Healthcare in Vietnam for retirees
Healthcare in Vietnam for retirees means private hospitals such as FV in Ho Chi Minh City and Vinmec in Hanoi and Da Nang, at $197 a person a year, against $13,473 in the US.
The hospitals retirees use, what insurance does and does not cover. Checked against official and hospital sources on Oct 8, 2026.
- Life expectancy
- 74.7 years US 78.9. World Bank, 2024
- Doctors
- 1.1 per 1,000 US 3.7. World Bank, 2021
- Health spending
- $197/person Per year; US $13,473. World Bank, 2023
- Paid out of pocket
- 39.2% Of all health spending; US 10.9%. World Bank, 2023
Hospitals retirees use in Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City
FV Hospital
- Vietnam's first foreign-invested hospital, opened in 2003
- JCI accredited four times in a row since 2016
- Over 210 Vietnamese and expatriate doctors; direct billing with many health insurers
FV Hospital. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Hanoi
Vinmec Times City International Hospital
- First general hospital in Vietnam to receive JCI accreditation
- More than 30 departments, including oncology, cardiology, IVF and emergency and intensive care
- Vietnamese and international doctors
Vinmec. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Da Nang
Vinmec Da Nang Hospital
- 222 inpatient beds, opened in September 2017
- Emergency medicine, cardiology, neurology, gastroenterology and rehabilitation
- Accepts international patients
Vinmec. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Da Nang
Hoan My Da Nang Hospital
- Open 24 hours
- Cardiac care, oncology, neuroscience, orthopaedic surgery, nephrology and urology
Hoan My. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang
Family Medical Practice
- Clinics open 24 hours in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi; 24-hour emergency line in Da Nang
- Foreign and Vietnamese doctors in family medicine, emergency care, cardiology and other specialties
Family Medical Practice. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Vietnam's national health insurance covers foreign employees on a fixed-term labour contract of 12 months or more. The 2024 Health Insurance Law sets no category for foreigners staying on a visitor visa, so retirees on an e-visa pay hospitals themselves or use private insurance. Private hospitals such as FV bill many health insurers directly.
Paying for care in Vietnam
39.2% of health spending in Vietnam is paid directly by patients, about 3.5 times the US share, so plan how you will pay before you move.
Retirees use either an international health plan, which can also cover care at home and in other countries, or a local plan from an insurer in Vietnam, which costs less but covers care there only. Prices depend on age and on the insurer's terms for existing conditions; compare written quotes.
If you are on Medicare
Medicare usually does not pay for care outside the United States; the exceptions are narrow, such as a foreign hospital closer to your US home than the nearest US hospital.
Medicare.gov. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
Healthcare questions
Does Medicare cover me in Vietnam?
Medicare usually does not pay for care outside the United States; the exceptions are narrow, such as a foreign hospital closer to your US home than the nearest US hospital. Plan on private insurance or paying directly for care in Vietnam.
Do I need health insurance for the E-visa?
No. The e-visa does not ask for health insurance. Retirees on an e-visa are outside the national scheme, so private international cover is the usual way to pay for hospital care.
How much of the bill do people pay themselves?
In Vietnam, 39.2% of all health spending is paid out of pocket, against 10.9% in the US (World Bank, 2023).
What health care is there for expat retirees in Vietnam?
Private international hospitals in the main cities: FV Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City and Vinmec Times City in Hanoi are JCI accredited, Da Nang has Vinmec and Hoan My, and Family Medical Practice runs clinics in all three cities.
Can I use my health insurance in Ho Chi Minh City?
FV Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City bills many health insurers directly. Check with your insurer that it covers care in Vietnam and has a direct billing agreement.
How much does health care cost in Vietnam?
Vietnam spends about $197 a person a year on health, against $13,473 in the US, and out-of-pocket payments are about 39% of health spending.
