Health insurance in Vietnam does not have to cost thousands of dollars per year. Foreign residents can choose between relatively inexpensive Vietnamese insurance policies and broader international plans designed specifically for expatriates.
The cheapest policies can start at only a few million Vietnamese dong per year, but low premiums usually come with lower benefit limits, Vietnam-only treatment, smaller hospital networks or limited outpatient care. International plans cost more but can provide much higher annual limits, treatment elsewhere in Asia and medical evacuation benefits.
This guide compares six affordable health insurance options in Vietnam for expats in 2026. It is not a definitive cheapest-to-most-expensive ranking because insurers calculate premiums differently according to age, medical history, deductible, geographic coverage and optional benefits. Where insurers publish current prices, those figures are included below.
Quick comparison: six affordable health insurance options in Vietnam
| Insurance option | Entry-level price information | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Bao Viet An Gia | From VND 1,445,000 per year | Low-cost local cover |
| PVI health insurance | Basic plans can cost a few million VND per year | Residents wanting Vietnamese private insurance |
| Pacific Cross Toan My | From around VND 5.7 million for inpatient cover for ages 19-25 | Flexible local medical insurance |
| Bao Viet Intercare | From VND 6,200,000 | People wanting broader private hospital access |
| LUMA Asia Care Premier Vietnam | Personal quotation required | Expats wanting international-style benefits |
| APRIL MyHEALTH Vietnam | Personal quotation required | Expats wanting highly configurable international cover |
Liberty HealthCare is another important option and is discussed below because of its high benefit limits and Vietnam-focused plans, although Liberty requires an individual quotation rather than publishing one universal starting premium.
Prices are not directly comparable unless the policies have similar benefits. An inpatient-only policy with a VND 100 million annual limit is a very different product from an international policy covering USD 500,000 or more.
1. Bao Viet An Gia: one of the lowest published starting premiums
Published starting premium: from VND 1,445,000 per year
Bao Viet An Gia is one of the most obvious options for people searching specifically for cheap health insurance in Vietnam.
Bao Viet's current online insurance platform advertises An Gia from VND 1.445 million per year. The product provides medical expense protection associated with illness, accident, surgery and hospitalisation, with several levels of coverage available.
A current Bao Viet Family Care premium table also lists entry-level annual inpatient premiums of approximately:
- Ages 10 to 30: VND 1,445,000.
- Ages 31 to 50: VND 1,582,000.
Higher plans increase both premiums and benefits.
Why consider it
The main attraction is straightforward: it is substantially cheaper than most international expatriate health insurance.
It may make sense for someone who:
- Lives mainly in Vietnam.
- Is comfortable using Vietnamese healthcare providers.
- Wants protection against larger hospital bills.
- Does not need worldwide private medical insurance.
- Is primarily concerned with keeping the annual premium low.
What to check carefully
Low-cost local insurance can have much lower annual and per-treatment limits than international policies.
Before buying, check:
- Overall annual limit.
- Hospital room limit.
- Surgery limits.
- Outpatient coverage.
- Direct billing network.
- Waiting periods.
- Pre-existing condition exclusions.
- Geographic coverage.
The cheapest plan is useful only if its benefit limits are sufficient for the hospitals you actually intend to use.
2. PVI health insurance: inexpensive local coverage for eligible foreign residents
Typical basic pricing: several million VND per year depending on age and benefits
PVI is one of Vietnam's major domestic insurers and offers Comprehensive Health Care Insurance to both Vietnamese citizens and foreign nationals legally residing in Vietnam.
Eligibility currently extends from infancy to age 60, with continued participation possible to age 65 under specified renewal conditions.
PVI provides flexible packages covering areas such as:
- Inpatient treatment.
- Outpatient treatment where selected.
- Illness.
- Accidents.
- Other medical expenses according to the plan.
Published PVI Care pricing examples for individual plans place basic annual premiums for younger adults in the low single-digit millions of Vietnamese dong, although the final premium depends on the selected programme and benefits.
Who may find PVI attractive
PVI can be worth comparing if you:
- Live primarily in Vietnam.
- Want a Vietnamese insurer.
- Prefer a relatively low annual premium.
- Do not require worldwide private healthcare.
- Are comfortable comparing benefit limits carefully.
