Vietnam – Complementary and Alternative Medicine

What types of complementary and alternative medicine are available in Vietnam?

Vietnam presents an exceptionally broad spectrum of traditional and complementary therapies, woven deeply into both everyday life and the formal healthcare structure. Two distinct currents of traditional medicine operate side by side in the country: Thuốc Nam (“medicine of the South”), which represents indigenous Vietnamese healing rooted primarily in folk herbal knowledge, and Thuốc Bắc (“medicine of the North”), a form of traditional Chinese medicine that entered Vietnam during periods of Chinese cultural and political influence. Both traditions remain vigorously practised today.

Herbology occupies a central position within Vietnamese traditional medicine and, together with acupuncture, represents the most frequently employed therapeutic approach. Acupuncture is accessible at dedicated traditional medicine hospitals, outpatient clinics, and wellness establishments throughout the country — spanning rural community health posts in outlying provinces all the way to specialist departments inside major urban hospitals. Moxibustion, which applies heat from burning dried mugwort to specific acupuncture points to encourage the flow of energy through the body, is also broadly available.

Traditional Vietnamese massage (Tẩm quất) is a therapeutic discipline combining targeted pressure, stretching techniques, and rhythmic movements intended to ease muscular tension, encourage healthy blood circulation, and restore energetic balance by working on defined pressure points. Indigenous folk practices including Cạo Gió (“wind scraping,” comparable to TCM gua sha), Giác Hơi (cupping therapy), Bấm Huyệt (acupressure), and Cắt Lể (bloodletting) are commonly employed to address ailments attributed to “toxic wind.” These methods are frequently performed by family members within the home or by community-based healers.

Practices with East Asian roots — including tai chi, qigong, yoga, and various forms of energy healing — are widely available, especially in urban settings, and are regularly offered at parks, community halls, and dedicated wellness studios. Dietary therapy, which draws on the perceived “warming” or “cooling” properties of particular foods to sustain wellbeing, is thoroughly embedded in everyday Vietnamese domestic culture.

Research conducted in Vietnamese oriental medicine hospitals indicates that oriental herbal medicine and acupuncture are used more frequently than Vietnamese folk medicine in isolation; physicians also draw on a varied toolkit that includes chiropractic techniques, dietary supplements, and nutritional therapy. Western-origin CAM disciplines such as chiropractic, osteopathy, homeopathy, and naturopathy do exist within Vietnam but occupy a considerably smaller share of the market than traditional Asian therapies. They tend to be concentrated in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, typically at internationally oriented or expat-focused clinics. Homeopathy, in particular, has a very modest profile here compared with countries such as France or India, where it enjoys mainstream acceptance.

Is complementary and alternative medicine regulated in Vietnam?

Traditional Vietnamese medicine is both officially acknowledged and formally regulated by the state — a distinction that sets Vietnam apart from numerous other countries where traditional or complementary healing operates entirely outside any recognised regulatory structure. The principal authority is the Ministry of Health (MOH), which holds responsibility for practitioner licensing, hospital quality standards, and product registration.

The foundational legal instrument — the Law on Pharmacy 105/2016/QH13 — establishes the essential management framework for herbal raw materials and traditional herbal medicines, including clearly defined conditions for commercial activity. The Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV), a decentralised agency operating under the MOH, functions as the pharmaceutical regulatory body with responsibility for drug approval across the country, encompassing herbal and traditional medicine products.

Certain traditional herbal medicines fall under Ministry of Health regulation because they are classified as pharmaceutical drugs. Vietnamese law imposes rigorous quality control requirements spanning the entire chain from cultivation through processing and storage; cultivation operations must comply with GACP (Good Agricultural and Collection Practices) standards to guarantee the reliability and safety of raw plant materials.

Practitioners of traditional medicine — including certified acupuncturists, herbalists, and oriental medicine physicians — are required to hold a practice certificate issued through provincial or municipal health departments operating under MOH guidelines. The Department of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy Administration (a body within the MOH) provides direct oversight of this sector. The Ministry of Health works alongside the Ministry of Justice to examine and refine mechanisms and policies suited to the specific character of traditional medicine, reinforcing the integration of traditional and modern medical approaches.

Western-origin CAM disciplines — including chiropractic, osteopathy, naturopathy, and homeopathy — currently lack dedicated statutory regulatory frameworks of their own within Vietnam. This stands in contrast to countries such as the UK, where osteopathy and chiropractic each have their own statutory registers (the General Osteopathic Council and the General Chiropractic Council respectively), or Australia, where Chinese medicine practitioners must be registered with the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia. Australia became the first Western nation to introduce national registration for Chinese medicine practitioners, requiring all TCM practitioners to be enrolled under its national registration and accreditation scheme. Vietnam has not yet established comparable statutory arrangements for imported Western CAM disciplines. Always verify the most current licensing requirements directly with the Vietnamese Ministry of Health, as regulations are subject to change.

