From modest beginnings, Vietnamese medicine has advanced to world-class standards, with surgeons now performing transplants, robotic-assisted surgeries, artificial heart implantations and stem cell therapies.
The August Revolution of 1945 signified not only the birth of an independent Việt Nam but also the origin of its modern health sector. On September 2, President Hồ Chí Minh introduced the Provisional Government, which notably included the Ministry of Health, underscoring the central role that healthcare would play in nation-building. In the decades that followed, Việt Nam’s health system evolved amidst warfare and immense challenges, laying the foundation for a robust structure that today delivers comprehensive care to millions.
During the resistance against French colonialists and later, American forces, Việt Nam’s medical workers embodied resilience and resourcefulness. Faced with extreme scarcity, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists moved with the troops, carrying surgical equipment and creating makeshift hospitals deep in jungles and mountains. Their motto, “Everything for the front, everything for victory,” was more than rhetoric—many were both healers and fighters. Crucial innovations emerged from the battlefields, including mobile surgical units, antimalarial drugs tailored for harsh conditions, and field blood transfusions, which saved tens of thousands of lives and supported the revolutionary cause.
With the end of the war and the country’s reunification, the health sector shifted focus to nationwide care. A network was gradually established, stretching from large central hospitals in Hà Nội and Hồ Chí Minh City down to provincial, district, commune, and village facilities. Preventive medicine became a cornerstone, with mass campaigns targeting smallpox, polio, and other infectious diseases. Health education initiatives promoted hygiene and nutrition, building the public’s health literacy and laying the groundwork for widespread primary care, even reaching remote communities.
The hospital system underwent significant growth, expanding from a handful in the 1950s to 1,718 institutions by late 2024, including 384 private hospitals. Every year, these facilities serve more than 170 million outpatients and over 17 million inpatients. Digital technology has recently revolutionized care, enabling top hospitals to collaborate with over 1,500 sites across the country, including those in remote highlands and islands. Specialists in major cities now provide consultations to far-flung patients, while traditional medicine—deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture—has been integrated into the formal healthcare network.
Advancements in Vietnamese medicine are striking. Surgeons routinely perform transplants involving liver, kidney, heart, and lungs, as well as robotic-assisted procedures and stem cell therapies. In vitro fertilization centers have achieved success rates equal to global standards. Vietnam’s medical expertise, while once reliant on foreign training, now attracts international collaboration.
The health sector has faced and overcome major public health challenges. Việt Nam became the first nation to successfully contain the SARS epidemic in 2003, reflecting its preparedness and capacity for rapid response. Progress on HIV/AIDS has also been significant, averting nearly a million new infections since the 1990s, and more recently, Việt Nam has become a regional leader in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use. The COVID-19 pandemic demanded an even greater mobilization, with nationwide quarantines, mass testing, swift vaccination, and innovative treatments implemented through a unified national effort.
Through persistent work in preventive medicine, Việt Nam has eradicated numerous diseases, including smallpox, polio, neonatal tetanus, and most recently, trachoma. Life expectancy has soared from 40 years in 1960 to nearly 74 in 2020. Rates of child malnutrition and maternal deaths have dramatically fallen, while average height has increased.
Healthcare access has expanded in tandem with health insurance. From covering just 58 percent of the population in 2009, insurance now reaches 93.35 percent, with over 93 million people enrolled by 2023. The number of insured medical visits has doubled, and more than 12,800 nationwide facilities now contract with the insurance program—including an increasing number of private institutions. This widened access has eased strain on public hospitals and offered patients greater choice.
Vietnamese policymakers see healthcare as central to sustainable development. Plans are underway to reduce patient costs, aiming for universal free hospital care between 2030 and 2035. Starting in 2026, every citizen will receive annual health check-ups, with priority given to the most vulnerable. The government is investing in training, infrastructure, and management to ensure equal access to high-quality care, even in remote and disadvantaged regions. Completing a modern institutional framework remains a priority, with a commitment to ensure that, as Minister of Health Đào Hồng Lan says, “no one is left behind.” Vietnam’s health sector thus stands as a testament to resilience, innovation, and a deep dedication to the well-being of its people.
