Health check-ups in Ho Chi Minh City: international hospital packages and how the day works

This article is general travel information, not medical advice. It does not tell you which tests you need. Diagnosis, the choice of tests and any treatment decisions belong to a licensed doctor or dentist who knows your medical history.

What a standard check-up package usually contains

Packages vary between facilities, but the structure is fairly consistent. Most are sold in tiers, from a basic or standard bundle up to an advanced or premium one, with the same core items and more tests added as the price rises.

The usual building blocks

Packages typically include a medical history review and a physical examination with a doctor, plus vital signs: blood pressure, pulse, height, weight and BMI. Blood tests commonly listed cover a blood count, blood sugar, lipids, and liver and kidney function. A urine test is standard. Imaging usually means a chest X-ray and an abdominal ultrasound. An ECG often appears in the basic tier or just above it. The day normally closes with a consultation to go through the results.

How basic and advanced tiers differ

Raffles Medical's official site (rafflesmedical.vn) publishes several health check programmes, such as Essential and Premium tiers, with their contents and prices. Check the current wording on the site before you book, since package contents are revised.

Some facilities publish gender-specific packages. Add-ons such as eye, dental, gynaecological, cardiac or endoscopic examinations are often priced separately. Only treat an add-on as available at a given facility if its own site lists it.

Component	Usually in basic tiers	Often in advanced tiers	Usually an add-on
Doctor consultation and physical exam	Yes	Yes	No
Vital signs and BMI	Yes	Yes	No
Blood count, glucose, lipids, liver and kidney function	Yes	Expanded panels	Specialised markers
Urine test	Yes	Yes	No
Chest X-ray	Often	Yes	No
Abdominal ultrasound	Often	Yes	No
ECG	Often	Yes	No
Nutritional consultation	Rarely	Sometimes	Sometimes
Eye, dental, gynaecological, cardiac, endoscopy	No	No	Yes, priced separately

What a check-up package is not

A package does not guarantee that disease is detected or excluded. It is not automatically a work permit health certificate, which must come from facilities authorised under Ministry of Health rules, so ask the facility directly. It is not the free citywide screening campaign Ho Chi Minh City launched for residents in 2026, which is separate from paid packages and handled by local health authorities. And it is not emergency care: for that, see the site's hospitals and clinics guide.

Choosing a package with your own doctor before you travel

The most useful conversation happens at home, weeks before the flight. The goal is not to buy the biggest package. It is to avoid paying for tests you have just had, and to make sure someone will act on the results.

What to send your doctor

Download the package content list from the hospital's official site, ideally the facility's own PDF or detailed package page, and send it on. A contents list is far more useful than a package name.

Questions worth asking

Which items duplicate tests done recently? Which items are relevant to your history? Is imaging involving radiation appropriate for you? And what result format does your doctor want back, for example lab units used at home and copies of imaging files?

Plan the follow-up before you book

Decide who will review the results at home and what happens if something unexpected is found. Extra tests suggested on the day are optional and billed separately, so ask for the price in writing before agreeing to anything.

A note on the screening debate

Published medical sources disagree on how useful broad screening is for people without symptoms, and false positives can lead to further tests and anxiety. That is a discussion for your own doctor, not for a travel guide.

International facilities offering check-up packages

The facilities below are listed alphabetically. The order is not a ranking, and nothing here compares quality. For each, only what its official site publishes is described. Confirm details directly before booking.

Facility	Type as self-described	Area and ward as published (former district)	Published package names	Published price	Report language as stated	Booking channel on official site
American International Hospital (AIH)	Hospital	Binh Trung ward (former District 2), Ho Chi Minh City	Ask for current package list	Ask for current price list	Confirm when booking	Official site contact form and hotline
Centre Medical International (CMI)	Clinic	Central location, confirm address on site	Ask for current package list	Ask for current price list	Confirm when booking	Official site contact form and hotline
City International Hospital (CIH)	Hospital	Binh Tan, west of the city	Ask for current package list	Ask for current price list	Confirm when booking	Official site contact form and hotline
Family Medical Practice Ho Chi Minh City	Clinic	Central location, confirm current address on site	Ask for current package list	Ask for current price list	Confirm when booking	Official site contact form and hotline
FV Hospital	Hospital	Phu My Hung area (former District 7)	Ask for current package list	Ask for current price list	Confirm when booking	Official site contact form and hotline
Raffles Medical Ho Chi Minh City	Clinic	Former District 3, full address and ward on site	Essential, Deluxe	Ask for current price list	Confirm when booking	Official site contact form and hotline
Vinmec Central Park International Hospital	Hospital	Binh Thanh, Vinhomes Central Park area	Ask for current package list	Ask for current price list	Confirm when booking	Official site contact form and hotline

Raffles Medical's site shows content in English, Vietnamese and Japanese and announces seven-day opening. Hours published elsewhere conflict, so confirm the check-up centre's hours directly. FV Hospital and CMI may offer French-language services; confirm this on their own sites.

