How Much Does Medical School Cost in Vietnam?

Medical school costs in Vietnam depend on the university, entry cohort, fee schedule, financial support and where a student lives. An annual tuition figure is not automatically the price of a whole degree. This guide uses two dated university examples: the 2026 admissions notice from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City (UMP), and VinUniversity’s 2026–2027 tuition schedule. They are examples, not a national average or a comparison of teaching quality. Check the exact programme and intake before making a budget.

Current published tuition examples

UMP: Medicine, 2026 admissions notice

UMP’s 2026 full-time admissions notice lists estimated tuition for Medicine at VND 88 million per academic year for the applicants covered by that notice. It describes the amount as an estimate and says its planned tuition pathway may increase by up to 10% each year. Treat VND 88 million as the published starting-year figure in that notice, not as a confirmed rate for every later year.

UMP describes its undergraduate Medicine programme as six years. Multiplying VND 88 million by six gives VND 528 million only in a flat-fee illustration. The admissions notice’s possible annual increases mean that this arithmetic is not a reliable six-year bill. Ask UMP for the fee schedule that applies to the specific entry cohort and how later-year changes are set.

VinUniversity: Medical Doctor, 2026–2027

For academic year 2026–2027, VinUniversity’s undergraduate tuition schedule lists Medical Doctor tuition at VND 815.85 million per academic year and a standard programme duration of six years. The listed rate is the tuition amount before its founder-funded subsidy.

The university says a 35% tuition subsidy from Vingroup, VinUniversity’s founder, is automatically granted to admitted students and remains valid for the standard duration of study. Its tuition page says this applies to Vietnamese and international students. On the displayed annual list fee, the arithmetic is:

Listed tuition: VND 815,850,000 per year.
35% subsidy at that rate: VND 285,547,500 per year.
Remainder after that subsidy: VND 530,302,500 per year.

These are calculations from the published list rate, not an individual payment notice. VinUniversity’s financial regulations state that tuition rates apply at the same rate to Vietnamese and international students; the admissions page also describes the 35% subsidy as automatic for admitted students. Other scholarships and financial aid follow separate rules, so do not assume that awards can simply be added together. Confirm the student’s written offer and fee statement.

For scale only, multiplying the displayed annual rate by six gives VND 4,895,100,000 before the 35% subsidy, or VND 3,181,815,000 after applying that subsidy at the same rate for six years. These are illustrative multiplications, not a complete degree budget or a personalised quote. The university says its subsidy covers the standard duration; the amount payable still depends on the applicable cohort schedule, the student’s award terms and any separately billed charges.

What tuition does and does not tell you

The published fees are not directly comparable without reading each institution’s rules. VinUniversity says its tuition includes training and practical fees, facilities, IT support and listed student activities. Its regulations separately identify other charges, including accommodation, insurance and certain academic or administrative fees. For UMP, rely on its current fee notice and ask which other charges apply to the programme and cohort. Do not assume that an item included by one university is included by another.

The word estimated matters. A first-year amount and a planned fee path do not guarantee the total for later years. For a six-year estimate, write down the fee basis for each academic year and any increase rule. If the university has not published later-year amounts for the cohort, mark them as unknown instead of presenting a precise total. A flat multiplication is useful only to show the arithmetic under a clearly stated no-change assumption.

Likewise, distinguish the listed tuition from the amount after aid. VinUniversity’s 35% subsidy is described as automatic for admitted students and applicable over the standard study period. The university’s financial-aid rules also govern how scholarships and support interact with that grant. Ask for the amount shown on the individual offer and whether any additional award changes it.

Budget separately for living and other costs

Tuition is only one line in a student budget. Make a separate estimate for:

Accommodation, utilities and any dormitory deposit.
Food, local transport and trips home.
Books, a computer, clinical learning materials and other course supplies.
Health insurance and any health checks or administrative charges billed by the university.
Application, retake, examination or other fees that may apply to the student’s situation.

