Ho Chi Minh City Aims to Attract Foreign Medical Tourists

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's economic hub, is rolling out a concrete strategy to attract foreign patients, aiming to enhance its international competitiveness in medical tourism. Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the municipal Department of Health, stated that a key prerequisite for attracting foreign patients is a strategy to develop 'centers of medical excellence.' This strategy aims to strengthen investment to meet international standards by carefully selecting hospitals and specialties with high expertise. Particular emphasis will be placed on competitive fields such as cardiology, oncology, robotic surgery, assisted reproduction, pediatrics, dentistry, cosmetic medicine, specialized health check-ups, traditional medicine, and rehabilitation. The Vietnamese government has set a goal to become a leading destination for medical tourism in Southeast Asia by 2030, and Ho Chi Minh City's current move is a step towards realizing this national strategy. Under its one-party system, Vietnam prioritizes economic growth, and the upgrading of the service sector is seen as a means to simultaneously achieve foreign exchange earnings and job creation. Furthermore, in the context of increasingly complex relations with China, developing new growth sectors like medical tourism can be strategically significant for economic diversification. This initiative is expected not only to promote the improvement of domestic medical standards but also to attract investment in healthcare infrastructure, thereby contributing to economic growth. Vietnam has the potential to offer relatively affordable and high-quality medical services, making it an attractive option for patients from neighboring countries.