Hospital or clinic: what changes for a check-up

Clinics may offer a narrower range of imaging or specialist tests on site, which can mean a second appointment elsewhere mid-package. Ask where each test in the package is performed before you pay.

How to check accreditation yourself

Do not assume accreditation from a package brochure. Check the Joint Commission International public directory, and treat a facility's accreditation claim as verified only when it is quoted from that facility's own website with a date.

Readers heading to the north can compare the process in the site's Hanoi check-up guide. Everything else here concerns Ho Chi Minh City.

Check-up prices: how to read a published price list

Prices are the weakest part of most published package information. Only prices a facility publishes on its own website are a useful reference, and they change, so note the date shown on the page.

Where a facility publishes no price, the answer is "ask the hospital for its current price list". No estimate, no number borrowed from a blog, an agency or a forum.

Points to settle before paying:

• Prices change, so a written quote is required, not a screenshot from last year.
• Ask what the price includes: VAT, the written report, the final consultation.
• Ask what it excludes: add-ons, follow-up consultations, medication.
• Ask whether prices differ for foreign patients. Do not assume either way.
• Booking directly avoids outdated package data and "best price" claims made by commission-based platforms.

How to book a check-up

Contacting the international patient or check-up desk

Use only the phone numbers, emails or forms listed on the official site. Where the site lists a messaging app, that channel is fine; otherwise stick to the published contact route.

Information to have ready

Full name exactly as on your passport, date of birth and nationality. Your chosen package and preferred date. Current medications and relevant history. Previous results. Language needs. Any preference for the doctor's gender.

What to get confirmed in writing

Date and arrival time. The package contents list and the quote. The preparation sheet. Results timing and format. Accepted payment methods. Ask how far ahead to book, since lead times are not usually published.

Preparing the day before

Every instruction below should be confirmed against the facility's own preparation sheet. That sheet overrides anything general.

Fasting and medications

Fasting is commonly overnight. The exact number of hours, and whether water is allowed, is in the hospital's instructions.

Anyone taking diabetes medication, or with a condition affected by fasting, must ask their own doctor and the hospital in advance how to manage it. Ask whether to take usual morning medicines.

Other common instructions

Some ultrasounds require a full bladder. Some sheets ask patients to avoid alcohol or heavy exercise beforehand. Tell staff before any X-ray or CT if you are or might be pregnant. Women may be asked about the timing of their period for certain tests.

What to bring

Original passport. Booking confirmation. Medication list and previous results. A letter or list of questions from your home doctor. Glasses or contact lens case. Easy-to-remove clothing. A payment card. A phone with a local SIM for calls. A snack for after the blood draw, if the facility does not provide breakfast.

How the check-up day works

The order varies by facility, but this is the typical sequence.

Approximate time	Step	What to have ready	Notes
Early morning	Arrival	Passport, confirmation	Arrive at the time on your confirmation
First 20 to 30 minutes	Registration and payment or deposit	Passport, payment card	Ask for an itemised receipt
Next	Change into a gown if required	Easy-to-remove clothing	Lockers usually provided
Next	Vital signs	Nothing	Blood pressure, pulse, height, weight
Before eating	Blood and urine samples	Medication list	Done first because you are fasting
After samples	Breakfast break, if offered	Snack if not provided	Ask staff before eating
Mid-morning	Imaging and ECG	Pregnancy status if relevant	Order varies
Mid-morning	Specialist examinations in the package	Previous results	Add-ons billed separately
Late morning or later	Doctor's consultation	Questions list	May be same day or once results are ready

A standard package usually takes about half a day. Add-ons and queues extend it. Any procedure involving sedation, where offered, comes with the facility's conditions, typically a companion and no driving or motorbike riding afterwards. Ask the facility how long its package takes.

Results, the English report and follow-up after you leave

Timing and language

Some results may be available the same day and others days later. Confirm the report language and format at booking, and treat English-language reporting as confirmed only when the facility states it.

Formats to ask for

Printed copy, PDF, or a patient portal if the facility offers one. Imaging files on disc or in digital format, together with the radiologist's report. Reference ranges and units on lab results, since units may differ from those used at home.

