Studying medicine in Vietnam can cost dramatically less than attending a private medical school in countries such as the United States, but tuition varies widely between universities. Public medical schools may charge tens of millions of Vietnamese dong per year, while a private internationally oriented medical programme can cost many times more.
For a standard six-year medical degree, tuition alone can therefore range from roughly a few hundred million VND at a public university to several billion VND at the most expensive private institutions.
The exact amount depends on the university, academic year, programme and whether the student qualifies for scholarships or subsidised tuition. International students may also face different admission and fee structures from Vietnamese students.
How much does medical school cost in Vietnam per year?
For Vietnamese students entering public medical universities, current tuition for Medicine commonly falls somewhere around VND 40 million to VND 90 million per academic year, although individual schools can fall outside this range.
Recent published examples include:
- University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City: Medicine is reported at approximately VND 88 million per year for 2026 to 2027.
- Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine: Medicine has been reported at around VND 81 million per year for 2026 to 2027.
- Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy: Medicine was reported at more than VND 63 million per year for 2025 to 2026.
- Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy: Medicine was reported at approximately VND 40 million per year for 2025 to 2026.
These figures show why it is difficult to give one national price for medical school in Vietnam.
Tuition is also changing relatively quickly as public universities move toward greater financial autonomy, so applicants should verify the fee for their exact entry year directly with the university.
Medical school tuition at major universities
University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City
The University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City is one of Vietnam's largest and most established medical universities.
Published 2026 to 2027 tuition information places Medicine at approximately VND 88 million per academic year and Dentistry at around VND 90 million.
If that annual fee remained unchanged for six years, tuition for a Medicine degree would total approximately:
VND 528 million over six years.
In reality, tuition can increase during the programme, so this should be treated as a simple illustration rather than a guaranteed total cost.
The university is based in Ho Chi Minh City, where students also need to account for accommodation, food and transport. Vietnam Clinic’s comparison of hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City gives an idea of the city’s broader clinical environment.
Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine
Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine is another important public medical university in Ho Chi Minh City.
Reported tuition for Medicine for the 2026 to 2027 academic year is approximately VND 81 million per year.
Using that figure across six years would produce a simple tuition estimate of approximately:
VND 486 million.
Again, annual tuition may change over the course of the programme.
Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy
Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy is a major medical training centre for the Mekong Delta.
For the 2025 to 2026 academic year, published reporting placed Medicine tuition at more than VND 63 million per year.
At around VND 63 million annually, six years of tuition would be approximately:
VND 378 million.
Can Tho can also have lower living costs than central Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, which may reduce the total cost of studying medicine.
Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy
Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy is a public specialist health sciences university under Vietnam's Ministry of Health.
Published tuition for Medicine for 2025 to 2026 was approximately VND 40 million per year.
At that level, six years of tuition would be around:
VND 240 million.
Da Nang is also an important healthcare centre for Central Vietnam. Students considering the city can explore the local clinical environment through Vietnam Clinic’s comparison of hospitals in Da Nang.
How much does a six-year medical degree cost?
A standard Medicine programme in Vietnam usually lasts six years.
Using recent public university tuition levels, a rough tuition-only estimate could look like this:
| Annual tuition | Approximate six-year tuition |
|---|---|
| VND 40 million | VND 240 million |
| VND 60 million | VND 360 million |
| VND 80 million | VND 480 million |
| VND 90 million | VND 540 million |
These calculations assume tuition remains unchanged, which is unlikely over a six-year programme.
Students should expect universities to revise tuition periodically, meaning the real total may be higher.
Private medical schools can cost much more
Vietnam also has private universities offering Medicine, and their tuition can differ substantially from public institutions.
The most prominent example is VinUniversity, whose Medical Doctor programme follows a different financial model from traditional Vietnamese public universities.
Published VinUniversity material has historically listed the MD programme at around USD 35,000 per year before scholarships and financial support, although current tuition and scholarship policies should always be checked directly with VinUniversity for the relevant intake.
At USD 35,000 annually, a six-year programme would have a theoretical list-price tuition of approximately:
USD 210,000 over six years.
That is dramatically higher than public medical school tuition in Vietnam.
However, VinUniversity has also offered substantial merit scholarships, fellowships and institutional financial support, meaning the amount actually paid by an individual student can be much lower than the published list price.
This illustrates why comparing medical schools only by their advertised tuition can be misleading.
Are public medical schools subsidised?
Historically, public universities in Vietnam received substantial government support, helping keep tuition relatively low.
Vietnam's higher education sector has gradually moved toward greater financial autonomy for many institutions. Universities with greater autonomy may need to recover more of their training costs through tuition.
Medicine is particularly expensive to teach because programmes require:
- Laboratories.
- Anatomy and preclinical facilities.
- Clinical instructors.
- Hospital placements.
- Medical simulation.
- Specialist equipment.
- Long programme durations.
This helps explain why Medicine and Dentistry are frequently among the most expensive programmes at public Vietnamese universities.
Other costs of studying medicine in Vietnam
Tuition is only part of the total cost.
A medical student may also need to budget for:
- Accommodation.
- Food.
- Local transport.
- Health insurance.
- Textbooks and learning materials.
- Medical uniforms.
- Clinical equipment.
- Laptop or tablet.
- Examination fees.
- Administrative fees.
- Travel to clinical placements.
Living expenses vary substantially between cities.
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City tend to be more expensive than smaller regional cities, although lifestyle and accommodation choice can make a large difference.
Students sharing accommodation and eating mainly local food can keep expenses relatively low compared with expatriates using serviced apartments and international restaurants.
How much should you budget for living expenses?
There is no standard student budget, but accommodation is usually the largest expense.
Students may choose between:
- University dormitories.
