Vietnam might not be the first country you think of for medical tourism. Most people know about Thailand, Turkey or Malaysia.
But Vietnam is quickly becoming a top choice for affordable healthcare at an unbeatable price.
And while I am Canadian, I don’t qualify for free healthcare. It requires that you live in your province for at least six months of the year. I visit my family home 2-3 months each year so I do not qualify.
And now that I’m getting older I want to make sure I age well. It’s all about preventative medicine. I wanted to get an overall check up but also baseline tests so that I can personally keep track of changes.
And there were a number of things that I had let slide, mostly dental and some back issues so I decided I would tackle everything in Vietnam.
Over one month I visited six different medical facilities. Here’s everything I experienced, what it cost and whether I’d recommend it.
Watch the Video: Health Care in Vietnam
Medical Tourism in Vietnam: Costs and Experience
EAST ROSE DENTAL CLINIC – Ho Chi Minh City
This was my first stop for dental care in Vietnam. East Rose is one of the premier dental clinics in Saigon. There are two locations and they appear to cater to foreigners, specifically Australians who need a lot of work.
What I Had Done:
- Deep dental cleaning (two visits)
- CT scan of my mouth
- Wisdom tooth extraction with medication
My Experience: The service felt premium from start to finish. They picked me up and dropped me off each day. Everyone spoke perfect English. They also took my blood pressure before each session.
The cleaning required freezing my mouth on both visits. My partner Alan is a longtime smoker. The transformation of his teeth was incredible. His teeth are now bright white.
When they found my problematic wisdom tooth, they didn’t just extract it. They sent me to a blood testing clinic first. They wanted to make sure my blood would clot properly after the extraction.
The extraction itself took five minutes. I couldn’t feel it but could hear it. It sounded like a tree falling. Afterwards they sent me home with medication and followed up over Whatsapp. I had zero issues and was really happy.
They also discovered something concerning during my CT scan. They noticed an infection in my sinuses. However, they couldn’t diagnose it since they’re dentists. But they sent me the scan via WhatsApp and told me to see a specialist.
Costs:
- Deep cleaning (two visits): $57 USD
- CT scan: $19 USD
- Wisdom tooth extraction with medication: $88 USD
Address: 30-36 Phan Boi Chau St, 1st-2nd floor, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Website: Eastrosedental.com
TAM AN ORIENTAL MEDICINE CLINIC – Hoi An
We discovered this clinic through a local recommendation while staying near the river in Hoi An.
What We Had Done:
- Chiropractic adjustments
- Acupuncture treatments
- Traditional physiotherapy and massage
My Experience: The doctor was an older gentleman who spoke no English. We used Google Translate to communicate. His son also helped translate.
Alan had been hit by a motorcyclist before coming to Vietnam. His back was in constant pain. He also had chronic lower back issues where he couldn’t lift one leg while lying on his stomach.
After just one session, Alan could lift his leg significantly higher. His back pain disappeared.
We continued treatments every second day. The doctor used different approaches each time. Sometimes chiropractic adjustments, sometimes acupuncture, sometimes massage therapy.
I also received treatments for my lower back pain. It felt like a complete reset for both of us.
Cost:
- $19 USD per visit
Address: 98 Nguyễn Văn Cừ, Tân An, Hội An, Quảng Nam 510000, Vietnam
Website: Google Listing, you can message them on whatsapp
AUSTRALIAN DENTAL CLINIC – Da Nang
At East Rose Dental they advised me to check the tooth next to my extracted wisdom tooth as it appeared there was a cavity beneath the gums. I was traveling and could not do it in Saigon but had great things about the Australian Dental Clinic.
What I Had Done:
- Free consultation
- Free CT scan
- Crown placement (temporary and permanent)
My Experience: They confirmed the cavity East Rose Dental suspected. Indeed the cavity was in a difficult location. Instead of drilling and filling, they recommended a crown.
I’d never had a crown before. The dentist explained it like putting a hat on a tooth. That made it much less scary so I agreed to do it on the spot.
The process was surprisingly smooth. They had cottage core music playing on YouTube during the procedure. The staff constantly checked how I was feeling.
The dentist showed me a menu of crown materials from different countries. He gave honest advice about not choosing the most expensive option. He explained that the tooth might become loose in a few years anyway.
I chose the second cheapest option from Germany called zirconia. They fit a temporary crown on my tooth and I returned for the permanent.
Afterwards they continued to follow up with me through whatsapp.
Cost:
- Crown: $134 USD
- Consultation and CT scan: Free
Address: 51 Đ. 2 Tháng 9, Hoà Cường Nam, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam
Website: Australiandentalclinic.vn/travel-da-nang/
KHÁNH HƯNG OPTICAL – Da Nang
I needed new glasses and hadn’t had my prescription checked in two years. I found this location on a Facebook group for Da Nang travel. So many people had great things to say I knew it was a good opportunity to get new glasses.
What I Had Done:
- Free eye exam
- Two pairs of prescription glasses with all coatings
My Experience: They tested my prescription on the spot for free. They let me know that I had a strong perscription which meant they would need to send away for my glasses instead of doing them on the spot.