Is CAM covered by health insurance or the public healthcare system in Vietnam?

Vietnam operates a social health insurance (SHI) system serving a substantial share of the population. According to the country’s Minister of Health, 90.85% of Vietnamese residents held social health insurance coverage as of 2020. Expat workers in Vietnam may be eligible for enrolment in a public health insurance plan that covers core healthcare services.

Because traditional medicine is formally embedded within Vietnam’s public hospital infrastructure, treatments such as acupuncture, moxibustion, and prescribed herbal medicine delivered through licensed public facilities can, in principle, fall within the scope of SHI reimbursement — provided the patient is properly registered and attends the correct designated facility. As of 2026, outpatient consultations at provincial-level public hospitals are entitled to reimbursement at 50%–100% of the prescribed benefit level, while primary-level hospitals provide 100% of benefits for both outpatient and inpatient care. However, patients attending central-level hospitals without a referral are treated as receiving out-of-network care, with health insurance meeting only 40% of inpatient costs.

Private health insurance plans available in Vietnam vary considerably in how they handle CAM coverage. International insurers active in the Vietnamese market typically exclude or restrict traditional and alternative therapies unless explicitly included through a rider or optional add-on. In 2024, the average cost of an individual international health insurance plan in Vietnam was approximately USD $4,547, with a family plan averaging USD $12,505. Whether traditional medicine treatments are covered under any given private plan depends entirely on that policy’s specific terms. Always scrutinise your policy schedule carefully and confirm coverage directly with your insurer, or contact the Vietnamese Ministry of Health for current guidance on which traditional medicine services are reimbursable.

How much does complementary and alternative medicine cost in Vietnam?

Vietnam is broadly an affordable destination for healthcare, and complementary and traditional medicine follows this pattern. Medical costs in Vietnam are lower than in Asian peers such as Japan, South Korea, or China, and dramatically lower than in Western nations such as the United States. CAM pricing reflects this broader picture, with considerable variation depending on the therapy type, provider, and location.

At public traditional medicine hospitals and clinics, consultation fees for acupuncture or herbal prescription services tend to be very modest — frequently falling in the range of 100,000–300,000 VND (roughly USD $4–12) per session as of 2025, though individual facility charges differ. Private clinics and international wellness establishments charge substantially higher rates; acupuncture sessions at well-regarded private practices in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City typically cost between 300,000 and 800,000 VND (approximately USD $12–32) per session as of 2025. Premium wellness spas or integrative clinics with international practitioners may charge considerably more again.

For Western-origin CAM therapies such as chiropractic treatment at international clinics, costs are more in line with regional benchmarks: chiropractic consultations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City generally range from around USD $30–70 per session as of 2025. Prices for herbal products span a wide spectrum, from informal market stalls selling raw herbs to pharmacies stocking registered traditional medicine preparations and upscale health stores carrying premium product lines. Always confirm current pricing directly with individual practitioners, clinics, or the Department of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy Administration, as fees are subject to frequent revision.

How do I find a qualified CAM practitioner in Vietnam?

For traditional medicine — including acupuncture, herbal medicine, and oriental medicine — the most dependable approach is to seek out practitioners based at facilities holding Ministry of Health licensing. Vietnam maintains a network of dedicated traditional medicine hospitals in every province; the most prominent are the National Hospital of Traditional Medicine in Hanoi and the Hospital of Traditional Medicine in Ho Chi Minh City. These institutions employ practitioners who have completed formal university-level training in traditional medicine disciplines.

The Vietnam Traditional Medicine Association carries responsibility for gathering, preserving, and passing on effective remedies and treatment techniques, and it organises outreach and educational activities to promote safe and effective usage. This association can serve as a useful point of contact when seeking referrals to credentialled practitioners. The MOH’s Department of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy Administration maintains regulatory oversight of licensed facilities and practitioners throughout the country.

For Western-origin CAM therapies such as chiropractic or physiotherapy-adjacent treatments, prioritise practitioners who retain active registration with a professional body in their home country (for example, a chiropractor who remains registered with their national chiropractic association) and who work from a premises that is registered with local health authorities. International and expat-oriented clinics in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City typically make this information available on their websites.

