Vietnam – Health Insurance

Is health insurance mandatory for expats in Vietnam?

Whether you are legally required to hold health insurance in Vietnam hinges largely on your employment status and the length of your contract. Under Article 2.2 of the 2024 Law on Social Insurance and Article 12.1.c of the Law on Health Insurance, foreign nationals must participate in compulsory social insurance and compulsory health insurance if signing a labour contract of at least 12 months with a Vietnam-based employer. This obligation applies regardless of your visa category or work permit type.

Certain categories of workers are exempt from this requirement. Foreign employees who are intra-company transferees within a multinational organisation, those who have already reached the statutory retirement age at the time of signing their contract, or those whose home country has a bilateral social security treaty with Vietnam are not required to join the mandatory scheme. Vietnam has such an agreement with South Korea, for instance, which may have implications for workers of that nationality.

For those who fall outside the compulsory scheme — including freelancers, digital nomads, retirees, and those on shorter-term contracts — there is no legal obligation to hold insurance, but carrying private coverage is strongly recommended.

Responsibility for compliance rests principally with employers rather than individual workers. Under the 2024 Law, companies that fail to enrol eligible staff face administrative penalties ranging from VND 100,000,000 to VND 150,000,000 (roughly USD 4,000–6,000). Employers who fall behind on contribution payments are also liable for the full outstanding amount, plus daily interest at a rate of 0.03% for each day the payment is overdue.

How does the public health system in Vietnam work?

Vietnam’s public healthcare is delivered through a Social Health Insurance (SHI) framework administered by Vietnam Social Security (VSS). Unlike the UK’s NHS, which draws on general taxation and provides care free at the point of use, or Australia’s Medicare, which operates as a universal government-funded programme, Vietnam’s approach is closer to contribution-based models seen in France or Germany — coverage is linked to employment and funded through payroll deductions.

SHI participation is compulsory for employees, students, and civil servants, and encompasses core medical services including outpatient consultations, inpatient treatment, management of chronic conditions, and maternity care. For vulnerable segments of society — children, elderly people, and those living in poverty — the government provides subsidised SHI coverage to preserve their access to basic health services.

Vietnam’s healthcare system draws on both Eastern and Western medical traditions and is predominantly publicly owned. Despite sustained efforts to extend coverage to the whole population, the system remains chronically underfunded and is affected by structural weaknesses. Coverage levels through the public scheme are relatively modest, and patients often face meaningful out-of-pocket expenses when seeking care.

Overcrowding is a persistent issue in Vietnamese public hospitals. According to the French Embassy in Hanoi, occupancy rates at centrally located hospitals can reach 200%, making these facilities extremely stretched. For expats enrolled in the public scheme, this means that although coverage technically exists, using busy public hospitals can be a difficult and time-consuming experience.

The VSS operates through a designated-facility model. Your employer selects a public medical institution near your home or workplace as your primary registered provider for routine care. To access higher-tier hospitals — such as provincial or national facilities — you generally need a referral from your registered provider first. This gatekeeping structure resembles the approach used in France’s système de soins, where a chosen general practitioner coordinates onward referrals to specialists.

How do expats register for public health coverage in Vietnam?

For most expats on qualifying employment contracts, enrolment in Vietnam’s public health insurance system is arranged by their employer rather than the individual themselves. The process involves several coordinated steps between the employer and the relevant provincial Vietnam Social Security (VSS) office. Always confirm current requirements directly with the VSS or the Ministry of Health, as procedures may be updated over time.

1. Confirm your eligibility. Verify that your labour contract satisfies the 12-month minimum threshold under the 2024 Social Insurance Law. Ask your employer or HR team to provide written confirmation that your contract structure qualifies for enrolment.
2. Employer registers with VSS. It is the employer’s responsibility to register the company and its employees with Vietnam Social Security and to ensure contributions are submitted on time. Registration must be completed within 30 days of an employee’s start date.
3. Gather required documents. You will typically need to supply your passport, a valid work permit or exemption certificate, your signed labour contract, and proof of your registered residential address. Your employer will generally manage the Vietnamese-language administrative paperwork on your behalf.
4. Employer submits documentation to VSS. The employer then files the required forms with the Vietnam Social Security office, either by attending in person or by using the VSS’s online submission portal.
5. Receive your Social Insurance Code and health insurance card. After processing, you will be issued a unique Social Insurance Code, which records your contributions and tracks your entitlements throughout your employment. The VSS subsequently provides a health insurance card, available either as a physical card or through the VssID app.
6. Choose your designated facility. Your employer selects a nearby public medical facility to serve as your registered provider for routine care. Your card becomes active immediately and can be used at your registered facility or at other public hospitals under applicable conditions.
7. Update records if you change jobs. Your employer handles the majority of VSS-related paperwork in Vietnamese. Should you move to a new employer, they will update your VSS registration accordingly.

