Medical tourism – New tourism trend attracting international visitors

1. Introduction to medical tourism trends

1.1 What is Medical Tourism?

Medical tourism is popular in Vietnam today.

Medical tourism has been around for thousands of years. In ancient Greece and Rome , people traveled to the Asclepieia temples or mineral baths to seek physical and mental healing. In the 19th century, hot springs and hydrotherapy in Europe became popular destinations for treating rheumatism and neurosis. In the 20th century, countries such as Brazil and Cuba became known for their cosmetic surgery and special health care. In the 21st century, medical tourism has grown rapidly worldwide due to advances in medical technology, differences in treatment costs, and standardization of quality (Connell, 2006; Carrera & Bridges, 2006; Horowitz & Rosensweig, 2007).

Nowadays, medical tourism is understood as a type of combination of medical examination and treatment, health care and relaxation . Tourists come to a country not only to visit but also to receive medical services such as cosmetic surgery, dentistry, health screening or specialized treatment. In Vietnam, the Ministry of Health estimates that each year there are about 300,000 international visitors coming for medical examination and treatment (Ministry of Health of Vietnam, 2023).

1.2 Why health tourism is increasingly attracting international tourists

Three key factors are driving this growth: (1) high levels of expertise and technical expertise at medical centers; (2) affordable costs and shorter waiting times compared to many developed countries; (3) a wellness experience that is integrated with a vacation. The Global Wellness Institute reports that the global wellness industry will reach $6.3 trillion by 2023 and continue to grow, demonstrating that the need to combine travel and wellness will continue to grow strongly (Global Wellness Institute, 2024).

2. Popular types of medical tourism

2.1 Medical and aesthetic tourism

Conduct in-depth examination and consultation as part of medical tourism tours

This is a prominent type, focusing on cosmetic surgery, skin rejuvenation, dermatological treatment and post-operative recovery. Typical procedures include: remote consultation via photos and medical records; pre-operative examination; intervention at an international standard hospital; post-operative monitoring and remote monitoring when the client returns home. Important factors: doctor's skills, anesthesia safety, sterility and post-operative care services.
Main target : adults who want to improve their appearance.
Cost : in Vietnam is usually 30–60% cheaper than in the US or Europe, so visitors can combine vacations at destinations (Vietnamnet, 2023).

2.2 Dental tourism and dental care

Dentistry is Vietnam's strength with a clear process: examination, x-ray, treatment planning and time estimation. Procedures such as implants can be performed in 2 stages and in coordination with dentists in other countries. Important factors: sterile system, imported materials, internationally certified doctors.
Main target : people aged 30-60, overseas Vietnamese, guests from Australia, New Zealand or ASEAN.
Cost : Implantation in Vietnam costs about 700–1,000 USD, only half that of Australia or the US (Global Wellness Institute, 2024).

2.3 General health check-up and specialized treatment

This form is associated with large, modern hospitals. Patients often make appointments online, receive multidisciplinary examinations within 1-2 days, have inter-hospital consultations for complex cases, and receive quick results. Important factors: diagnostic accuracy, advanced equipment, and safety.
Main target : middle-aged, elderly, overseas Vietnamese, families with children.
Cost : a general health check-up package in Vietnam costs from 200–500 USD, while in the US it can be 1,500–3,000 USD (Ministry of Health of Vietnam, 2023).
Typical example: successful fetal heart intervention for a Singaporean pregnant woman at Tu Du and Children's Hospital 1, demonstrating the high technical capacity of Vietnamese doctors (Tuoi Tre, 2023).

2.4 Medical tourism

Short-term spa treatments are often included in medical tourism tours.

Resort, spa, mineral spring, acupuncture, massage, meditation and nutrition programs. The process includes examination, personalized treatment, daily index monitoring and lifestyle consultation at the end.
Main target : elderly, office workers, international guests who love Asian culture.
Cost : 2–7 day packages usually range from $100–300/day depending on the service.
According to Dr. Vu Nam (National Economics University), Vietnam has a special advantage in traditional medicine combined with resort tourism , thanks to its rich natural resources and medicinal herbs (Vietnamnet, 2024).

3. Potential, challenges and development orientation of Vietnam's medical tourism

Medical tourism cares from physical health to mental health

3.1 Advantages in terms of cost, service quality and medical team

Vietnam has modern hospitals, highly skilled doctors and competitive costs. About 300,000 international visitors/year have chosen Vietnam for medical examination and treatment (Ministry of Health of Vietnam, 2023).

3.2 Comparison with countries in the region

Thailand and Singapore have positioned their brands early, but Vietnam is catching up in areas such as dentistry, aesthetics and rehabilitation. When hospitals achieve international certification and are recognized by global insurance, the cost advantage and tourism landscape will be further promoted (Vietnamplus, 2024).

3.3 Current challenges

There is a shortage of human resources with good medical foreign languages; international promotion activities are not strong enough; the connection between hospitals, travel agencies and hotels is not synchronized. Public hospitals are still overloaded, and many units do not have international certificates.

3.4 Development and improvement solutions

Complete the medical tourism information portal and call center to make it easy for international visitors to make appointments. Standardize service combos in multiple languages. Train case coordinators and implement a “one-stop” process. Sign cooperation agreements with international insurance companies and promote typical technical cases to build trust (Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, 2024).

3.5 Orientation to 2030, vision 2045

Ho Chi Minh City has approved a project to turn the city into an ASEAN healthcare hub by 2030. This goal includes upgrading infrastructure and human resources and developing key services such as dentistry, infertility, aesthetics and healthcare resorts (Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, 2024).

4. Development trends of medical tourism

Medical tourism with diverse activities has great development potential

4.1 Global trends

The wellness tourism industry is growing in parallel with medical tourism. Tourists not only seek medical treatment but also want comprehensive care of body - mind - spirit . Global Wellness Institute (2024) predicts that the value of global wellness tourism will reach 1.3 trillion USD by 2025.

4.2 Trends in Vietnam in the near future

Vietnam will prioritize advantageous service groups such as dentistry, aesthetics and traditional medicine. At the same time, it will promote general examination and specialized treatment thanks to increasingly improved technical capacity. When the international booking portal and the full-service chain are completed, Vietnam can welcome more visitors from ASEAN, Australia and Europe (Vietnamnet, 2024).