Vietnam Considers Stricter Regulations for Beauty Services Amid Safety Concerns

Vietnam is considering stricter regulations for the beauty services sector, particularly for procedures that border on medical interventions. A proposal has been put forth in the National Assembly to classify certain beauty services, especially those involving invasive techniques, as 'conditional businesses.' This move aims to address the growing concern over spas performing procedures like nose jobs, liposuction, and filler injections without adequate oversight. Nguyen Thi Thu Dung, Rector of Thai Binh Medical University, highlighted that aesthetic facilities not performing invasive services are currently not required to obtain operating licenses from the Department of Health, unlike specialized aesthetic clinics. However, she noted that many spas have expanded beyond routine beauty care to include injections of fillers and threads, and even more complex procedures like nose augmentation and liposuction. According to regulations on medical examination and treatment, procedures such as Botox and filler injections are restricted to hospitals, specialized aesthetic clinics, or healthcare facilities with approved scopes of practice. Dung argued that because beauty care is not yet classified as a conditional business, practitioners only need basic certifications, while inspection and supervision remain limited. This gap allows spas to blur the lines between invasive and non-invasive services, creating significant legal loopholes. Without the addition of conditional business requirements, authorities lack a solid basis for inspection, and practitioners may not receive adequate training. The reality has seen several incidents involving adverse reactions to anesthetics, leading to shock or infections due to unhygienic practices. Dung urged the government to study management mechanisms for beauty services, especially invasive aesthetic activities with high potential risks. In a related discussion, Tran Hoang Ngan, a delegate from Ho Chi Minh City, called for caution regarding the removal of clean water supply business from the list of conditional investment and business lines. While agreeing with the principle of shifting from pre-inspection to post-inspection, he emphasized that clean water is directly linked to public health, and an incident involving consumed water would mean post-inspection is always a step behind. Võ Hoàng Ngan, Deputy Head of the Ho Chi Minh City National Assembly delegation, also requested a thorough review of sectors related to national defense, security, health, resources, and community interests, including clean water, gas business, unmanned aircraft, seaports, maritime transport, and minerals. He stressed the need for the drafting agencies to assess the effectiveness of alternative management measures to avoid negative impacts on the economy, society, national defense, and security. Previously, the Economic and Financial Committee had noted that some industries proposed for removal from the conditional business list carry a high degree of risk. Any incident or violation could lead to severe and difficult-to-remedy consequences. The verification agency recommended that changes to management methods should only be made after clarifying the feasibility of alternative mechanisms, establishing a suitable roadmap, and ensuring no management gaps emerge.