Under the revised legislation, the timeframe for issuing a compulsory social insurance book has been reduced to five working days from the date a complete application is received. Always confirm the most up-to-date processing times and document requirements with your provincial VSS office or through the VSS official website, as these details are subject to change with new regulations.

What costs are involved in the public health system in Vietnam?

Contributions to the public Social Health Insurance scheme are calculated as a proportion of your monthly salary, divided between employer and employee. The combined SHI contribution rate stands at 4.5% of an employee’s monthly salary, with the employer responsible for 3% and the employee for the remaining 1.5%. These rates are current as of 2025 under Decree 188/2025 and the amended Health Insurance Law.

A ceiling applies to the salary figure used to calculate contributions. For social and health insurance purposes, contributions are capped at 20 times the statutory common minimum wage, currently set at VND 46.8 million — approximately USD 1,770 per month (as of July 2025). Even if your actual salary is higher, your contribution is only calculated up to this threshold.

It is worth noting that the government has replaced the previous basic salary system with a new “reference level.” From July 2025, social insurance contributions are assessed against a broader salary base that encompasses monthly wages, allowances, and other regular payments, with the reference level adjusted according to the consumer price index, economic performance, and fiscal conditions. Readers are advised to verify current contribution rates with the VSS or a qualified professional, as these figures are reviewed periodically by the government.

In addition to monthly contributions, you will also encounter co-payments when accessing public healthcare services. Consultations, hospital admissions, and prescribed medications are reimbursed at between 80% and 100% of cost for services received at your designated registered facility. However, receiving care outside your assigned network typically results in significantly lower reimbursement, sometimes as little as 40–50% of total costs.

What does public health cover in Vietnam include and exclude?

Vietnam’s public Social Health Insurance scheme provides enrolled workers with a foundational level of medical coverage. The VSS covers a broad range of services, including consultations with doctors, inpatient stays, laboratory and diagnostic tests, prescription drugs, and certain basic dental procedures. Foreign workers enrolled under the compulsory scheme are entitled to benefits spanning sickness, maternity, workplace injuries and occupational diseases, retirement, and survivorship provisions.

In practice, however, what is accessible through the public scheme is more restricted than these categories imply. Your health insurance card grants access to state-run hospitals and clinics at subsidised rates. Basic outpatient visits, hospitalisation, and listed medicines are generally reimbursed at 80–100% when using your registered facility. For care received at facilities outside your designated network, the reimbursement rate falls considerably.

There are notable exclusions and restrictions that expats need to understand clearly. The public scheme offers no coverage for treatment at private international hospitals — facilities such as Vinmec, FV Hospital, or Family Medical Practice operate entirely outside the VSS network. Pre-existing medical conditions may not be reimbursed. Mental health services, dental treatment beyond basic extractions, optical care, and high-cost specialist interventions are either excluded outright or only partially covered under the public scheme.

Public facilities are frequently congested, English-speaking staff are not always available, and the standard of infrastructure often falls short of international benchmarks. While the scheme functions adequately for minor or routine medical needs, most expats find it insufficient when dealing with emergencies or complex health conditions. A significant number of expats and affluent Vietnamese residents also choose to travel to Bangkok or Singapore for specialist treatments that are not readily available domestically.

What are the advantages of international private health insurance for expats in Vietnam?

Even where an expat is already enrolled in the public SHI scheme through their employer, the great majority choose to add private or international health insurance on top. The primary motivations are better access to quality facilities, a wider scope of covered services, and the practical advantages that private care offers over the public system.

Private hospitals such as Vinmec, FV Hospital, and Family Medical Practice are widely regarded for their contemporary facilities, English-speaking medical professionals, and significantly shorter waiting times — qualities that expats tend to place great value on. Without private insurance, attending these hospitals means bearing the full cost out of pocket, which can be substantial. An overnight stay at an international private hospital can cost anywhere between VND 6,000,000 and VND 20,000,000 per night (as of 2025), and that figure excludes procedures, medications, and follow-up care.

