How much does an ambulance cost?

The state ambulance (115) — free (wait times are 15–30 minutes, up to an hour in traffic); Private ambulances from international hospitals — from 1,000,000 VND (~$40); A Grab to the hospital — 30,000–80,000 VND (~$1–3, often faster than the ambulance).

PreparationUp to date

Hospitals and pharmacies in Vietnam for foreigners

A consult at an international clinic runs from ~$17 and climbs past $180; a state hospital charges under $2 — a 10× spread or more, but the cheap option has no English. Below: which hospitals actually treat foreigners in English, addresses city by city, what you can buy over the counter, insurance direct billing and a travel first-aid kit.

16 July 20269 min read

Entrance to Army Central Hospital 108 in Hanoi: the VIỆN QUÂN Y 108 sign above the canopy, visitors at the gate — Army Central Hospital 108 in Hanoi — one of the strongest state hospitals in the country. The private Vinmec and FV are covered below. Photo: DiverDave, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Disclaimer: This is general information and not a substitute for medical advice. For current vaccination guidance see the CDC travel page. Data current as of July 2026.

This guide is about the acute case: where to go today and what to ask for at the pharmacy. If you live in Vietnam for a year or more the question changes — state BHYT, an annual policy and a yearly check-up. That is covered in the guide to long-term healthcare in Vietnam.

How healthcare in Vietnam works — three tiers

A plain hospital ward with adjustable beds and medical equipment — State hospitals are plainer, but a consult can cost under $2

Healthcare in Vietnam is a lottery. You might land in a modern, JCI-accredited hospital treating by international protocols. Or you might end up in a district clinic with a four-hour queue and not one member of staff who speaks English. Knowing the tiers before you need them saves the panic.

The three tiers of healthcare in Vietnam compared
Tier	Consult price	Language	Queue
State	~$2–10	Vietnamese	2–4 hours
Private	~$18–45	Some English	30–60 min
International	~$45–180	Fluent English	15–30 min

State hospitals are the cheapest option. Staff rarely speak English, paperwork is Vietnamese-only and wards are spartan. For a minor complaint it is simpler to walk into a pharmacy; for anything serious, go straight to an international clinic.

Private clinics are the middle ground. Equipment beats the state hospitals, though doctors trained on Vietnamese programmes. Fine for the simple stuff: lab work, X-rays, uncomplicated injuries.

International hospitals are the default for foreigners. JCI accreditation (Joint Commission International) means treatment protocols meet global standards. With direct billing you don't pay out of pocket if you carry travel health insurance.

The best clinics for foreigners

A bright multi-bed hospital ward with pink curtains and air conditioning — This is what a decent ward looks like: clean, bright and air-conditioned

Four networks cover the main destinations, and all bill international insurers directly.

Vinmec

The largest network of international hospitals in Vietnam, part of the Vingroup conglomerate. It was the first chain in the country to earn JCI accreditation — Times City in Hanoi and Central Park in Ho Chi Minh City both hold it, as does the independent FV Hospital — and it partners with the Cleveland Clinic (USA). It has treated over 500,000 foreign patients from 200+ countries.

Vinmec service prices
Service	VND	~USD
Consult (standard)	440,000–1,800,000	~$17–69
Consult (emergency)	1,650,000–4,400,000	~$63–168
Check-up (standard)	3,500,000–10,000,000	~$135–380
Check-up (VIP)	up to 50,000,000	up to ~$1,900

Direct billing with 30+ insurers: Cigna, Bupa, Aetna, AXA, Pacific Cross, Allianz, International SOS.

FV Hospital

A French-Vietnamese hospital in District 7 of Ho Chi Minh City, widely rated the best international hospital in town. English- and French-speaking doctors, full range of specialities. Compare prices with Vinmec first: the same procedure can cost noticeably more or less.

Family Medical Practice (FMP)

A general-practice chain in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang, popular with expats for everyday needs: colds, minor injuries, vaccinations, paediatrics. It is not a hospital — serious cases are referred on to Vinmec or FV Hospital.

Raffles Medical

A Singaporean network with a clinic in District 3 of Ho Chi Minh City. Premium tier — the pick if you want a Singapore standard of service.

Tip: before you travel, check which clinics your insurer works with on direct billing. It saves hours of waiting and a lot of money — you won't have to pay out of pocket and chase a reimbursement later.

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Hospitals city by city — where to go

Ho Chi Minh City

FV Hospital — 6 Nguyễn Lương Bằng, Tân Mỹ. Best for serious cases
Vinmec Central Park — 208 Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh, Bình Thạnh. JCI, more affordable
Raffles Medical — 285B Điện Biên Phủ, Xuân Hòa
Family Medical Practice — Diamond Plaza, 34 Lê Duẩn, Sài Gòn

For a full picture of the city — districts, transport, where to base yourself — see the Ho Chi Minh City guide.