It sits in a useful middle ground between very basic insurance and expensive international expatriate policies.
3. Pacific Cross Toan My: inexpensive inpatient protection with transparent pricing
Published inpatient premium: from VND 5,655,000 for ages 19 to 25 on the Basic level
Pacific Cross Vietnam is particularly useful for comparison because it publishes detailed premiums by age and coverage level.
For the Toan My Basic inpatient plan, current annual premiums include approximately:
- Ages 19 to 25: VND 5,655,000.
- Ages 26 to 30: VND 6,205,000.
- Ages 31 to 35: VND 6,676,000.
- Ages 36 to 40: VND 7,199,000.
- Ages 41 to 45: VND 7,697,000.
Optional outpatient coverage costs extra.
This structure is useful for people who are happy to pay for inexpensive routine consultations themselves while insuring against more substantial inpatient bills.
Deductibles can make the premium even cheaper
Pacific Cross publishes several ways of reducing premiums on selected plans, including:
- Excluding outpatient coverage.
- Choosing 20% co-payment.
- Selecting an inpatient deductible.
- Restricting geographic treatment coverage.
This illustrates one of the most effective ways to obtain cheaper health insurance in Vietnam: insure against expensive events rather than every minor medical bill.
A healthy expatriate who can comfortably pay VND 500,000 or VND 1 million for an occasional consultation may not need an expensive outpatient package.
4. Bao Viet Intercare: a step up from basic local insurance
Published starting premium: from VND 6,200,000 per year
Bao Viet Intercare is positioned above the company's basic An Gia product and is designed for people who want access to a higher level of private healthcare in Vietnam and abroad, depending on the selected plan.
Bao Viet's online platform currently advertises Intercare from VND 6.2 million per year.
This makes it interesting for expatriates who find the limits of very cheap Vietnamese insurance too restrictive but do not necessarily want a premium international plan costing thousands of dollars annually.
Why Intercare can make sense
Potential advantages include:
- Higher-end medical network than basic local plans.
- Multiple benefit levels.
- Private healthcare orientation.
- Broader geographical options depending on the policy.
- A Vietnamese insurer with an established domestic presence.
The difference between An Gia and Intercare is a good example of why searching only for the cheapest premium can be misleading. Paying several million dong more can substantially change where and how you can receive treatment.
For a broader explanation of these trade-offs, see How to Choose Health Insurance in Vietnam.
5. LUMA Asia Care Premier Vietnam: affordable international-style cover
Price: individual quotation required
LUMA targets expatriates and international residents more directly than most local Vietnamese insurers.
Its Asia Care Premier Vietnam plan currently provides:
- USD 100,000 annual medical coverage.
- Standard private room paid in full according to plan terms.
- Up to USD 2,000 in outpatient benefits.
- Access to LUMA's medical support services.
LUMA also offers higher Asia Care Pro and Asia Care Plus tiers for people who want larger annual limits and broader international protection.
The insurer states that international health insurance in Vietnam can range from a few hundred to a few thousand US dollars per year, depending primarily on age, benefits and geographic coverage.
Who should look at LUMA
It is worth pricing if you want:
- An expatriate-focused service.
- English-language support.
- Private hospitals in Vietnam.
- Direct billing.
- International coverage options.
- Medical evacuation or repatriation benefits.
LUMA can cost more than Bao Viet or PVI, but it is not really selling the same level of insurance.
For someone using international hospitals, the higher premium may buy substantially higher protection.
6. APRIL MyHEALTH Vietnam: build the plan around your budget
Price: personalised quotation
APRIL International's MyHEALTH Vietnam is useful for people trying to reduce their premium without switching completely to a low-limit domestic policy.
The plan is modular, allowing customers to adjust benefits and deductibles.
Current hospital and surgery limits include:
- Essential: USD 100,000 or USD 500,000.
- Extensive: USD 1 million.
- Elite: USD 2 million.
Optional modules can include outpatient treatment, maternity, dental and optical care.
APRIL also currently allows deductibles of:
- USD 0.
- USD 500.
- USD 1,000.
- USD 2,500.
- USD 5,000.
- USD 10,000.
Choosing a larger deductible can materially reduce the premium for someone who wants protection mainly against major hospitalisation.
