Healthcare Costs in Vietnam: Public, Mid-Private, International

Side-by-side prices for the procedures expats actually need: GP visits, blood tests, X-rays, ER, surgery.

Published 2026-05-17· 6 min read· Vietnam Knowledge

Last reviewed: 21 May 2026Report outdated info

This page is a price reference. Use it to gut-check insurance claims, decide between hospitals, and budget for routine care.

GP / consultation

Service	Public (e.g. Cho Ray, Bach Mai outpatient)	Mid-private (Family Medical, City International)	International (Vinmec, FV, Hanoi French)
Standard GP visit	50–200k VND ($2–8)	800k–1.5m ($32–60)	1.5–3m ($60–120)
Specialist consult	200–500k ($8–20)	1.2–2.5m ($48–100)	2–4m ($80–160)
Telemedicine consult	n/a	300–700k	500k–1.5m
Follow-up (often discounted)	included	500k–1m	800k–1.5m

Diagnostics

Test	Mid-private	International
Full blood count (CBC)	200–400k	350–700k
Comprehensive metabolic panel	600k–1.2m	1–2m
Lipid panel	250–500k	400–800k
Liver function	250–500k	400–800k
Thyroid panel	400–800k	700k–1.5m
HbA1c	200–400k	350–600k
STI screen (full)	800k–2m	2–4m
HIV rapid test	100–300k	200–500k
Pregnancy beta-hCG	200–400k	300–600k

Imaging

Imaging	Mid-private	International
Chest X-ray	300–600k	600k–1.2m
Ultrasound abdomen	500k–1m	1–2m
Ultrasound pelvis/OB	400–800k	800k–1.5m
CT scan single region	2.5–4m	4–8m
CT scan with contrast	4–6m	6–10m
MRI single region	4–7m	7–15m
MRI with contrast	6–9m	9–18m
Mammogram	1–2m	2–4m
DEXA bone density	1.5–3m	3–5m
Echocardiogram	1–2.5m	2–5m

Emergency room

Scenario	Public	Mid-private	International
ER triage (no admission)	200–500k	1.5–3m	3–7m
ER + observation 4hrs	800k–2m	3–7m	7–15m
ER + admission	varies, often 5–15m	10–25m	25–60m
Ambulance call-out (local)	500k–1.5m	1.5–3m (their fleet)	2–5m (their fleet)

Common surgeries (inpatient, all-in)

Procedure	Public	Mid-private	International
Appendectomy (laparoscopic)	10–20m	25–50m	80–150m
Inguinal hernia repair	8–18m	25–50m	70–130m
Knee arthroscopy	15–30m	50–100m	120–250m
Cataract (one eye)	5–15m	25–50m	60–120m
Gallbladder removal	15–30m	40–80m	100–200m
C-section delivery (package)	10–25m	60–120m	130–280m
Natural delivery (package)	5–15m	50–100m	100–200m

Dental

Dental at chain clinics like Westcoast Dental, Elite Dental, 2000 Dental (mostly Western-trained dentists):

Service	Typical cost
Cleaning + polish	300–600k
X-ray panoramic	300–500k
Composite filling	500k–1m
Root canal (per canal)	2–4m
Crown (porcelain)	5–12m
Crown (zirconia)	8–18m
Implant (single)	25–60m
Veneer per tooth	4–12m
Wisdom tooth extraction (simple)	1–3m
Wisdom tooth extraction (surgical)	3–6m
Invisalign / clear aligners (full course)	60–180m
Traditional braces (full course)	30–80m

Vietnamese dental is genuinely excellent value. Many expats fly into HCMC for dental work alone.

Optical

Service	Cost
Eye exam	Free–300k at most chains
Standard frames + lenses	1–3m
Designer frames (RayBan, Oakley)	3–8m
Progressive lenses	+2–5m
Contact lenses (monthly supply)	200–500k
LASIK (both eyes, FV/Vinmec)	40–80m

Vaccines (private, out of pocket)

Vaccine	Per dose
Influenza	300–500k
Hepatitis A	400–800k
Hepatitis B	250–500k
Tdap	400–700k
Typhoid	500k–1m
Japanese encephalitis (Imojev)	600k–1m
Meningococcal ACWY	1–1.5m
HPV (Gardasil 9), per dose	2.5–4m
Rabies (post-exposure)	350–500k per dose; full series ~2–4m + immunoglobulin if needed
Yellow fever	800k–1.5m
COVID booster	varies, often free