Costs depend on the student’s choices and the university’s rules, so use current written prices rather than a national estimate. For each item, record whether it is included in tuition, mandatory, optional, paid once or recurring. Ask whether housing is guaranteed or merely available, and whether the quoted amount covers the full academic year.

A simple planning worksheet is:

Annual outlay = tuition after confirmed support + accommodation + food + transport + insurance + course supplies + other billed fees.

Then add the annual figures across the actual study plan. Keep unknown future fees visible; do not silently carry a first-year estimate across six years.

Questions to ask before applying or paying a deposit

Request written answers from the university for the exact programme and entry year:

What is the listed tuition for this cohort, and which academic year does the published figure cover?
Is tuition fixed for the student’s course, or can later-year amounts change? If they can change, what rule applies?
Which scholarship or subsidy is automatic, which requires an application, and how do awards interact?
What compulsory or common charges sit outside tuition, including insurance, housing, practical work or examinations?
What are the payment dates and deposit or refund rules?
For an international applicant, is the student eligible for this exact programme, what language is used in teaching and clinical placements, and what documents or language evidence are required?

If the goal is to practise medicine outside Vietnam after graduation, check directly with the regulator in the intended country about degree recognition, examinations, supervised training, language and licensing. Requirements depend on the destination and can affect both time and cost; a university’s tuition page cannot answer that question for every applicant.

Choosing a programme beyond its price

Use tuition as one part of a broader comparison. Review the current curriculum, entry requirements, teaching and clinical placement arrangements, student support, language, location and the licensing route relevant to the student. A lower or higher fee by itself does not establish programme quality, suitability or recognition.

For background on the care environment, see how Vietnam’s healthcare system works. The hospital comparisons for Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City are contextual references to healthcare providers; they are not medical-school rankings or evidence about a university’s teaching quality.

Before committing, compare the same entry year and programme, keep list tuition separate from confirmed support and living costs, and retain the university’s written fee schedule with the budget. Recheck official notices because admissions and tuition information can change between cohorts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Medicine cost at UMP in 2026?

UMP’s 2026 full-time admissions notice lists estimated Medicine tuition of VND 88 million per academic year for the applicants covered by that notice. It also describes a planned tuition pathway of up to 10% increases each year, so the first-year figure should not be treated as a six-year total.

What is VinUniversity’s Medical Doctor tuition for 2026–2027?

VinUniversity lists VND 815.85 million per academic year for its six-year Medical Doctor programme. It says admitted students automatically receive a 35% founder-funded tuition subsidy for the standard study period. At the displayed annual rate, that is VND 285,547,500, leaving VND 530,302,500 before other awards or charges; confirm the individual offer and billing statement.

What would six years of UMP Medicine tuition cost?

A flat calculation of VND 88 million multiplied by six is VND 528 million, but that is only an illustration assuming no annual change. UMP’s 2026 notice describes planned increases of up to 10% each year, so ask for the fee schedule for the relevant cohort before estimating a full programme.

What is the illustrative six-year tuition at VinUniversity after the subsidy?

Multiplying the 2026–2027 listed rate by six gives VND 4,895,100,000 before the subsidy. Applying the 35% subsidy at that same rate for all six years gives VND 3,181,815,000. These are arithmetic illustrations, not a full budget or individual quote; they exclude separate charges and depend on the student’s applicable cohort schedule and award terms.

Do Vietnamese and international students pay the same tuition at VinUniversity?

VinUniversity’s financial regulations state that tuition applies at the same rate to Vietnamese and international students, and its 2026–2027 admissions page says the 35% subsidy is automatically granted to admitted students of both groups. International applicants should still confirm eligibility, programme language, required documents and any charges outside tuition.

Does medical school tuition include living costs?

Do not assume so. Estimate accommodation, food, transport, insurance, books and course supplies separately, then check each university’s rules for charges included in tuition and fees billed separately. Use current written prices for the programme and entry year.