Associate Professor Le Huu Doanh, director of the National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology, said the hospital had recently treated a Vietnamese expatriate from Germany who travelled more than 8,000km to seek dermatological care because of lengthy waiting times in the European country.
He shared the information on the sidelines of the 27th Regional Conference of Dermatology for Asia and Australasia (RCD 2026), held in Hanoi from November 11-14.
Associate professor Le Huu Doanh and a patient (Photo: T.H).
Doanh said the hospital receives hundreds of Vietnamese people living overseas every year who return home for medical treatment, skin care and cosmetic procedures.
The recent patient from Germany chose to seek treatment in Vietnam because accessing healthcare services was more convenient and allowed them to combine medical treatment with beauty and skincare services.
In dermatology and aesthetic medicine, overseas patients are increasingly choosing Vietnam for procedures such as botulinum toxin injections, dermal fillers, skin care and rejuvenation treatments.
"People returning to Vietnam for medical treatment are attracted not only by the cost advantage but, more importantly, by their confidence in the quality of care, the expertise of Vietnamese doctors and the convenience of accessing treatment," Doanh said.
Vietnam is also attracting growing numbers of international patients in other medical specialties, including cancer treatment, orthopaedics, spinal care and sports injury surgery.
Doanh said dermatology and aesthetic medicine were among Vietnam's strengths in developing medical tourism.
"However, to further unlock this potential, we need to improve communications, administrative procedures, insurance payments and foreign-language capabilities.
"International patients and overseas Vietnamese who wish to return home for medical treatment or cosmetic procedures need clear information about healthcare facilities, specialties, treatment methods, registration procedures and available services," he said.
He added that Vietnam should consider appropriate support mechanisms for foreign patients seeking treatment in the country, including visa arrangements and systems for receiving and assisting international patients.
A director of a private healthcare group in Vietnam previously described a case in which a patient needed assistance obtaining a visa because the required treatment period exceeded the validity of the visa granted.
The expert compared Vietnam's arrangements with those in several Asian countries where medical tourism is well developed. In those markets, patients who can demonstrate sufficient financial resources and the ability to pay are generally given extensive support to access medical treatment.
Doanh also pointed to difficulties with payments and guarantees under international health insurance policies, as well as language barriers that can affect foreign patients' access to care.
Doctors and nursing staff need stronger foreign-language skills to meet the needs of international patients, he said.
Doctors at the National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology guide local-level doctors in laser treatment techniques (Photo: Thu Ngan).
The National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology is implementing an English-language training programme for nurses. It can also provide support in other languages, including French, Russian and Chinese, where appropriate.
Doanh said international cooperation enabled Vietnamese doctors to access advanced diagnostic technologies and treatment methods while showcasing the country's medical expertise and technical capabilities, helping attract more international patients.
Dr Hanny Nilasari, president of the Asian Academy of Dermatology, said the conference provided a platform for specialists to update their scientific knowledge, share practical experience and expand academic cooperation in dermatology.
