Hanoi Aims to Become High-Quality Medical Tourism Hub in Southeast Asia

Hanoi is aiming to become a high-quality medical tourism hub in Southeast Asia, leveraging its advanced hospitals, renowned specialists, and new special mechanisms. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Hung, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Health, stated, "Many countries like Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand have successfully developed medical tourism as a high value-added economic sector. Hanoi is assessed to have all the conditions to join this race." Hanoi is the largest medical center in Vietnam, gathering the essence of Vietnamese medicine, from spearhead techniques like organ transplantation, cardiology, oncology, and assisted reproduction to rehabilitation and traditional medicine. This represents an invaluable resource for developing medical tourism. Beyond medical expertise, Hanoi also boasts a rich cultural heritage, improving transportation infrastructure, and favorable international connectivity, forming a foundation for developing models that combine medical treatment with leisure and resort experiences. Examples from the region highlight the economic impact: Thailand generates $600-700 million annually from low-cost heart and cosmetic surgeries ($25,000-30,000 USD compared to $100,000 USD in the US). Malaysia's medical services, 30-50% cheaper, brought in $1.7 billion, boosting its economy and investment. South Korea's cosmetic surgery and cancer treatment generated $4.3 billion, while promoting K-pop culture. Japan's onsen tourism and cancer treatment created $13 billion in revenue, preserving culture and developing local economies. In Vietnam, the trend of international visitors combining tourism and conferences with medical check-ups and treatment is growing. The Vietnamese medical tourism market size reached $700 million in 2024 and is projected to hit $4 billion by 2033. According to the Department of Health leadership, the period 2026-2030 will unlock new opportunities with the implementation of special mechanisms, including the Capital Law 2026 and Politburo resolutions on scientific, technological, and medical development. To achieve its goal, Hanoi has identified five key groups of solutions. These include building a network linking central hospitals, ministry-affiliated hospitals, and public and private facilities for integrated services. Developing medical products in areas of strength such as oncology, cardiology, dentistry, cosmetic surgery, stem cells, traditional medicine, and elderly care is also a priority. Furthermore, Hanoi plans to accelerate digital transformation, build smart hospitals, and apply AI and electronic health records to enhance the experience for both domestic and international patients. An ecosystem linking hospitals with travel agencies, airlines, hotels, insurance companies, and translation services is also being formed. Dr. Hung emphasized, "When patients choose to come to Hanoi not just to visit a thousand-year-old capital but also to place their trust in the quality of medical examination, healthcare, and rehabilitation, that will be the measure of the capital's healthcare success in the new era." Dương Huy Lương, Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management (Ministry of Health), advised Hanoi to concretize its medical tourism development program, gradually establish criteria for facilities serving international patients, and resolve issues related to pricing, autonomy, and international insurance payments within its authority. Delegates also noted that Hanoi still needs to address bottlenecks such as coordination between hospitals and tourism businesses, interconnected information systems, international payments, language barriers, and brand building. Only by forming a closed ecosystem encompassing medical treatment, accommodation, transportation, insurance, and support services can Hanoi compete with leading medical tourism centers in the region and gradually assert its position on the global healthcare map.