- Shared apartments.
- Private rooms.
- Studios.
- Living with family.
A Vietnamese student using university accommodation may spend dramatically less than an international student renting a modern apartment near central Ho Chi Minh City.
When comparing universities, ask whether student housing is available and what it costs. Over six years, accommodation can become almost as important as tuition when calculating the real cost of medical school.
Can international students study medicine in Vietnam?
Some Vietnamese universities accept international students, but Medicine can be more complicated than many other subjects.
The major issue is language.
Most traditional medical programmes are designed primarily for Vietnamese students, and clinical education requires communication with Vietnamese patients and hospital staff.
An international applicant should therefore confirm:
- Whether foreign students are admitted to the Medicine programme.
- Whether classes are taught in Vietnamese or English.
- What Vietnamese-language proficiency is required.
- Whether clinical placements require Vietnamese fluency.
- Whether international tuition differs from domestic tuition.
- Which entrance qualifications are accepted.
Do not assume that because a university has an English-language website its Medicine programme is taught in English.
Is medical school cheaper in Vietnam than abroad?
Compared with many Western countries, public medical education in Vietnam can be considerably less expensive.
A public Medicine programme costing VND 40 million to VND 90 million annually is roughly equivalent to only a few thousand US dollars per year, depending on the exchange rate.
That is far below the tuition charged by many private medical schools in the United States or other international programmes.
However, price alone should not determine where someone studies medicine.
An international student needs to consider whether the degree will be recognised in the country where they later want to practise.
Medical licensing authorities may require:
- Verification of the medical degree.
- Licensing examinations.
- Language tests.
- Internship or residency requirements.
- Additional supervised practice.
A lower-cost medical degree is not useful if it does not fit the student's intended licensing pathway.
Scholarships and financial support
Scholarship availability differs considerably between universities.
Public universities may offer support based on:
- Academic performance.
- Financial circumstances.
- Government policy categories.
- External scholarship programmes.
Private universities can have much larger scholarship packages.
VinUniversity, for example, has historically offered significant merit-based scholarships and financial aid for Medical Doctor students.
Applicants should distinguish between:
- Published tuition.
- Automatic institutional subsidies.
- Merit scholarships.
- Need-based aid.
- Government financial support.
The amount a student actually pays can differ substantially from the headline tuition figure.
Is medical school worth the cost in Vietnam?
For Vietnamese students planning to practise locally, public medical universities can offer relatively affordable medical education compared with international alternatives.
The more important consideration is the commitment involved. A Medicine degree generally takes six years, followed by additional professional training and licensing requirements before a doctor becomes established in clinical practice.
Students comparing universities should therefore look beyond tuition and consider:
- Academic reputation.
- Teaching hospitals.
- Clinical exposure.
- Faculty.
- Programme structure.
- Postgraduate opportunities.
- Location.
- Living costs.
- Licensing prospects.
- Total six-year cost.
Vietnam Clinic's guide to how Vietnam's healthcare system works provides useful background on the healthcare environment in which medical students eventually train and work.
What to ask a university before applying
Before relying on any published tuition figure, contact the university and confirm:
- Tuition for the exact academic year.
- Whether tuition is fixed or expected to increase.
- Whether fees are charged annually or by credit.
- Additional clinical or laboratory fees.
- Health insurance costs.
- Admission fees.
- International student fees.
- Scholarship availability.
- Dormitory costs.
- Refund policies.
This is particularly important for a six-year programme because even modest annual increases can significantly affect the total cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers below cover common questions about the cost of studying Medicine in Vietnam. Fees can change each academic year, so current university admissions information should take priority over historical tuition figures.
How much does medical school cost in Vietnam per year?
At major public medical universities, recent Medicine tuition commonly ranges from around VND 40 million to VND 90 million per academic year. Fees vary substantially by institution and can increase from one year to the next.
How much does a six-year medical degree cost in Vietnam?
Using recent public university tuition levels, tuition alone could total approximately VND 240 million to VND 540 million over six years if annual fees remained unchanged. The real total may be higher because universities can increase tuition during the programme.
How much is medical school at UMP Ho Chi Minh City?
Published information for the 2026 to 2027 academic year places Medicine tuition at approximately VND 88 million per year at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City.
Is medical school cheap in Vietnam?
Public medical school tuition is relatively inexpensive compared with many private medical schools in Western countries. Students still need to budget for six years of tuition, accommodation, food, transport, equipment and other expenses.
Can foreigners study medicine in Vietnam?
Some universities may accept international students, but eligibility and language requirements differ. Many traditional Medicine programmes are primarily taught in Vietnamese, particularly during clinical training.
Are private medical schools more expensive in Vietnam?
They can be considerably more expensive. VinUniversity, for example, has historically published a Medical Doctor list tuition around USD 35,000 per year before scholarships and financial support.
Conclusion
Medical school in Vietnam can be relatively affordable at public universities, with recent Medicine tuition commonly falling around VND 40 million to VND 90 million per year at major institutions. At those levels, a six-year degree could involve roughly VND 240 million to VND 540 million in tuition before future increases and living expenses.
Private medical education can be much more expensive. Internationally oriented institutions such as VinUniversity operate on a different tuition model, although scholarships can substantially reduce the actual amount paid.
Students should compare the total six-year cost rather than one year's tuition and verify current fees directly with each university before applying.
Sources
- University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City
- 2026 to 2027 Tuition Information for University of Medicine and Pharmacy Ho Chi Minh City
- Medical School Tuition Fees in Vietnam for 2025 to 2026
- Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Undergraduate Programs
- VinUniversity International Student Guide and Medical Doctor Tuition Information
Writer
Tan Nguyen
Medical writer for Vietnam Clinic. MD, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City.
