Identifying the advantages and disadvantages of medical tourism in Da Nang

Sir, can you tell me the basic concept of medical tourism?

Dr. Ngo Duc Hai: In short, medical tourism is a combination of medical services and tourism. Tourists travel from one place to another, from one country to another for medical examination, surgery, health recovery and combine sightseeing, relaxation...

Dr. Ngo Duc Hai introduces Thien Nhan Hospital's modern equipment system serving medical tourism.

This type of tourism arises from the need for affordable health care, higher quality of service, or access to modern services and treatments that are not available in their home country, are too expensive or are not up to standard. These services can range from simple requests such as health check-ups, healing retreats, to complex treatments such as cancer treatment, stem cell therapy, etc.

The potential of the medical tourism industry is huge. Market research and consulting firm DataHorizzon Research estimates that the tourism market will be worth US$79.4 billion globally by 2032. Singapore’s medical tourism industry has grown from US$220 million in 2020 to US$270 million in 2024…

According to you, what are the necessary conditions for developing medical tourism?

Dr. Ngo Duc Hai: To develop medical tourism, there needs to be systematic and synchronous investment from many aspects, in which the decisive factor for success is to have special medical products. The products must be highly competitive in terms of expertise and services, internationally recognized, reasonably priced, and friendly to foreign visitors.

Special medical products may include early cancer screening packages, stroke risk screening, advanced medical techniques with international standards; international standard treatment and relaxation products; high-quality dental services; high-tech cosmetic and dermatological surgery; special traditional medicine products; periodic health care and disease prevention; natural and indigenous herbal therapies, etc.

Along with that, modern transport infrastructure is a vital factor for developing medical tourism. Medical tourism centers need to be well connected to international airports, public transport systems, and have specialized shuttle services for medical visitors. At the same time, people seeking medical treatment and their relatives also want to experience the tourism of the destination, so places with special tourism products will have a distinct competitive advantage.

So what advantages does Da Nang have to develop medical tourism?

Dr. Ngo Duc Hai: Da Nang's great advantage is that it is a strategic traffic gateway of the Central region, making it easy to trade, share services and connect medical tourism itineraries from North to South, from domestic to international. The city also affirms its position as one of the leading resort destinations in Vietnam and the region.

Clean living environment, less pollution, reasonable cost of living. Modern urban infrastructure, good security, easily attracting medical experts and investors from home and abroad to work and live. The high proportion of foreigners in Da Nang is a potential market for international medical services.

Da Nang is a pioneer in digital transformation and e-government. The system of data transmission, remote consultation, electronic medical record storage, and integration between healthcare and technology is being promoted as an important foundation for developing services such as remote medical consultation, AI-integrated treatment, online post-treatment care, etc.

The team of doctors and experts in Da Nang are highly qualified, many of whom have been trained in advanced countries. There are 4 universities in the city that provide training in medical specialties. Da Nang also has the ability to connect with major medical centers in the country (Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi) and internationally through technology transfer, remote consultation, etc.

How do you see the current development of medical tourism in Da Nang?

Dr. Ngo Duc Hai: Although there are many advantages, medical tourism in Da Nang is still in its infancy, mainly combining regular medical examination and treatment with tourism. The first reason is that there are not many special medical products that are highly competitive compared to other countries in the region. Products with high professional quality such as cardiovascular intervention, neurology, IVF... do not have international standard service quality.

There are not many medical facilities that meet international standards such as JCI, ACHS... Current hospitals mainly serve domestic needs, international medical services are limited. There is a lack of specialized treatment centers, rehabilitation centers or "clinic-resort" models according to international standards.

There is a lack of long-term policies for developing competitive medical products. The coordination between healthcare - tourism - technology is still fragmented and unconnected. There is a lack of international marketing and communication strategies; the medical staff, receptionists, and nurses have limited foreign language skills; the service process is not really suitable for the needs of customers from potential markets such as Korea, Japan, and Europe; there is a lack of preferential policies for international investors and patients...

Thank you!

Hai Chau (performed)

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/tin-tuc/y-te/nhan-dien-loi-the-va-han-che-cua-du-lich-y-te-da-nang/20250414092715236