Hanoi

Vinmec Times City — 458 Minh Khai, Hai Bà Trưng. Largest Vinmec in the country
Family Medical Practice — 298i Kim Mã, Ngọc Hà
SOS International — assistance office, not a clinic: Capital Tower, 109 Trần Hưng Đạo

More on the capital — neighbourhoods, getting around, what to see — in the Hanoi guide.

Nha Trang

Vinmec Nha Trang — 42A Trần Phú. The main international hospital in the city
Bệnh viện Khánh Hòa — state hospital, for budget cases

If it is your teeth you came for, dental care in Vietnam is covered in a separate guide.

Da Nang

Vinmec Da Nang — 30 Tháng 4, Hải Châu. Interpreters available; check the languages in advance
Family Medical Practice Da Nang — 96-98 Nguyễn Văn Linh

Phu Quoc

Vinmec Phu Quoc — the chain's international hospital on the island
Public general hospital — serious cases are evacuated to Ho Chi Minh City

Phu Quoc and Con Dao have weaker medical infrastructure than the mainland. A serious injury there means evacuation to Ho Chi Minh City — one more reason for insurance that covers medical evacuation.

Pharmacies — where to buy medicine

A spread of blister packs with tablets and capsules of many kinds on a white background — Medicines in Vietnam are cheap by Western standards — often a fraction of home prices

Pharmacies in Vietnam are on every corner. In the tourist zones of Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang they sit 100–200 metres apart. Look for the sign "NHÀ THUỐC" or the green cross.

The big chains

Major pharmacy chains in Vietnam
Chain	Stores	Coverage
Long Châu (FPT)	2,400+	Nationwide
Pharmacity	1,000+	Mostly HCMC
An Khang	500+	Major cities

Long Châu is the best bet for foreigners: English-speaking pharmacists, transparent prices and a logo that is a blue "L" on white. Per FPT Retail, by early 2026 the chain had 2,640 outlets, vaccination centres included.

What you can buy over the counter

Antibiotics (Amoxicillin, Azithromycin, Ciprofloxacin) are officially prescription-only. Big chains (Long Châu, Pharmacity, An Khang) may ask for a prescription, while small independent pharmacies often still hand them over by name.

Prices of common medicines at Vietnamese pharmacies
Medicine	For	Price
Paracetamol (10 tabs)	Fever	from 5,000 VND (~$0.20)
Ibuprofen (20 tabs)	Anti-inflammatory	from 15,000 VND (~$0.60)
Smecta (10 sachets)	Diarrhoea, upset stomach	from 45,000 VND (~$1.80)
Amoxicillin (course)	Antibiotic	from 50,000 VND (~$2)
DEET repellent	Mosquito protection	from 30,000 VND (~$1.20)
Cetirizine	Allergies, insect bites	from 10,000 VND (~$0.40)

Self-medicating with antibiotics is dangerous. Use them only as prescribed or in a genuine emergency. The WHO warns about the global rise in antimicrobial resistance.

Rules worth knowing

Buy only at chain pharmacies (Long Châu, Pharmacity, An Khang). Market stalls risk counterfeits
Check the expiry date and that the packaging is intact
Drug names are international (Latin), so searching for them is easy
Hours: 7:00–22:00, up to 23:00 in tourist zones
24/7 pharmacies sit inside the big hospitals

Locating pharmacies in Vietnam isn't difficult — most streets have at least one or two, with bright green cross signs.sungetawaystravel.com

What's in Golden Star, White Tiger and Cobratoxan, and who shouldn't use them: Vietnamese balms guide.

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What to pack in your first-aid kit

Traveller first-aid kit with tablets, stethoscope and thermometer on a white background — Bring a basic kit — the first days aren't the time to hunt for a pharmacy

Almost everything below is buyable locally, but the first days are jet lag, heat and unfamiliar pharmacies. Bring a small kit for the first 24–48 hours.

Bring

Hand sanitiser — before street food. Wet wipes too
Painkillers — ibuprofen or paracetamol, a brand you know
Anti-diarrhoeal / oral adsorbent — an upset stomach is the most common traveller problem
Antihistamine — cetirizine or loratadine, for mosquito bites and reactions to exotic fruit
DEET repellent 30%+ — against mosquitoes (dengue carriers). Buyable locally, but not on your first evening
Sunscreen SPF50 — the first days are when you burn most easily
Plasters and sterile wipes — for small cuts and blisters
Oral rehydration salts — for dehydration from heat or diarrhoea

Skip (cheaper to buy on the spot)

Antibiotics — only on a doctor's prescription; a clinic in Vietnam will write one
Bulk diarrhoea remedies (cheaper here)
Vitamins
Tiger Balm and similar — locally it costs almost nothing

Save money: medicines in Vietnam are a fraction of Western prices. Pack only what you need for the first day or two, then top up locally.