Private and international health insurance plans generally offer a much broader scope of coverage than the public scheme. Typical policies include hospitalisation, outpatient care, dental treatment, and emergency evacuation. Many international private medical insurance products also provide supplementary features such as wellness programmes, mental health support services, and access to second medical opinion services.

For serious medical conditions or trauma cases that may exceed the capabilities of local hospitals, expats frequently opt for policies that allow treatment in Thailand or Singapore, where more advanced care is available. It is therefore advisable for expats in Vietnam to hold international health insurance that provides coverage both outside Vietnam and in their home countries — a safeguard that proves especially valuable when dealing with life-threatening conditions or complex surgery.

Two broad categories of private health insurance are available to expats: locally issued Vietnamese or regional plans, and comprehensive international expat policies. For expats who live and work exclusively in Vietnam, are relatively young and healthy, and wish to keep premiums manageable, a local private policy can represent a practical choice. These products are offered by Vietnamese and regional insurers including Bao Viet, Pacific Cross, and Liberty Insurance, and are designed for those seeking access to private care without the cost of global coverage.

How do international private health insurance plans work in Vietnam?

Private health insurance in Vietnam can be obtained from both domestic insurers and international providers with a presence in the country. Well-regarded options for expats include Allianz Care, Cigna Global, AXA, William Russell, and Pacific Cross, among others. Local providers such as Bao Viet and Liberty Insurance also offer solid Vietnam-focused policies for those who do not require global coverage.

When evaluating plans, the most fundamental distinction is between inpatient and outpatient coverage. Inpatient cover — for hospital admissions requiring an overnight stay — is included as standard in virtually all private plans. Outpatient coverage, which applies to GP consultations, diagnostic tests, and specialist visits that do not require admission, is frequently offered as an add-on at additional cost. When comparing policies, look beyond the headline premium and consider coverage limits, hospital network breadth, the quality of customer support, and how straightforward the claims process is.

A practical question that often catches expats off guard is whether pre-authorisation is required before treatment. The majority of international plans require you to notify the insurer in advance of any planned procedure. Failing to do so can lead to reduced or rejected claims. Some insurers have direct-billing arrangements with hospitals in their network, meaning you pay little or nothing at the point of care. Where such arrangements are not in place, you pay the full cost upfront and then submit a reimbursement claim.

Geographic scope is another important consideration. Vietnam-only plans carry the lowest premiums but do not provide cover if you travel to Thailand or Singapore for medical care or require emergency evacuation abroad. A plan covering the Asia-Pacific region or worldwide costs more but offers considerably greater flexibility. Some international expat health policies are also portable, meaning they can follow you if you subsequently relocate to another country. It is always essential to verify that your chosen policy complies with local legal requirements wherever you are based.

Pre-existing condition exclusions are a near-universal feature of private health insurance. Conditions that were diagnosed before the policy inception date are commonly excluded, either for a defined waiting period or on a permanent basis. If you have an existing health condition, you must disclose it fully at the point of application and review any resulting exclusions with care before committing to a policy.

What should expats watch out for with health insurance in Vietnam?

One of the most frequent problems that newly arrived expats encounter is a coverage gap between their arrival in Vietnam and the moment they are formally enrolled in any insurance scheme. If your employer takes the full 30-day window permitted to complete VSS registration, and you have not yet arranged private insurance, you may find yourself without any protection during a period when you are still settling in. To guard against this, arrange at least a short-term travel or health policy to bridge the interval.

It is also common for expats to confuse travel insurance with health insurance. Travel insurance is typically designed for short-term trips and provides emergency cover within a fixed timeframe — it is not built for long-term residents and may come with strict duration limits, exclusions for particular conditions, or restrictions on repatriation for ongoing illness. Even though healthcare costs in Vietnam are comparatively affordable by global standards, expenses from emergencies, surgical procedures, or prolonged treatment can accumulate rapidly without adequate cover in place.

Employer-provided coverage is another area that deserves careful scrutiny. If you work for a Vietnamese company, your employer will likely arrange some form of health protection — either through the state social insurance scheme or a private group policy. Request the complete policy documentation and check exactly what is and is not covered. Pay particular attention to which hospitals are accessible, what exclusions apply, and whether your dependants are included. Many expats find that their company plan is more limited than expected, making it worthwhile to supplement it with a private or international policy for additional peace of mind.