Key warning signs to be aware of in Vietnam include practitioners operating out of unlicensed premises, vendors selling unregistered herbal products bearing no labelling or MOH registration numbers, and anyone claiming the ability to cure serious conditions such as cancer or HIV through CAM treatments alone. Gaining lawful authorisation to market herbal medicinal products in Vietnam requires a detailed registration process supervised by the Ministry of Health. When purchasing herbal preparations, verify that the product displays an MOH circulation registration number (số đăng ký lưu hành). Exercise caution regarding products purchased from informal market stalls that carry no identifying labels. The Drug Administration of Vietnam publishes searchable lists of registered traditional and herbal medicines on its website.

Are there traditional or indigenous medicine systems practised in Vietnam?

The Vietnamese government characterises traditional Vietnamese medicine as a precious cultural inheritance of the nation, one that took shape and evolved in concert with the country’s long history. It stands as one of the most thoroughly institutionalised traditional medicine systems anywhere in Southeast Asia, forged over millennia of interaction with Chinese medical traditions while being continuously enriched by the healing knowledge of Vietnam’s many ethnic minority communities.

The first major current — Thuốc Nam (“medicine of the South”) — constitutes indigenous Vietnamese traditional medicine grounded primarily in folk herbal knowledge. The second — Thuốc Bắc (“medicine of the North”) — represents traditional Chinese medicine, which entered Vietnam during periods of Chinese political authority. For several thousand years, Vietnamese traditional medicine developed under the pervasive influence of Chinese traditional medicine, culture, and governance, to the point where the two traditions became so intertwined that fully disentangling their respective contributions is practically impossible.

Many of the herbal medicines used in Vietnamese traditional practice derive directly from the ethnopharmacological traditions of various ethnic minority groups living across the country. The Red Dao, a minority community residing in the Tonkin highlands, are particularly celebrated for their knowledge of medicinal plants; their distinctive herbal baths, which can incorporate anywhere from 10 to 120 different plant species, enjoy widespread esteem. Indigenous knowledge from highland peoples including the K’ho and Hmong contributes a rich and distinctive layer of plant-based healing that exists alongside, yet separately from, the formalised traditions of Thuốc Nam and Thuốc Bắc.

Over the past half century, Vietnam has undergone a notable revival of traditional medicine, one that can be traced back to the late President Ho Chi Minh’s 1955 call to study ways of combining the strengths of oriental and Western remedies. Acknowledging the significance of this heritage, the Party, State, and Government have issued a series of policies and strategies aimed at preserving, inheriting, and advancing traditional medicine. The result is that, unlike in many other nations where indigenous healing knowledge is sidelined or ignored, Vietnam actively promotes, studies, and incorporates it into the mainstream health system, with dedicated hospitals, university departments, and sustained government investment all reflecting this commitment.

What should expats know about using CAM alongside conventional medicine in Vietnam?

The Vietnamese government is firmly committed to supporting the further development of traditional Vietnamese medicine in a scientifically rigorous manner and to deepening its integration with Western medicine. The Ministry of Health continues to develop diagnostic and treatment protocols that bring traditional methods together with modern medicine, placing particular emphasis on disciplines such as acupuncture and other non-pharmaceutical interventions. This integrative philosophy is reflected in the physical structure of the health system: virtually all public hospitals of any significant size operate a dedicated traditional medicine department that functions alongside their conventional wards.

For expats, this generally means that conventional doctors working in Vietnamese public hospitals are well accustomed to patients concurrently using traditional medicine, and that conversations about the two approaches are more likely to be conducted with openness and without dismissiveness than might be the case in countries where CAM operates entirely outside the mainstream health system. That said, openness does not remove the risk of herb-drug interactions. Vietnamese traditional medicine lacks the robust body of conventional clinical evidence that underpins modern pharmaceutical practice, even though subclinical research supports the traditional use of many herbal preparations; safe usage requires awareness of potential adverse reactions and interactions between herbs and pharmaceutical drugs.

Expats should always disclose to their conventional physicians any traditional medicines or herbal products they are consuming. This is particularly important for individuals taking anticoagulants, immunosuppressants, or other medications with a narrow therapeutic index, where herb-drug interactions may carry clinical significance. Certain commonly used Vietnamese medicinal herbs appear on the Ministry of Health’s Essential Drug List, meaning that licensed medical practitioners are legally authorised to prescribe them — but a great many other herbal products circulate through channels outside this formal system.

