Field guide · 2025
Public vs private hospitals in Vietnam: how they differ
Public vs private hospitals in Vietnam differ in who runs them, how they are graded and how insurance pays for care. Neither type is better by default. The right choice depends on the illness, the place and the budget.
How the two types are run
Public hospitals belong to the state. At the top are the special class hospitals. The Ministry of Health runs four of them: Bach Mai, Viet Duc Friendship, Hue Central and Cho Ray. The 108 Central Military Hospital is also special class and sits under the Ministry of National Defense.
Private hospitals are owned by companies or investors. A revised Law on Medical Examination and Treatment took effect in early 2024. It set out rules for private and public-private investment in hospitals and for how they may hire, borrow or buy equipment in instalments.
How hospitals are graded
The Ministry of Health groups hospitals by level, from special class down through grades I, II and III. The grade reflects size, staffing, equipment and the range of care on offer. It is a measure of capability, not a score for results.
Private hospitals are graded under a points system set in 2017. Many private hospitals sit at grade III even when their buildings and staff are strong. FV Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City said it was recognised as grade II on March 3, 2022, under decision 535/QD-BYT. It said the new grade widened the drugs and techniques it can offer.
How health insurance fits in
A hospital can take state health insurance only if it has signed a contract with the insurance agency. The amended Law on Health Insurance, No. 51/2024/QH15, defines a covered facility in just those terms. It does not set different rules for public and private owners. A private hospital with a contract can be covered. One without a contract is not.
FV Hospital said that its grade II status improved insurance coverage and cut patients' own costs in several specialties. It also noted that some outpatient services still needed a referral letter for insurance benefits. Rules differ from one hospital to the next, so ask the front desk before treatment.
Referrals and the 2025 changes
Insurance in Vietnam is built around levels of care. Patients register at a basic-level facility and are sent up when they need more. If a patient skips that route, insurance usually pays a lower share.
The 2024 amendments changed parts of this. Most of the law took effect on July 1, 2025. Rules on registration and transfers took effect earlier, on January 1, 2025. Under the law, the share paid for care without a referral can be lower, in some cases as low as 40 percent for inpatient care at a specialized facility. Emergency care is covered at 100 percent at any facility.
The law also lets some patients with rare or serious illnesses, or illnesses that need surgery or advanced technology, skip the referral step. The exact list sits in government decrees, so check the current list before relying on it.
Questions to ask before you choose
This guide does not rank any hospital. A short list of questions helps more than a label.
- Does the hospital have a contract with the health insurance agency?
- Is a referral letter needed, and from whom?
- What will the visit cost without insurance, and is the price given in writing?
- Does the department you need have staff who speak your language?
- What is the hospital's grade, and when was it last confirmed?
Public and private hospitals both work within the same national rules. Learn how your own cover applies at each, then decide. For an emergency, go to the nearest hospital first and sort out payment afterward.
Sources
- Vietnamnet, "Prioritizing public health: six leading hospitals to receive upgrades," 17 December 2024.
- Vietnam Investment Review, "New way out for medical investment," 16 February 2023.
- FV Hospital, "FV Hospital is recognised as a Grade II Hospital by the Ministry of Health," 25 March 2022.
- Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Law on Health Insurance, No. 51/2024/QH15 (English text, luatvietnam.vn).
- Luatvietnam English news, "Law on Health Insurance revised to provide more benefits for patients," 4 February 2025.