Plan Your Trip
Hospitals & Travel Insurance in Hanoi
Hanoi has good healthcare options for visitors, including international-standard hospitals and clinics — the main thing to get right is having proper travel insurance in place before you need it.
Healthcare options
Hanoi has several international-standard hospitals and clinics aimed at expats and visitors, generally offering English-speaking staff and standards closer to what visitors from Western countries expect, at a higher cost than local public hospitals. Local public hospitals are more affordable but can involve language barriers and different standards of comfort, so most visitors default to an international clinic for anything beyond a minor issue.
Pharmacies
Pharmacies are widely available throughout Hanoi, including in the Old Quarter, and can help with minor ailments and common over-the-counter medication. For anything more serious, or if you're unsure, a visit to an international clinic is the safer choice over self-treating.
Why travel insurance matters
Comprehensive travel insurance that explicitly covers medical treatment and evacuation is genuinely important for a trip to Vietnam — international clinic treatment can be costly without it, and evacuation for a serious issue is a cost most travellers aren't prepared to cover out of pocket. Check your policy covers the specific activities you're planning (motorbike riding, trekking, diving) since many standard policies exclude these unless specifically added.
A general note
This page is practical orientation, not medical advice — for anything specific to your health, a pre-trip conversation with your own doctor or a travel health clinic is the right move, particularly around vaccinations and any pre-existing conditions.