Le CongINSURANCES
In contrast to many countries where proof of purchase of travel insurance is imperative for VISA obtainment, the Vietnam VISA does not require so. However, even if you are fit and healthy, it is never a good idea to travel without health insurance. Accidents do happen and the environment in Viet Nam could be stark different from that you are accustomed to, hence your body may not be able to adapt yet.
Another reason insurance is a must-have for travelers is that since free-for-all healthcare is non-existent in Viet Nam, you get what you pay for. Public hospitals are cheaper but the quality is substandard while private facilities are excellent but tend to be very expensive. Given the prices of treatments and consultations in these hospitals, it’s a good idea to have health insurance, unless you have lots of savings.
Some insurances might not cover ‘dangerous activities’ such as riding motorbike, diving, hiking, and trekking, so be sure to check yours. Motorbikes account for most of the traffic in Viet Nam, and the country’s vast and various natural landscapes do offer irresistible activities. While you may not intend to experience any of them, you might change your mind once you arrive in Viet Nam. A health plan that covers these activities would become handy.
Individual or comprehensive, your travel insurance plan could cover everything from medical treatment, trip cancellation, theft or loss of property, to covering just one thing that you feel most insecure about. Health certainly belongs to the list.
HOSPITALS
Public hospitals in Viet Nam are known to have quality of service and equipment lagging behind that of international standards, as they are generally underfunded and poorly equipped. They are also faced with overcrowding and not English-common, which means a lot of waiting, inattentive doctors and nurses, and a great deal of miscommunication. They do not accept all international health insurances.
On the other hand, private hospitals offer excellent standards, especially in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City. They are staffed with American, Korean, Japanese and French, Filipino, as well as Vietnamese doctors who have been trained overseas. These hospitals are better equipped and less likely to suffer overcrowding, thus able to cater for the needs of foreign travelers better than public hospitals which have a lower quality due to less funding.
However, private international hospitals have the disadvantage of being located merely in the big cities of Ha Noi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh, which means if you venture to other areas of the country and unfortunately be in need of serious medical treatment, long distance becomes a burden.
The quality and availability of health services varies dramatically between urban or rural areas, with Ha Noi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City having the best medical facilities. Healthcare in rural areas can be from poor to non-existent.
Below is a list of notable hospitals and medical centers at major stops among travelers.
Ha Noi
Family Medical Practice
298 I Kim Ma, Van Phuc Compound, Ba Dinh District, Ha Noi
Tel: +84 4 3843 0748
Vietnamese, English and Filippino speaking doctors.
www.vietnammedicalpractice.com
Bach Mai Hospital
78 Giai Phong, Dong Da District, Ha Noi
Tel: +84 4 3869 3731 or +84 4 3869 1607
Obstetrics Hospital
De La Thanh Street, Cau Giay, Ha Noi
Tel: +84 4 3834 3181
Saint Paul Hospital
12 Chu Van An, Ba Dinh, Ha Noi
Tel: +84 4 3823 3071
France Hospital
1 Phuong Mai, Dong Da District, Ha Noi
Tel: +84 4 3577 1100
Viet Duc University Hospital
40 Trang Thi, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi
Tel: +84 4 3825 3531
Ha Long Bay
Quang Ninh Provincial Hospital
Tue Tinh Street, Bach Dang Ward, Ha Long City
Tel: +84 33 3825 486
Emergency: +84 33 3825 505
Bai Chay Hospital
Gieng Day Ward
Emergency: +84 33 3846 566
Sapa
Thanh Phu-Sapa polyclinic (Phong Kham ĐK Thanh Phu-SaPa)
Sa Pa, Lao Cai, Vietnam
Tel: +84 91 241 20 22
Sapa General Hospital (Phong Kham Da Khoa Khu Vuc Thi Tran Sapa)
Lao Cai, Vietnam
Tel: +84 20 3871 635
Da Nang
Family Medical Practice Da Nang
96-98 Nguyen Van Linh, Hai Chau District, Da Nang
Tel: +84 236 3582 699
24/7 emergency: +84 913 917 303
Vietnamese, English and Filipino speaking doctors.
Son Tra Medical Center
No. 1 branch: 770 Ngo Quyen, An Hai Dong Ward, Son Tra District, Da Nang
Tel: +84 511 3831 215
No. 2 branch: 1063 Ngo Quyen, An Hai Dong Ward, Son Tra District, Danang
Tel: +84 511 3844 596
Hoi An
Thai Binh Duong – Pacific Hospital
6 Phan Dinh Phung, Hoi An
Tel: +84 510 3921 656
www.pacifichospital.com/tbdhoian/
Hoi An Medical Services
503 Hai Ba Trung, Hoi An
Tel: +84 91 345 72 19
Open until 7:30pm
Hue City
Hue Central Hospital
16 Le Loi Street, Hue City
Tel: +84 54 3822 325
Mui Ne
Dr. Dong Polyclinic
29 Nguyen Đinh Chieu, Ham Tien, Binh Thuan, Viet Nam
For a larger facility, An Phuoc Hospital in Phan Thiet (information right below) is located roughly 27km away from Mui Ne.
Phan Thiet
An-Phuoc Hospital
235 Tran Phu, Phu Trinh Ho, Phan Thiet
Tel: +84 62 3831 056
Nha Trang
VK Hospital
34/4 Nguyen Thien Thuat, Nha Trang
Tel: +84 58 3528 866
VK Hospital is closest to the city center, providing 24-hour Ambulance service.
Nha Trang Medical Center
13 Le Loi, Nha Trang
Tel: +84 58 3822 167
Da Lat
Lamdong General Hospital
4 Pham Ngoc Thach, Da Lat
Tel: +84 63 382 1369
Hoan My General Hospital
Mimosa Street, Ward 10, Da Lat
Tel: +84 63 3510 878
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City Family Medical Practice
Diamond Plaza Clinic
34 Le Duan, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: +84 8 3822 7848
District 2 Clinic
95 Thao Dien, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: +84 8 3744 2000
24/7 emergency: *999
Both clinics have Vietnamese, English, Japanese, Chinese and Filipino speaking doctors.
www.vietnammedicalpratice.com (hospitals)
www.star9999.vn (emergency)
FV Hospital (Franco-Vietnamese Hospital)
6 Nguyen Luong Bang, Saigon South (Phu My Hung), Dist. 7, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: +84 8 5411 3333
24/7 emergency: +84 8 5411 3500
Vietnamese, English and French speaking doctors are available.
International SOS
65 Nguyen Du, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: +84 8 3823 6520
24/7 emergency: +84 8 3829 8520
https://www.internationalsos.com
Emergency Centre
125 Le Loi, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: +84 8 3821 6589 or +84 8 3829 1711
Vietnamese, English and French speaking doctors.
International Medical Centre
1 Han Thuyen, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: +84 8 3827 2366 or +84 8 3827 2367
Vietnamese, English and French speaking Doctors.
Cho Ray General Hospital
201B Nguyen Chi Thanh, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: +84 8 3855 4137 or +84 8 3855 4138 or +84 8 3856 3534
Vung Tau
International SOS
1 Le Ngoc Han, Vung Tau
Appointment and 24/7 emergency: +84 64 3858 776
Vietnamese, English, Japanese and French-speaking Doctors.
Midcoast Hospital
165 Thuy Van, Thang Tam Ward, Vung Tau.
Tel: +84 064 3521183
http://www.medicoast.com.au/english/index.html
Phu Quoc
Vinmec International Hospital
Kien Giang, Phu Quoc, Vietnam
Tel: +84 77 3985 588
Open 24 hours