Maternity packages (all-in, prenatal + delivery)

Hospital	Natural	C-section
Tu Du public (HCMC)	5–15m	10–25m
City International	50–80m	80–130m
FV Hospital	80–160m	120–250m
Vinmec	80–180m	130–280m

Mental health

Service	Cost
Psychiatrist consult (Vinmec/FV)	1.5–3m
Psychologist therapy (1 hr, private)	1–2.5m
Online (BetterHelp, Talkspace)	$40–80/wk

Insurance reimbursement reality

Vietnamese private hospitals (Vinmec, FV) can direct-bill many local insurers (Bảo Việt, Liberty, Pacific Cross) for outpatient and inpatient. International insurers (Cigna, BUPA, Allianz) often direct-bill at flagship hospitals; mid-private clinics may require you to pay then claim.

For expensive procedures, always request a written estimate first and confirm direct billing.

Honest take

Vinmec and FV charge multiples of mid-private for the same procedure, with better hotels and English service. For routine care, mid-private at half or third the cost is fine. For surgery, hospitalisation, or anything where you want the best Vietnamese option, Vinmec/FV is worth it. For the truly catastrophic, fly to Singapore.

Summary

This page provides a comprehensive cost reference for common medical procedures across Vietnam's three hospital tiers: public, mid-private, and international. For expats and Vietnamese residents, understanding these price ranges is essential for budgeting routine healthcare, comparing insurance claims, and deciding which facility suits your needs and budget. Costs vary significantly by hospital, city, and provider credentials, making direct comparison crucial before committing to treatment.

Process at a glance

Assess your coverage — Check your insurance's direct-billing network (Vinmec/FV accept many local and international plans; mid-private clinics often require self-pay then reimbursement).
Request a written estimate — Before expensive procedures, ask the hospital for a formal quote and confirm what's included (anesthesia, imaging, overnight stay).
Choose your tier — Decide between public (cheapest, basic English), mid-private (half Vinmec's cost, competent English), or international (premium service, full English, highest cost).
Confirm direct billing — If your insurer covers the provider, have billing staff verify before treatment to avoid surprise out-of-pocket charges.
Keep receipts — For claims submission or tax deductions; Vietnamese hospitals provide detailed invoices.

Cost breakdown

Line	Indicative cost (USD)
GP visit (specialist)	8–160 (public to international)
Routine blood test (e.g., CBC)	8–28
Imaging (X-ray to MRI)	24–7200
Emergency room triage	8–280
Minor surgery (cataract, hernia)	200–7000+
Major surgery (C-section, gallbladder)	400–12000+

International hospitals (Vinmec, FV, Hanoi French) charge 3–5× more than mid-private clinics for identical procedures, justified by English-speaking staff, premium facilities, and direct billing with major insurers. Mid-private (Family Medical, City International) offer the best value for expats seeking quality without the international markup. Public hospitals are affordable but require patience with queues and minimal English support. Maternity packages range from 200–11200 USD depending on delivery type and facility.

Common pitfalls

Assuming insurance covers everything — Many insurers exclude dental, optical, and preventive vaccines; ask your provider before treatment.
Not requesting estimates upfront — Hospital bills can balloon with unexpected imaging, consultations, or extended stays; always get a written estimate first.
Choosing the cheapest option for serious conditions — Public hospitals are fine for routine care but lack the infrastructure and English support for complex surgeries; Vinmec/FV are worth the premium for major procedures.
Overlooking mid-private as a middle ground — Many expats jump to international hospitals for every issue; mid-private clinics are often 50% of the cost with 80% of the quality for routine care.
Forgetting to confirm direct billing — Mid-private clinics may not auto-bill your insurer; if they don't, you'll self-pay and spend weeks claiming reimbursement.

Official resources

Ministry of Health Vietnam (Bộ Y tế) — Official health ministry; limited English but hosts hospital registries and healthcare policy documents.
Vinmec International Hospital Patient Info — Major international provider; pricing guides and coverage details available on-site.
FV Hospital — Flagship international option; English-language cost estimates available through their website booking portal.