When we left for our gap year abroad, a health check wasn’t the first thing on my mind. Beaches, street food, slow mornings in coffee shops? Yes. Specialists and scopes? Not so much.
But here’s the part no one really likes to talk about when you live in Canada. We promote preventative healthcare — which is great in theory — but actually accessing specialists or diagnostic testing can take time. Sometimes a lot of time. You wait. And wait. And sometimes you’re still dealing with symptoms that affect your quality of life while you wait for answers.
Before we left, I had already been on a waitlist for specialty services for over a year. Ironically, I got the call offering me an appointment the week before we boarded our flight. After over a year of waiting. I had to decline.
A week after arriving in Vietnam, I had the same services arranged privately.
Some links here are affiliate links. If you buy something, I might earn a small commission—thanks for supporting my blog! I only share products I use and stand behind.
Why Private Isn’t Really an Option in Canada
In Canada, if a medical service is covered by the government, you generally can’t pay privately to access it faster. Under the Canada Health Act, provinces are structured around a single-payer system, with only limited exceptions (such as Worker’s Compensation cases, the Canadian Armed Forces, those not yet eligible for provincial coverage, or prison inmates). For most Canadians, parallel private care for insured services simply isn’t available.
The system was built on national pride, with universal “Medicare” becoming part of Canadian identity. But access has become the growing frustration. In a 2021 Commonwealth Fund report, Canada ranked 10th out of 11 high-income countries overall, performing poorly in access and health outcomes.
In real life, that often means waiting — 6 to 12 months (or more) for specialists and specialty services.
I’m grateful for universal healthcare. But while travelling overseas, it was refreshing to have another option.
7 Reasons Travelers Get Health Check-Ups in Vietnam
Getting a full medical health check-up might not be the first thing you think about when planning a trip — but more and more travelers are taking advantage of Vietnam’s private healthcare system while abroad. After our experience, it’s easy to see why.
1. No Long Wait Times
In countries like Canada, specialist appointments can take 6–12 months or longer. In Vietnam, we were able to arrange testing within a week — and even complete follow-up imaging the same day if needed.
2. Affordable Comprehensive Screening
Private hospitals offer extremely comprehensive health check screening packages. Compared with similar services in North America, the cost is significantly lower, even when adding extra tests.
3. Access to Advanced Diagnostic Technology
Modern private hospitals in Vietnam are equipped with high-quality diagnostic equipment, including advanced imaging and laboratory testing platforms.
4. Same-Day Follow-Up Testing
If something unexpected shows up, follow-up tests can often happen immediately instead of requiring another referral and months of waiting.
5. English-Speaking Doctors and Staff
Many hospitals are designed for international patients, with doctors, nurses, and staff who speak fluent English.
6. Extensive Preventative Testing Options
Travelers can add optional screenings — including genetic testing and specialized diagnostics — that may be harder to access quickly in other countries.
7. Peace of Mind
For long-term travelers, expats, and digital nomads, getting a comprehensive health check-up can provide valuable reassurance — and sometimes long-awaited answers.
Booking Our Health Screening at Vinmec
We booked our screening with Vinmec Healthcare System, one of Vietnam’s most well-known private hospital networks.
Vinmec operates modern hospitals and international clinics across the country, including locations in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc.
Their hospitals are designed to serve both locals and international patients, and the doctors and staff speak excellent English.
Walking in felt less like entering a hospital and more like checking into a hotel.
The lobby was huge, bright, and polished — and there were valets waiting outside to open car doors when patients arrived. Definitely not something you see at a hospital back home.
The Basic Health Check Package
The standard health screening package costs $5,800,000 VND (about $300 CDN or $220 USD) — and when we booked, there was even a $500,000 VND promotional discount (about $25 CDN or $20 USD).
The package includes a surprisingly large number of tests:
- Vision exam
- Dental check
- Dermatology screening
- Extensive bloodwork
- Urine testing
- Stool testing
- Chest X-ray
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Thyroid ultrasound
- Gynecology exam (including Pap test and ultrasound) for women
- Mammogram for women
The vision, dental, and dermatology checks were fairly quick and basic, but they were included in the package so we completed them anyway.
The amount of lab work and imaging included was impressive for the price.
A Note on Other Packages
Vinmec also offers more comprehensive screening packages for those who want even more in-depth testing.
The Advanced Health Screening Package typically costs around 18,000,000 VND (roughly $950 CAD or $685 USD) and includes expanded blood panels, additional cancer markers, and more detailed cardiovascular screening.
For the most comprehensive option, there is also a VIP Executive Health Screening Package, which can cost around 29,000,000 VND (approximately $1500 CAD or $1100 USD) depending on the hospital location and tests included. These packages often include advanced imaging such as CT or MRI scans, more extensive cancer screening, and full executive-level health evaluations.
