The medical tourism industry in Ho Chi Minh City is expected to bounce back as the city’s health and tourism authorities will jointly develop and promote health tourism this year.

Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu, deputy director of the municipal Department of Tourism, said the two departments of health and tourism will team up with healthcare facilities and travel firms to introduce medical tourism products that satisfy the needs of both domestic and international visitors.

The tourism department revised the city’s 2018 Medical Tourism Guidebook, adding more foreign languages so that international tourists can get more detailed information and join tours to experience local life.

This month, the department plans to promote medical tourism products to woo more tourists from the Cambodian market, as well as learn from the medical tourism model of Thailand.

In addition, the municipal tourism authority will display medical tourism services at the upcoming 17th Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo (ITE HCMC 2023), scheduled to take place from September 7 to 9 in District 7.

According to the tourism official, the southern metropolis launched medical tourism in 2017, but the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic then brought the sector to a halt.

The year 2023 is considered the best time to restart the city’s medical tourism sector with three main groups of services, including general health check-ups, intensive health check-ups, and traditional medicine, in addition to cosmetic dental services.

The city’s medical tourism services target visitors from ASEAN nations. Besides, the city plans to expand its visitor base by offering infertility treatment services to attract visitors from Northeast Asia and Europe.

Data from the tourism department showed that Vietnam welcomed some 57,000 tourist arrivals during the 2018-19 period for inpatient treatment, with Ho Chi Minh City accounting for around 40 percent thanks to its competitive advantages in offering relaxation tourism in combination with medical tourism.

Visitors opting for the city’s medical tourism programs can use healthcare services at prestigious hospitals as well as experience premium shopping, dining, and relaxation services.

Nguyen Van Vinh Chau, deputy director of the municipal Department of Health, said medical tourism development is among the solutions for improving and modernizing health check-ups and treatment services in the city.

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