Foreign workers enrolled in Vietnam’s compulsory Health Insurance scheme can seek care at registered public hospitals within the approved network. Without SHI enrolment, public hospitals will bill you at full out-of-pocket rates, which vary considerably depending on the facility and the nature of the treatment. Always keep your health insurance card or policy documents with you when attending any medical appointment.

Finally, expats departing Vietnam should take note of the process for reclaiming social insurance contributions. When a foreign worker’s assignment in Vietnam concludes, they may be entitled to receive a lump-sum refund of accumulated contributions, subject to conditions including termination of the employment contract or expiry of the work permit without renewal. The application should be submitted within 30 days prior to contract or permit expiry, and the social insurance authority is required to process payment within 10 working days of receiving a valid application. It is important to initiate this process before leaving the country rather than attempting to do so from abroad.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use my home country’s health insurance in Vietnam?

In most cases, no — health insurance policies issued in another country are not recognised by Vietnamese hospitals and do not satisfy local legal requirements for employment-based coverage. Some internationally issued policies may include global coverage that extends to Vietnam, but you should confirm this with your insurer before you travel. As a general rule, it is prudent to arrange dedicated health coverage for the duration of your time in Vietnam rather than relying on a domestic policy from elsewhere.

Do I need private health insurance if I have a work visa for Vietnam?

Expats and foreign residents in Vietnam can access health coverage through three main channels: compulsory Social Health Insurance via their employer, locally issued private insurance, and regional or international private health plans. The most appropriate option depends on your contract type, salary level, and whether your employer is already enrolling you in the government scheme. Even for those enrolled in SHI, most expats opt to add private insurance because the public system provides no access to private or international hospitals.

Are freelancers and self-employed expats required to have health insurance in Vietnam?

As of 2025, health insurance is not a blanket legal requirement for all expats in Vietnam. Freelancers and self-employed individuals who do not hold a qualifying Vietnamese labour contract fall outside the scope of the mandatory SHI scheme. Such individuals are responsible for arranging their own private health coverage independently to ensure they have sufficient protection.

What happens if I need emergency medical care before I am registered with VSS?

Expats employed on qualifying contracts can be registered with VSS through their employer, granting access to subsidised public healthcare at a designated facility, with referrals opening up full coverage at other hospitals and emergency treatment accessible at any location. However, prior to completing registration — or where SHI enrolment does not apply — public hospitals will charge the full out-of-pocket cost for any treatment received. This highlights why it is essential to have private insurance active from your first day in the country.

Does Vietnam’s public health insurance cover dental and optical treatment?

The VSS covers a wide range of medical services, including doctor visits, hospital stays, laboratory tests, prescription medications, and certain dental services. That said, dental coverage within the public scheme is limited to basic procedures — routine dental care, orthodontic treatment, cosmetic dentistry, and optical services such as glasses or contact lenses are generally excluded or only partially reimbursed. Most expats use private providers for dental and optical needs, and many international health insurance plans offer optional dental and optical add-ons for those requiring more comprehensive coverage.

Can my family members be covered under my Vietnamese health insurance?

The compulsory SHI scheme covers only the enrolled employee directly. Dependants — including a partner or children who are not in employment of their own — are not automatically included under an employee’s public scheme membership. To ensure health coverage for family members living with you in Vietnam, expats typically take out a separate private health insurance policy for the family. Some international health plans allow dependants to be added to a single policy at a reduced per-person rate, so it is worth comparing options across providers.

Is mental health treatment covered under Vietnam’s health insurance?

Mental health services are not comprehensively included under the public SHI scheme, and access to psychiatric and psychological support within the public hospital network is often quite limited. Some international private health insurance plans incorporate mental health cover as a standard feature or offer it as an optional extension. If access to mental health support is a priority for you, review any policy terms carefully for session limits, annual caps, and whether both inpatient psychiatric care and outpatient therapy are included.

What is the VssID app, and should I use it?

Once enrolled, the VSS assigns you a 10-digit social security number and issues a health insurance card, available either in physical form or digitally via the VssID app. The VssID app is Vietnam Social Security’s official digital platform, enabling enrolled workers to view their insurance details, monitor contribution history, and present their health insurance card electronically when attending a registered facility. It is a practical tool for expats participating in the SHI scheme and can be downloaded from standard app stores. Visit the VSS website for the most current guidance on using the app.