It’s important to note that pricing can vary depending on the Vinmec location, and packages may cost slightly more or less depending on the hospital and promotions available at the time. The prices listed here are based on our experience at the Vinmec Da Nang International Hospital location.
For us, starting with the basic package and adding targeted tests made the most sense. It allowed us to customize exactly what we wanted while still keeping the overall experience efficient and affordable.
The Additional Tests We Added
Because I work in healthcare (and yes, I’m a curious lab tech), I reviewed all the available testing options before booking.
We decided to add several additional screenings.
If you’re not particularly familiar with medical testing, don’t worry. At the beginning of your appointment, you’ll meet with an internal medicine physician who will review your health history and discuss any concerns you may have. From there, they can recommend any additional tests that might be appropriate for you.
Genetic Cancer Screening
We both added a genetic screening kit that tests for early markers linked to 10 of the most aggressive cancers.
The test cost about $8,000,000 VND ($400 CAD or $300 USD) per person.
Similar kits are available in Canada and the United States but typically cost $800–$2000 and are not covered by insurance.
Gastrointestinal Testing
I also added a comprehensive gastrointestinal diagnostic package, which cost roughly $20,000, 000 VND (approx. $1000 CDN or $760 USD).
Ironically, the tests included in this package were the same ones I had been waiting months for in Canada. Thanks to this screening, I now have an official diagnosis, which means I can finally start properly managing the condition.
During the consultation, the doctor actually mentioned that many Canadians specifically travel to Vietnam for gastrointestinal investigations. She was curious why and asked me about it after I mentioned that I work in healthcare.
My answer was simple: access.
There simply aren’t enough doctors and specialists to meet demand in many parts of Canada, which leads to very long wait times for diagnostic procedures. I explained that I had already been waiting over a year for testing and still hadn’t received an appointment before leaving for this trip.
Being able to complete those same investigations within days — instead of continuing to wait indefinitely — was honestly a huge relief.
For me, that alone made the entire experience worthwhile.
Bone Density Scan
I added a bone density scan for about $584,000 VND ($30 CAD or $22 USD) — a quick test that’s surprisingly difficult to access quickly in some healthcare systems.
Same-Day CT Scan
During my imaging results, doctors noticed a small spot on my lung and recommended follow-up imaging just to be safe.
In Canada, this could mean another referral and another long wait.
At Vinmec, I was able to arrange a CT scan the same day for $2,000,000 VND (approx. $100 CDN or $75 USD).
Thankfully, nothing serious was found.
But the ability to investigate something immediately was incredible.
The “Trick-or-Treat” Hospital System
My husband described the experience perfectly.
He said the whole process felt a bit like trick-or-treating.
You’re given a large envelope with your paperwork and a checklist of departments. Then you move from one department to the next — labs, imaging, specialists — collecting stamps and results as you go.
Each department checks your form, performs the test, and sends you on to the next stop. At the end, you speak to the doctor to review all of your results. Same day!
Waiting times?
Usually less than 10 minutes per department.
The basic package takes about three hours to complete.
Since we added additional testing, we ended up being there most of the day.
A Quick Scheduling Tip
One small thing to know when booking: like many businesses in Vietnam, most hospital departments close between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM for lunch. The only department that remains open continuously is the emergency department.
If you’re planning to do the basic screening package, it’s best to book an early morning appointment so you can complete everything before the midday break.
Because we added several extra tests, we ended up experiencing the lunch break pause — not a big issue, but something helpful to know when planning your visit.
| The Syps Family Overseas Health Check Tip Box 🩺 Book an early morning appointment. Most hospital departments (except the ER) close between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM for lunch, so starting early helps you finish before the break. 🩺 Bring your passport. International hospitals will typically require it for registration. 🩺 Expect to fast before your appointment. Many screening packages include blood tests that require 8–12 hours of fasting. 🩺 We always travel with a small document organizer to keep passports, medical forms, and receipts together during appointments. 🩺 Prices may vary by location. Our pricing reflects our experience at Vinmec Da Nang International Hospital, but costs can differ slightly at other Vinmec Healthcare System locations. |
The Syps Survival Summary
Did We Survive a Full Medical Check-Up in Vietnam? Yes — and we even got answers.
Yes, we paid out of pocket. But the experience was efficient, professional, and thorough. The equipment was modern, the doctors spoke English, and the entire process was incredibly organized.
Between the bloodwork, ultrasounds, scans, and enough paperwork to make it feel like medical trick-or-treating, we somehow made it through the entire day. The real shock? Getting results and a diagnosis faster than it took to even get an appointment back home.
Most importantly, I was able to get answers about a health issue I had been waiting nearly a year just to investigate.
For us, the cost was worth avoiding more waiting — and potentially continuing to live with an undiagnosed condition.
Sometimes peace of mind is the best travel souvenir you can bring home.