More medical tourists are going to Vietnam, as are expatriates

Vietnamese hospitals and fertility clinics are attracting patients from many countries.

Vietnamese hospitals and fertility clinics are attracting patients from many countries, although there is confusion on numbers between locals, Vietnamese citizens living abroad and returning home, and overseas medical tourists.

Although hospital figures suggest numbers of locals and overseas patients, the countries listed are mostly those where first, second or even third generation Vietnamese families have moved to get work, and have settled.

The key areas where the cost in Vietnam is much lower than where the diaspora reside are kidney transplants, heart surgery and fertility treatment. Vietnam’s Ministry of Health says that the number of foreigners receiving medical treatment in the country now brings in foreign currency earnings of US$1 billion.

The HCM City Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Association says that the three major centres in Hanoi specialising in IVF treatment are Tiu Du Maternity Hospital, Van Hanh and An Sinh hospitals. Between them they offer fertility treatment to 500 patients a year.

The HCM City National Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology and the Odonto-Maxillo-Facial Hospital in Hanoi, between them now treat more than 2,000 overseas Vietnamese and foreigners. 1200 overseas patients, including the diaspora, went to Cho Ray Hospital in 2014, and 19,000 to HCM City Medical University Hospital.

The main source countries are the USA, Australia, South Korea, Russia and Japan.