Emergency medical care

Modern operating theatre with surgical equipment and monitors — An operating theatre of international standard — roughly what Vinmec and FV run

When minutes matter, know the numbers by heart.

Emergency phone numbers in Vietnam
Service	Number	Note
Ambulance	115	Operator speaks Vietnamese
Police	113	For accident reports / insurance
Fire	114	—

What to do in a serious emergency

Dial 115, or ask hotel staff to call the ambulance
In parallel, call your insurer's assistance line (number on your policy)
If the person is stable enough, take a Grab to the nearest international clinic
At the clinic, show your passport and insurance policy

Ambulances in Vietnam are slower than you may expect. In big cities the wait is 15–30 minutes, up to an hour at peak traffic. A Grab is often faster.

Embassy contact

Save your embassy's number before you travel — most run a 24-hour emergency line for citizens abroad, and consulates in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang can help if you lose your passport or end up hospitalised. If you do lose your passport, the steps are in the lost-passport guide.

Common medical problems for travellers

Two doctors in white coats discussing a scan on a workstation monitor — Most traveller visits aren't exotic diseases — they're everyday problems

Food poisoning. The most common cause. Diarrhoea, nausea, fever. Treatment: an oral adsorbent, plenty of fluids, rehydration salts. See a doctor if your temperature is above 38.5°C, there is blood in the stool, or symptoms last more than two days.

Heatstroke. 35–40°C at 80%+ humidity is a real strain. Dizziness, nausea, weakness. Treatment: shade, cool water on the neck and wrists, rehydration salts. See a doctor if there is confusion or loss of coordination.

Sunburn. The tropical sun burns in 20–30 minutes, even on a cloudy day. SPF50 every two hours is a must.

Dengue. Spread by day-active Aedes mosquitoes. Symptoms appear 4–14 days later: high fever, pain behind the eyes, body aches, rash. A vaccine, Qdenga, is licensed in Vietnam: from age 4, no test for past infection needed, two doses three months apart. Whether you need it before a trip is your doctor's call. If you suspect it, see a doctor at once.

Coral and sea-urchin cuts. On wild beaches wear water shoes. Coral cuts heal slowly in the tropical climate — clean them with antiseptic twice a day.

Every health riskSafety in Vietnam

Did you know? One in three people in Vietnam is a customer of the Long Châu pharmacy chain (vietnam.vn). As of January 2026 it had about 2,400 pharmacies.

FAQ

Only inside international hospitals (Vinmec, FV, Family Medical Practice, Raffles), where English at the desk is part of what you pay for — what to do everywhere else is in the separate guide.

Officially prescription-only. In practice it depends on the pharmacy: big chains (Long Châu, Pharmacity) may ask for a prescription, while small independent ones often hand over Amoxicillin or Azithromycin by name. Still, the WHO strongly advises against taking antibiotics without a doctor's guidance.

The state ambulance (115)freewait times are 15–30 minutes, up to an hour in traffic
Private ambulances from international hospitalsfrom 1,000,000 VND~$40
A Grab to the hospital30,000–80,000 VND~$1–3often faster than the ambulance

International hospitals (Vinmec, FV, Raffles) do direct billing with major global insurers such as Cigna, Bupa, Aetna, AXA and Allianz. Smaller plans work on reimbursement — you pay, keep the receipts and claim later. Check your insurer's network before travelling.

Phu Quoc has Vinmec Phu Quoc and a public general hospital. Serious cases are evacuated to Ho Chi Minh City, about an hour by plane. Con Dao has only basic care. Insurance with medical-evacuation cover is essential here.

24-hour pharmacies sit inside the big hospitals (Vinmec, FV). Chain pharmacies run until 22:00–23:00. Late at night you can find small outlets in tourist areas, but the range of stock is limited.

Useful phrases for the pharmacy and hospital

Useful Vietnamese phrases for the pharmacy and hospital
English	Vietnamese	Roughly
I have pain in...	Tôi bị đau...	toy bee dow...
Where is the nearest pharmacy?	Nhà thuốc gần nhất ở đâu?	nya thook gun nyat uh dow?
I need a doctor	Tôi cần bác sĩ	toy gun bak shee
Call an ambulance	Gọi xe cấp cứu	goy se gup kuu
I am allergic to...	Tôi bị dị ứng với...	toy bee zee ung voy...

Data current as of July 2026. Prices and conditions change — verify with official sources before you travel.