APRIL also advertises a 15% premium discount on selected MyHEALTH plans from November 1, 2025 to October 31, 2026.
Why it works for budget-conscious expats
Rather than buying every benefit, a customer can prioritise expensive risks and remove or limit benefits they are comfortable paying for personally.
That can make a high-limit international plan much more affordable than purchasing comprehensive zero-deductible coverage.
What about Liberty HealthCare?
Liberty deserves consideration even though it does not publish one standard premium that allows a straightforward price comparison.
Its current HealthCare plans include:
- H1: annual limit up to VND 2.4 billion.
- H2: annual limit up to VND 6.6 billion.
- H3: annual limit up to VND 24 billion.
Liberty also publishes several geographic coverage zones and a direct-billing network in Vietnam and overseas.
One unusual feature is that its current policy information states that pre-existing conditions may be covered after a one-year waiting period, subject to policy terms.
Liberty is available to eligible Vietnamese citizens and permanent residents in Vietnam, so foreigners should confirm that their residency status satisfies the insurer's current definition before relying on it as an option.
Local insurance or international health insurance?
This is the biggest decision when trying to find cheap insurance.
A local Vietnamese plan may cost only a few million dong per year but can provide much lower maximum benefits and more limited geographical coverage.
International insurance can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars annually but may provide:
- Higher annual limits.
- Treatment across several countries.
- International private hospitals.
- Medical evacuation.
- Repatriation.
- English-language claims support.
- Broader direct billing networks.
Neither model is automatically better.
Someone living permanently in Da Nang and comfortable using Vietnamese private hospitals has different needs from a regional executive travelling constantly between Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and Europe.
Understanding how Vietnam's healthcare system works can help you decide whether a local plan provides enough access for your needs.
The cheapest strategy may be inpatient-only insurance
Outpatient benefits can significantly increase an insurance premium.
That is because insurers expect people to use outpatient services regularly for:
- GP consultations.
- Specialist consultations.
- Blood tests.
- Imaging.
- Prescription medicines.
- Physiotherapy.
In Vietnam, routine private outpatient care can still be relatively affordable compared with many Western countries.
Some expatriates therefore choose to pay for ordinary consultations themselves and purchase insurance primarily for:
- Hospital admissions.
- Surgery.
- Cancer treatment.
- Major accidents.
- Expensive investigations.
Pacific Cross explicitly publishes a premium reduction for excluding outpatient benefits from some plans, demonstrating how significant this part of the policy can be.
A deductible can lower the premium without destroying your coverage
A deductible is the amount you pay before insurance begins reimbursing covered expenses.
Suppose you choose a USD 1,000 deductible.
You are effectively saying that you can handle the first USD 1,000 of eligible medical costs yourself, while the insurer protects you against much larger expenses.
For someone with savings, this can be more rational than paying a high premium so that an insurer reimburses every inexpensive appointment.
APRIL allows deductibles as high as USD 10,000 on some MyHEALTH configurations, while Pacific Cross also publishes deductible and co-payment options.
The correct deductible is the amount you could realistically afford tomorrow if you suddenly needed hospital treatment.
Do not compare annual limits alone
A policy advertising VND 2 billion in coverage can still contain important sublimits.
Check limits for:
- Hospital room and board.
- Intensive care.
- Surgeon fees.
- Diagnostic imaging.
- Cancer treatment.
- Rehabilitation.
- Outpatient consultations.
- Prescription medicine.
- Dental care.
- Emergency evacuation.
A VND 2 billion headline limit is less useful if the room allowance is below the price of the private hospital you intend to use.
This matters particularly if you expect to use international-facing facilities. Vietnam Clinic’s comparisons of hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City, hospitals in Hanoi and hospitals in Da Nang can help you identify the type of provider you want your policy to cover.
Cheap health insurance can become expensive when something is excluded
Before buying the lowest-priced plan, read the exclusions.
Common areas requiring careful attention include:
- Pre-existing conditions.
- Chronic diseases.
- Congenital conditions.
- Mental health.
- Routine dental care.
- Maternity.
- Preventive health checks.
- Experimental treatment.
- Cosmetic treatment.
- Treatment outside the policy's geographic area.
A policy can be excellent value for one person and almost useless for another because their medical history is different.
