Health & Protection in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City's health care system has undergone significant development the past few years. Today, there are around 100 state-funded hospitals, clinics and several private medical institutions. 

Protecting one’s health is one of the primary concerns when moving abroad. One of the major factors that should be considered when moving to Ho Chi Minh City is its environmental pollution where the level of air pollution is four times higher than the alarm level set by the World Health Organisation. Aside from potential respiratory illnesses, Malaria is also a common health risk in the city because of its sub-tropical climate which attracts disease-carrying mosquitoes. And though there are no current Travel Health Notice for Ho Chi Minh City, expats who are on their way here should still be well aware of how they can protect their health. 

Health Preparation for Expats 

Expats should take the time to visit their physician/doctor at least four to six weeks before flying into HCMC to make sure that their bodies are in the right condition to travel. It is also the ideal time to get vaccinated against tetanus, rabies, typhoid fever and Hepatitis A/B. Regardless if flying in alone or with kids, it is best to bring antibiotic or antidiarrheal medicines that can treat Travellers' diarrhoea which is a common sickness among people who are still adjusting to the food and drink in their new host destination. 

Health Services 

Both the public and private health care facilities in Ho Chi Minh City are at par with those in the Western countries. Most of the major hospitals have doctors and staff that know how to speak English so expats need not to worry about language barrier. There is no current universal health care system in Vietnam so most of the residents of HCMC need to shoulder their medical expenses thus making private hospitals a more popular option because of the modern facilities that are worth the pay. 

Expats are strongly advised to ask their employers if they have medical coverage or take out a private health insurance. Overall, the health care system in Ho Chi Minh City is relatively developed, but for more serious ailments and operations, one might prefer going to cities like Singapore, which have a higher standard of health care. Here are some of the prominent hospitals in HCMC: 

• Columbia Gia Dinh International Hospital

1 No Trang Long, Ho Chi Minh City, Dist.Binh Thanh

Tel. No.: 803 0678 

• Family Medical Practice

Diamond Plaza 34 Le Duan D. 1

Tel. No.: 083 8227 848 

• Franco-Vietnamese Hospital

6 Nguyen Luong Bang St D.7

Tel. No.: 085 4113 333

Precautions 

Tap water is not safe to drink anyplace in the city. There are bottled waters in almost every store, so its best to buy one or boil the water before drinking. Also, expats should also refrain from eating anything that is not prepared or cooked in front of them to avoid getting food poisoned. As mentioned earlier, Malaria is one of the common health risks in Ho Chi Minh City so don’t forget to put insect repellent when going outdoors especially in the rural areas. Also, make it a practice to cover the nose when going out particularly during rush hour when the harmful emission from vehicles is at its peak.