Health insurance for expats in Vietnam

Jan 07, 2020 2127 Views

As an expat, you may consider how health insurance in Vietnam works for foreigners. Especially you have to face with 2 main issues icluding unfamiliar environment and language barrier. To help you take care of yourself when living in Vietnam, we would like to give you useful guide and tips for health insurance in Vietnam.

Find out more!

Private hospitals are better than public ones

Medical equipment quality

In Vietnam, healthcare system is quite diverse includes private and public service. Most Vietnamese people have to pay themselves for medical service in both hospitals. Generally, private hospitals do meet the international standards with modern and adequate equipment and excellent service while public ones sometimes lack of facilities and usually are crowded.

Language barrier

International standard hospitals are staffed with qualified doctors from developed countries like: France, United Kingdom and Korea. Moreover, many Vietnamese doctors experience to study abroad program so they are able to speak English well. While doctors and medical staffs in public service will normally only speak Vietnamese.

Health insurance for expats in Vietnam might know that the standard of private hospitals in Vietnam is better and it will be nicer in big cities, in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh city because there are staffs, doctors from the US, Korea, Japan etc

Expense

The charge varies considerably depending on your hospital and service you acquire. Expense for medical service in private hospitals are generally higher than public ones. It is obvious that private specialists with good medical staffs will give you the best experience about healthcare service. Also, you will avoide language barrier issue in international hospitals with doctors being good at English.

Pharmacies

Pharmacies in Vietnam easy to find in the crowded areas such as urban, apartment buildings, in major shopping street or mall, especially in big cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In Vietnam, buying medicine over the counter without a prescription is straightforward, however, they should be aware that medicines are always checked the date on the packaging before making a purchase.

Besides, it is highly recommended that expats should visit a pharmacy in the private hospitals to make sure for taking necessary medicines.

Some private internatinal hospitals in big cities in Vietnam

Vinmec International Hospital (Hanoi)

L'hôpital Francais de Hanoi (Hanoi)

Hanh Phuc International Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City)

FV Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City)

Some helpful information

It is safer to drink water in bottled water than tap water, especially for those with sensitive stomach.
Hepatitis A and B are the two common infectious diseases for expats travelling to Vietnam, in particular, in rural areas where you find it difficulty in accessing standard hygiene. They should equip themselves with typhoid, dengue fever and malaria, especially in rural parts of Vietnam and make sure that they are on a course of anti-malarial tablets.
Hotline for emergency aid center in Vietnam is 115. Nevertheless, ambulances response slowly due to their shortage and Vietnam traffic. Also, paramedics are not able to speak English and medical facilities are usually substandard, too.
There are no special immunizations required for those travelling or moving to Vietnam. So, expats moving to Vietnam should ensure that their vaccinations of Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Rabies (optional, but advisable for those travelling or working in rural areas).

Further information about health insurance for expats in Vietnam, feel free to contact us via support@vietnamvisavoa.com or hotline: +84969255515.

Let's apply online at vietnamvisavoa.com to get Vietnam visa in a fast and easy way!