If the insurer requires a medical questionnaire, answer accurately. Failure to disclose relevant medical history can create problems when making a substantial claim later.
Do foreigners qualify for Vietnam's public health insurance?
Some foreign workers can participate in Vietnam's statutory health insurance system through their employment arrangements, depending on their legal and employment status.
This should be distinguished from household-based voluntary public insurance.
In July 2026, the Vietnamese government specifically clarified that foreign nationals with temporary or permanent residence are not automatically entitled to purchase household-based health insurance simply because they live within a Vietnamese household under the current framework.
Foreign employees should therefore check with their employer whether they participate in compulsory Vietnamese health insurance rather than assuming they can independently buy the same household policy available to Vietnamese residents.
Even when someone participates in the public system, they may still choose additional private insurance for access to private hospitals and international services.
Which option is cheapest for an expat in Vietnam?
If price is the only consideration, a basic local Vietnamese policy such as Bao Viet An Gia is likely to be among the cheapest practical private health insurance options, with current published premiums starting around VND 1.445 million per year.
PVI's local products can also be inexpensive, while Pacific Cross provides transparent entry-level inpatient pricing from several million dong annually.
For expatriates wanting international-style insurance, LUMA Asia Care Premier and APRIL MyHEALTH Essential are more appropriate comparisons, although the premium needs to be individually calculated.
The cheapest sensible plan is therefore not necessarily the one with the lowest number on the website. It is the lowest-cost policy that still protects you against the medical bills you could not comfortably pay yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers below address common questions about finding affordable health insurance in Vietnam. Insurance premiums are personalised and policy conditions can change, so obtain a current quotation and read the policy wording before purchasing.
What is the cheapest health insurance in Vietnam for expats?
Basic Vietnamese private insurance is generally cheaper than international expat insurance. Bao Viet currently advertises An Gia from VND 1.445 million per year, although benefits and eligibility should be checked carefully before purchase.
How much does health insurance cost in Vietnam?
Local health insurance can cost only a few million Vietnamese dong per year, while international expatriate insurance can range from a few hundred to several thousand US dollars annually depending on age, deductible, benefits and geographic coverage.
Can foreigners buy Bao Viet health insurance?
Bao Viet offers health insurance products that can be available to eligible foreigners in Vietnam, although eligibility differs by product. Applicants should confirm residency, age and underwriting requirements for the specific plan.
Can foreigners get PVI health insurance in Vietnam?
Yes. PVI states that its Comprehensive Health Care Insurance is available to legally resident foreign nationals in Vietnam, subject to age and other policy requirements.
Is international health insurance worth it in Vietnam?
It can be worthwhile for expats who want high annual limits, international hospitals, treatment outside Vietnam, English-language support or medical evacuation. People who are comfortable using Vietnamese hospitals may find local insurance much cheaper.
How can I make expat health insurance cheaper?
Consider inpatient-only coverage, a higher deductible, co-payment, a smaller geographic coverage area and removing optional benefits such as dental or routine outpatient treatment. Only choose a deductible you could comfortably pay if you needed treatment unexpectedly.
Do foreigners get public health insurance in Vietnam?
Some foreign employees participate in Vietnam's compulsory health insurance system depending on employment status. Foreign residents are not automatically eligible to purchase household-based public health insurance simply because they hold temporary or permanent residence.
Conclusion
Cheap health insurance in Vietnam is available, particularly through domestic insurers. Bao Viet An Gia currently advertises premiums from VND 1.445 million per year, while Pacific Cross publishes entry-level inpatient premiums beginning at several million dong annually depending on age. Bao Viet Intercare begins at around VND 6.2 million and provides a step toward broader private healthcare protection.
Expats who want higher benefit limits, international treatment and stronger English-language support should also compare LUMA and APRIL. These policies generally cost more but offer a substantially different level of protection.
The most effective way to reduce premiums is often to keep strong inpatient coverage while limiting outpatient benefits, selecting a sensible deductible and avoiding geographical coverage you do not need. Compare exclusions, hospital networks and benefit limits before deciding that the lowest premium is actually the cheapest option.
Sources
Writer
Tan Nguyen
Medical writer for Vietnam Clinic. MD, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City.