I knew this already but was surprised I could get them in days. I had tried to get them in Thailand and the minimum time frame was a month.
They had a lot to choose from. I told them I didn’t need designer brands as I was on a budget so they pointed to the areas to choose from and suggested some they thought would suit my face.
In the end, Alan actually picked out my main glasses, which I wear in many of my newer videos.
Because I have a high index prescription, my glasses usually require thick lenses. In Canada, this gets very expensive with all the added coatings.
These glasses included UV protection, blue light filtering and anti-glare coating. In Canada, these extras cost around $75 additional.
But here it was only $55 for everything.
The first pair arrived in 2 two days so I asked if they could replace the lenses in my red glasses. That was only $30.
Costs:
- New glasses with all coatings: $55 USD
- Lens replacement in old frames: $30 USD
Address: 70 Nguyễn Thái Học, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng 50000, Vietnam
Website: https://matkinhkhanhhung.com.vn
VINMEC DA NANG INTERNATIONAL HOSPITAL
This is considered one of Vietnam’s best private hospitals. Although it comes with a premium cost it’s not only for foreigners, Vietnamese with health insurance also use this hospital or those that pay directly.
I wanted to get a DEXA scan to measure bone density, which is recommended for women over 40. Many women do not get it until they are 65 and discover they have osteoporosis. But I wanted a baseline.
Although there are several places in Ho Chi Minh City that offer this service, Vinmec is the only medical provider in Da Nang for this test.
What I Had Done:
- DEXA bone density scan
My Experience: The hospital looks like one of the best medical facilities you could visit anywhere. The service was exceptional.
I walked in to inquire about an appointment and was immediately signed up as a patient. I paid for the service and was directed to the testing area.
The technician who did my DEXA scan was professional and caring. She asked about my concerns and explained the process.
Within 10 minutes of finishing the 60 second procedure, I had my results in hand.
My results weren’t great. I have osteopenia (bone thinning) in both hips. This is the precursor to osteoporosis. But catching it early means I can work to improve it.
Costs:
- DEXA scan: $25 USD
- Additional testing available at extra cost
Address: 30 Tháng 4, Hoà Cường Bắc, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam
Website: vinmec.com
BỆNH VIỆN 199 HOSPITAL – Da Nang
This is a public hospital with a medical tourism department for foreigners. It has a great reputation and many people come here for most of their healthcare.
However, it doesn’t offer everything like the DEXA scan. But they do offer a number of health check ups at varying costs. I chose the middle option of “Advanced Package for Female” which was slightly higher than the make version, likely due to the ultrasound tests.
What I Had Done:
- Comprehensive wellness package
- Blood work panels
- Urine testing
- Multiple X-rays and CT scans
- Ultrasounds
- ENT specialist consultation
My Experience: The hospital was very busy when we arrived. As soon as they saw us, they directed us to the medical tourism section where everyone spoke English.
I had booked a wellness package that included multiple tests. You arrive early, give blood and urine samples, then someone walks you around the hospital for various scans and tests.
In advance I asked to add vitamin D and testosterone to the blood work. This was because of the osteopenia identified in my DEXA scan. I wanted to take these results and the others to a healthcare provider to discuss HRT options and I wanted definitive information on whether my bone thinning was caused by low calcium or vitamin D.
The good news is that I had normal levels for calcim and vitamin D, but testosterone was much lower than the normal range.
The wellness package results also revealed two other issues. I had ovarian cysts within normal range and was on the verge of fatty liver disease.
All results came with an Excel sheet showing optimal ranges versus my actual scores. Someone explained the results in English but couldn’t elaborate on treatment recommendations.
I put my results into ChatGPT later to get a better understanding of what needed improvement.
Meeting the ENT specialist confirmed my sinus infection. They took another CT scan but said the infection wasn’t causing symptoms. And unless I was in pain or it was interfering with quality of life I could just keep an eye on it.
Cost:
- Advanced wellness package: $195.27 USD
Address: 216 Nguyễn Công Trứ, An Hải Bắc, Sơn Trà, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam
Website: Hospital 199 Foreigner Health Check
Overall Thoughts and Recommendations
What Went Well
The quality of care was exceptional across all facilities. English-speaking staff made everything easy. Costs were a fraction of what I’d pay in North America.
The Vietnamese healthcare system impressed me. Even public hospitals provided excellent service for medical tourists.
What I’d Do Differently
Next time I’d research costs more thoroughly. Some tests are cheaper in Ho Chi Minh City, others in Da Nang.
For basic dental cleanings, I’d consider local Vietnamese dentists rather than premium English-speaking clinics. The savings would be significant.
I’d also plan treatments across multiple cities to get the best prices for different services.
Future Plans
I’m interested in dermatology treatments next time. Five years near the equator has caused sun damage despite wearing protection.
Initial research on treatments that are recommended in North America are also available for much less in Vietnam.
Would I Recommend It
Absolutely. Vietnam offers world-class medical care at affordable prices. The facilities rival anything you’d find in Western countries.
Just make sure to research facilities thoroughly. Choose reputable clinics with good reviews. And always get second opinions for major procedures.
Medical tourism in Vietnam exceeded my expectations. The care was professional, the costs reasonable and the experience positive throughout.