What is medical tourism in Vietnam?
Medical tourism means going to another country for medical treatment. The Australian Government's Smartraveller site says cosmetic surgery and dentistry are among the most common reasons Australians do this. It says many Australians go to save money, and some go for treatments they cannot get in Australia.
Vietnam wants to grow this kind of travel. In 2025, its Ministry of Health and its Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism signed an agreement to develop medical tourism from 2025 to 2030. A Ho Chi Minh City tourism official told TTG Asia that dental and cosmetic tourism are gaining interest from Asian and Australian travellers, with Ho Chi Minh City leading the way. The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons also notes that cosmetic tourism is gaining popularity, and it warns about the safety risks that come with it.
Sources: Smartraveller (medical tourism), TTG Asia, Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons
Do I need a visa for Vietnam?
If you hold an Australian passport, you need one of two papers. Smartraveller says Australians must have a visa or a visa exemption certificate before they travel, and cannot get a visa on arrival. Vietnam has an eVisa for tourism. If it is granted, it lets you stay up to 90 days, with one entry or several.
A few tips make the visa part smoother:
- Apply only through the Vietnamese government's official website. Smartraveller warns that travellers have been scammed by private visa services.
- Check that every detail matches your passport exactly. A spelling error can stop you boarding your flight.
- Print a copy of your visa approval. Smartraveller says some travellers have had trouble getting to their eVisa at airport check in.
- Before you leave immigration on arrival, check the exit date stamped in your passport.
New Zealanders should check the visa rules for their own passport on SafeTravel, the New Zealand Government's travel advice site, before booking.
Sources: Smartraveller (Vietnam), SafeTravel (Viet Nam)
How is medical care in Vietnam?
It varies a lot, so the hospital you choose matters. Smartraveller says the standard of medical care in Vietnam varies and is generally below Australian standards. It says foreign private clinics exist in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City but may not meet Australian standards, and that care at most public hospitals is poor. It also says you may need medical evacuation to a bigger centre, such as Bangkok or Singapore, if you become seriously ill.
Its general advice adds that the quality of care overseas may not be what you are used to at home. For medical tourists, Beauty Link narrows the field to hospitals in our two cities that appear on the Ministry of Health register with a current licence. A licence alone does not answer every safety question, so do your own checks too, including the hospital's accreditation and your surgeon's qualifications. Our guide to whether plastic surgery in Vietnam is safe goes deeper.
Sources: Smartraveller (Vietnam)
How do I choose a hospital and surgeon?
Smartraveller suggests you research the destination, the doctor, the hospital and the procedure before you go. In short:
- Get proof of the hospital's accreditation from local authorities. An unofficial medical facility is a no.
- Check that your surgeon is qualified and accredited for your procedure.
- Ask whether the surgeon and hospital have indemnity insurance.
- Meet your surgeon, not only a sales person. The NHS says you should not pay for a hospital you have never seen or a surgeon you have not met.
- Make sure your surgeon speaks a language you understand, so they can explain the procedure and hear your concerns.
The NHS also suggests two consultations with your surgeon before any surgery, so you have time to think. Our Vietnam plastic surgery hospital checks list more questions to ask.
Sources: Smartraveller (medical tourism), NHS (cosmetic surgery abroad)
How much time off work will I need?
Ask your surgeon when you can go back to work. The sources below describe resting after surgery and when people are advised not to fly, not a return to work date. Your job, your procedure and your healing all shape the answer.
Long flights and major surgery both raise your risk of a blood clot, which can be life threatening. On timing, the NHS gives two bands: wait 5 to 7 days to fly after breast surgery or liposuction, and 7 to 10 days if you had facial cosmetic work or a tummy tuck. Build that wait into your Vietnam trip, and let your surgeon confirm it.
The NHS also says a holiday straight after surgery is not realistic. You need to rest. You should not drink alcohol, lie in the sun, go sightseeing or swim. If you want to see the country, do it before surgery, not after.
Smartraveller suggests a health check with your own doctor at least 6 weeks before you go. Add that to your plan too.
Sources: NHS (cosmetic surgery abroad), Smartraveller (medical tourism)
Will travel insurance cover me?
Check before you buy. Smartraveller points out that a basic policy will rarely pay for medical tourism, so it suggests cover written for your procedure. Ask your insurer whether it covers care after surgery, complications and medical evacuation. Be open with your insurer about your plans, because hiding them can void your policy. Australian Medicare does not cover you overseas.
The NHS gives the same warning: travel insurance does not normally cover things that go wrong in surgery. Read the policy wording before you buy.
Sources: Smartraveller (medical tourism), NHS (cosmetic surgery abroad)
What happens after I fly home?
This is the part many people forget to plan. The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons says people who have surgery overseas often lack follow-up care once they are home. Problems are then usually looked after by doctors in Australia. The NHS suggests you find out, before you book, where your check ups will be and what happens if something goes wrong.
A simple plan for home:
- Tell your GP about your plans before you go. Smartraveller suggests this too.
- Before you book, ask where your follow-up appointments will be, and what happens if you need more surgery later. The NHS suggests both.
- Know who to message in Vietnam if you have a question about healing.
- If you are having breast implants, ask about the Australian Breast Device Registry form. The society says you can take it overseas, have the hospital fill it in, and send it in when you are home.
- Know the warning signs your surgeon gives you, and when to seek care at home.
Sources: Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, NHS (cosmetic surgery abroad), Smartraveller (medical tourism)
What does Beauty Link do for you?
Beauty Link is a concierge, not a clinic. We help international patients find a licensed cosmetic hospital in Vietnam. Andrew Lam runs Beauty Link, and we are part of the WeLink family with our sister brand, Dental Link. Patients do not pay for our help: the hospital that treats you pays our fee.
A medical trip with us runs in six stages:
- A short quiz captures what you want done and when.
- We pick out licensed, Ministry registered hospitals in Vietnam that offer that procedure.
- The hospitals send you treatment plans and quotes to compare.
- A WhatsApp chat links you with the hospital's staff, and your advisor joins it to pass on messages and translate.
- We meet you with an airport pickup in Vietnam.
- Your advisor checks in during your recovery and after you fly home.
We do not give medical advice. Questions about your body, your procedure and your recovery go to your surgeon. You can read more about how a medical tourism coordinator works, or meet the Beauty Link team.
This page was written by the Beauty Link team from the public sources named under each section. It has not been reviewed by a doctor. It is general information, not medical advice.
Questions
It varies, and Smartraveller says it is generally below Australian standards. So the hospital you choose, and the checks you make, matter a great deal.
Ask your doctor about vaccines and health risks before you go. Smartraveller says some medicines legal in Australia may be illegal in Vietnam. Carry your medicine in its original packaging with a copy of the script and a letter from your doctor.
Yes, and Smartraveller suggests it. You will need their support if things go wrong, and they may need to make decisions for you.
The NHS says not straight after, because you need to rest. Plan any sightseeing for before your surgery.
Be careful. The NHS warns about websites that sell cosmetic surgery as part of a holiday. Always have a real consultation with your surgeon first.
Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi only. If you are weighing up the two, read our guides to plastic surgery in Ho Chi Minh City and plastic surgery in Hanoi.
No. You never get a bill from us; our fee is paid by the partner hospital.
Sources: Smartraveller (Vietnam and medical tourism), NHS (cosmetic surgery abroad)