The Vietnamese government’s stated policy direction signals a strong commitment to transforming the herbal medicine sector into a high-value economic activity; future regulatory developments are expected to focus on improving market transparency, strengthening traceability from source to consumer, and aligning Vietnamese standards more closely with international norms, including those promoted by the World Health Organization. Expats seeking integrative clinics — where conventional and traditional approaches are delivered under one roof by teams that communicate with one another — will find the greatest concentration of options in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The Ministry of Health website and the Drug Administration of Vietnam publish regulatory guidance and product registration lists that can help consumers make well-informed decisions.

Frequently asked questions about CAM in Vietnam

Is acupuncture legal and officially recognised in Vietnam?

Yes. Acupuncture is not merely legal — it is formally embedded within Vietnam’s public healthcare system. It is delivered in dedicated traditional medicine departments at public hospitals as well as at licensed private clinics across the country. Practitioners are required to hold a certificate issued by the Ministry of Health or the relevant provincial health authority. The Department of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy Administration is responsible for overseeing licensing for traditional medicine practitioners, including those specialising in acupuncture.

How can I check a traditional medicine practitioner’s credentials in Vietnam?

Legitimately licensed traditional medicine practitioners should possess a practice certificate issued by a provincial Department of Health (Sở Y tế) under the authority of the national Ministry of Health. You are entitled to request sight of this certificate. For herbal products, verify that any prepared medicine carries an MOH circulation registration number. The Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV) maintains an online searchable database of registered medicines. When in doubt, attending a public traditional medicine hospital is advisable, as licensing standards there are directly enforced by government authorities.

Are there practitioners who offer CAM consultations in languages other than Vietnamese?

In major cities — particularly Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City — internationally focused clinics and wellness centres frequently employ multilingual staff or practitioners who completed part of their training overseas. International hospitals such as FV Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City and Vinmec in Hanoi may offer or direct patients to traditional medicine services with multilingual support. Expat community networks and HR departments at multinational employers are frequently valuable sources of personal recommendations for practitioners with strong language abilities.

Can I use the Vietnamese public health insurance system for traditional medicine treatments?

If you are eligible for Vietnam’s Social Health Insurance — for example, through formal employment under a valid work permit — treatments received at a licensed public traditional medicine hospital within your designated network may attract partial or full reimbursement. The rate of coverage depends on the facility tier and whether you hold a valid referral document. As of 2026, primary-level facilities provide 100% coverage, while patients attending a central-level hospital without a referral receive health insurance reimbursement for only 40% of inpatient costs. Confirm your precise entitlements directly with your employer’s HR team or with the Vietnam Social Security authority.

Is herbal medicine safe to buy from markets in Vietnam?

Caution is advisable. Although Vietnam has a rich and well-established tradition of herbal medicine, products sold through informal market channels may fail to meet quality or safety requirements. Legitimately registered herbal medicines must display an MOH circulation registration number. Products lacking this registration may be adulterated, incorrectly labelled, or contaminated with harmful substances. Wherever possible, purchase herbal medicines from registered pharmacies or licensed traditional medicine practitioners, and always inform your conventional doctor of any herbal preparations you are using to minimise the risk of herb-drug interactions.

Is chiropractic treatment available in Vietnam, and is it regulated?

Chiropractic treatment is available in Vietnam, mainly in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City at internationally oriented or expat-focused clinics. However, unlike traditional Vietnamese medicine, chiropractic currently has no dedicated statutory regulatory framework of its own within Vietnam. This differs from the situation in countries such as the UK, which has the General Chiropractic Council, or Australia, which operates national registration requirements for chiropractors. When seeking a chiropractor, look for practitioners who maintain active registration with their home country’s chiropractic authority and who work from premises registered with the local health department.

How is CAM viewed within Vietnamese healthcare culture — is it considered mainstream?

Traditional and complementary medicine is firmly part of the mainstream in Vietnam rather than a peripheral pursuit. Among patients surveyed at Vietnamese public healthcare facilities, 77.4% reported currently using practitioner-recommended traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine. The government actively promotes traditional medicine as a national cultural asset and has channelled investment into hospitals, university programmes, and research initiatives. The vast majority of Vietnamese patients use both conventional and traditional medicine in parallel, and conventional physicians working in public hospitals are generally well versed in navigating this dual-medicine reality.

Are Western CAM therapies such as homeopathy and naturopathy widely available in Vietnam?

Not particularly. Homeopathy and naturopathy maintain only a limited presence in Vietnam, especially when compared with countries such as France, Germany, or India, where homeopathy in particular enjoys mainstream status. Practitioners may be found at selected international clinics in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, but availability is patchy and no dedicated national regulatory framework exists for either discipline in Vietnam. If access to these therapies is important to your health routine, contact prospective providers directly before relocating to confirm their continued availability and the qualifications of their practitioners.