If a result needs follow-up

Before departure, a follow-up consultation is usually billed separately, so ask the price first. After departure, ask whether the facility offers remote review, and only rely on it if it is published. Otherwise your home doctor takes over. Keep copies of everything, and ask how results are sent so your privacy is protected.

Payment and insurance

Paying

Prices are in VND. Confirm in advance which cards are accepted and whether a deposit is taken. Ask for an itemised receipt in English, and request any official invoice on the day of payment with your details, because it is harder to issue afterwards.

Type of cover	Covers check-ups?	Direct billing possible?	Documents to request
Travel insurance	No, routine check-ups and preventive screening are excluded	Not applicable	Itemised receipt in case of an unrelated claim later
International or expat health plan	Depends on the policy's wellness or preventive benefit	Ask the hospital whether it bills your insurer directly	Pre-authorisation reference, itemised invoice
No cover	You pay in full	No	Itemised receipt and invoice in English

Travel insurance does not cover routine check-ups. International health plans may include a wellness benefit, so read the policy and ask about direct billing and pre-authorisation. Otherwise you pay and claim later. For trip cover generally, see the site's travel insurance guide.

Getting to the hospital

Addresses after the 2025 reform

Since 1 July 2025, district-level administration has been abolished and wards have been merged and renamed. Use the ward name as published by each hospital, with the former district in parentheses for orientation, and expect some official pages to still show old district names. Show the driver the full address exactly as written on the official site, in Vietnamese with diacritics.

Transport

A ride-hailing car or taxi is the practical choice when fasting. Morning rush hour runs from about 7:00 to 9:00, so build in a buffer. Journey times from the city centre are approximate only. Metro Line 1, which opened in December 2024, helps only if a facility is genuinely close to a station. Do not take a motorbike taxi after any sedation.

Timing a check-up in your trip

Book early in the stay, but not the morning after a long-haul arrival. Keep buffer days for results and any follow-up, and prefer weekdays.

Holiday	Next date	Likely impact	Action
Tet (Lunar New Year)	6 February 2027, with several days around it	Reduced schedules, closed check-up desks	Check each facility's holiday schedule
Reunification Day and Labour Day	30 April and 1 May 2027	Public holiday closures	Avoid or confirm opening
National Day	2 September 2027	Public holiday closures	Avoid or confirm opening
Hung Kings' Commemoration	Lunar calendar, usually April	Public holiday closure	Confirm the date locally

Check that your visa covers the results timeline at evisa.gov.vn. E-visas of up to 90 days have been available to all nationalities since August 2023, but verify the current rules and any visa exemption for your nationality. On weather, the rainy season runs roughly May to November with afternoon downpours, so morning appointments usually avoid the worst of it.

Sources

• Official facility websites: fvhospital.com, vinmec.com, aih.com.vn, cih.com.vn, rafflesmedical.vn, cmi-vietnam.com, vietnammedicalpractice.com. Verify each domain before use.
• Vietnam Ministry of Health: moh.gov.vn
• Official e-visa portal: evisa.gov.vn
• UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam
• Australian Smartraveller
• diplomatie.gouv.fr, Conseils aux voyageurs, Vietnam
• Joint Commission International public directory

FAQ

Q: Can a tourist get a health check-up in Ho Chi Minh City without residency? Yes. International facilities accept foreign patients with a passport for paid packages, and booking is direct with the facility. This is separate from the city's free campaign for residents.

Q: How long does a check-up take? Usually about half a day for a standard package, longer with add-ons. Results timing varies by facility and test, so confirm it with the facility when booking.

Q: Do I need to fast before a health check-up? Most packages with blood tests ask for an overnight fast, but the exact instructions come from the hospital's preparation sheet. Anyone taking medication affected by fasting, such as diabetes treatment, should ask their own doctor beforehand.

Q: Will the report be in English? Confirm this facility by facility at booking, since each publishes it separately. Ask about the report language and format, including imaging files, before you pay.

Q: Does travel insurance cover a health check-up? No. Travel insurance does not cover routine check-ups. Some international health plans include a preventive benefit, so check the policy and ask whether the hospital offers direct billing.

Q: How much does a health check-up cost in Ho Chi Minh City? Only dated ranges published on official websites should be trusted. Otherwise ask for the current price list and a written quote, because prices change.

Q: Is a check-up package valid as a work permit health certificate? Not automatically. Work permit certificates must come from authorised facilities, so ask the facility directly whether it issues them.