on my DEXA scan and get a new panel of tests to ensure things are going well as I age. Also I’ve started to notice the effects of years in the sun so I think it’s time to explore dermatology options.