Medical school tuition fees in Vietnam: current costs and what students should budget for

Medical school tuition in Vietnam does not have one national price. The amount a student pays depends on the university, whether it is public or private, the academic year, the programme and, in some cases, whether the student is enrolled through a separate international pathway.

For 2026 to 2027, published medical tuition at major institutions ranges from tens of millions of Vietnamese dong per academic year at public medical universities to several hundred million dong at a private university. These figures should be used as examples rather than as a single national average.

How much does medical school cost in Vietnam?

Official 2026 to 2027 tuition figures show how wide the gap can be between institutions.

At the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, the university's 2026 undergraduate admissions documentation lists expected tuition for Medicine at 88,000,000 VND per academic year.

Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy lists expected 2026 to 2027 tuition for Medicine at 71,050,000 VND per academic year in its undergraduate admissions notice.

VinUniversity lists the Medical Doctor programme at 815,850,000 VND per academic year before its founder-funded tuition support. VinUni states that a 35 percent tuition subsidy is automatically applied to admitted students, including Vietnamese and international students, under the published 2026 to 2027 policy.

These are not interchangeable prices. They apply to different universities and fee structures, and applicants should not assume that a public-university domestic tuition figure applies to a separate international or English-language cohort.

2026 to 2027 examples from official university sources

The following examples are useful for understanding the scale of tuition, not for ranking the universities.

University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City

The university's 2026 admissions document gives an expected annual Medicine tuition of 88,000,000 VND.

The same document notes that its tuition roadmap may increase by up to 10 percent for each year. This means a student planning a six-year degree should not simply multiply the first-year fee by six and assume the result will be the final total.

Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy

For the 2026 to 2027 academic year, CTUMP lists Medicine and Pharmacy at 71,050,000 VND per year in its general undergraduate admissions notice.

CTUMP also operates an international medical pathway. International applicants should therefore confirm whether the published general undergraduate tuition applies to their cohort or whether a separate international-student fee schedule is used.

VinUniversity

VinUni's published 2026 to 2027 listed tuition for its six-year Medical Doctor programme is 815,850,000 VND per academic year.

The university also states that all admitted students receive a 35 percent founder-funded tuition subsidy, including international students. Scholarships and financial aid may further change the amount actually paid by an individual student.

Because private-university tuition policies can include subsidies, scholarships and different billing rules, applicants should distinguish the headline listed tuition from their final financial offer.

Why tuition varies so much

The large price difference between medical schools is not unusual because the institutions use different funding and fee models.

Public medical universities may operate under government-related tuition frameworks and publish annual rates by field. Private universities can set substantially higher fees and may package more services into the tuition.

The amount can also vary because of:

• programme language,
• student category,
• international-student arrangements,
• clinical-training costs,
• university funding model,
• scholarships or automatic subsidies,
• annual tuition adjustments,
• and programme-specific fees.

A lower published annual tuition does not automatically mean a lower total cost. Students need to know what is included and what is charged separately.

Does tuition differ for international students?

It can.

An international student should never assume that the tuition shown on a Vietnamese domestic admissions page is the final price for a foreign-student medical programme. Some universities may admit foreign students through a separate pathway, use an English-language curriculum or issue a different fee notice.

For example, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy has a distinct route for foreign applicants to its English-language Medicine programme. That makes it especially important to obtain the fee schedule for the exact international intake rather than relying only on the general undergraduate rate.

If you are still comparing programmes, see Study Medicine in Vietnam for International Students for admissions and language issues that should be checked separately from tuition.

What does medical-school tuition usually include?

There is no standard national list of inclusions.

A university may include core academic teaching and ordinary training costs in the published tuition, while other expenses are billed separately. VinUni, for example, states that its listed tuition includes training and practical fees, facilities, IT support and a range of student services.

Other institutions may structure charges differently.

Before paying a deposit, request written confirmation of whether tuition includes:

• laboratory and practical teaching,
• clinical training,
• university facilities,
• examinations,
• student services,
• insurance,
• uniforms or clinical clothing,
• textbooks and online resources,
• medical equipment,
• administrative charges,
• and graduation-related fees.

If the university does not explicitly state that an item is included, treat it as something that needs confirmation.

Other costs medical students should plan for

Tuition is only one part of the budget.

Application and enrolment charges

Universities may charge application, admissions or enrolment fees. These can be small compared with tuition but may be non-refundable.

Health checks and insurance

Medical students may need health documentation, vaccinations or insurance depending on the institution and clinical-placement requirements.

Clinical equipment and clothing

Stethoscopes, white coats, scrubs and other clinical items may be purchased separately.

Books and digital resources

Some universities provide extensive online resources, while others may expect students to obtain additional books or subscriptions.

Accommodation and daily living costs

Housing, food and transport are separate from tuition unless the university explicitly offers a package that includes them.

Living costs vary substantially by city and lifestyle, so they should not be folded into a supposed national medical-school tuition average.

How to estimate the full six-year cost

Most Vietnamese undergraduate Medicine programmes are six years, but calculating six-year tuition requires caution.

A simple first-year-fee multiplied by six can underestimate the total if the university increases tuition annually. The University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, for example, states in its 2026 admissions documentation that planned tuition increases may reach up to 10 percent per year.

A better budgeting method is to ask the university for:

1. the current annual tuition,
2. the maximum permitted or planned annual increase,
3. the number of chargeable academic years,
4. mandatory additional fees,
5. the refund policy,
6. and any tuition support guaranteed for the full programme.

For scholarship students, confirm whether the scholarship applies for all six years and what academic or conduct conditions must be maintained.

Public versus private medical-school tuition

Public and private tuition can differ dramatically, as the 2026 figures illustrate.

Public medical universities such as UMP Ho Chi Minh City and CTUMP publish Medicine tuition in the tens of millions of VND per year for their general undergraduate programmes. VinUni's listed private-university MD tuition is several times higher.

This does not mean every public medical programme will fall into the same band, or that every private programme will resemble VinUni. It simply shows why applicants should compare named institutions rather than search for one generic Vietnam-wide price.

For a wider explanation of university fees across health degrees, see Are Universities Free in Vietnam? Tuition Fees for Medical and Health Degrees.

Scholarships and tuition support

Scholarships can materially change the amount a student pays.

VinUni publishes both founder-funded tuition support and additional scholarship or financial-aid opportunities. Other universities may offer scholarships through different schemes, partnerships or government programmes.

Applicants should check four details:

• whether international students are eligible,
• whether support applies to Medicine specifically,
• whether it is guaranteed for the full degree,
• and what conditions can cause the award to be reduced or withdrawn.

Do not calculate affordability from a maximum scholarship that you have not actually been awarded.

Tuition and admission are separate questions

A university having an affordable tuition rate does not mean an international applicant is eligible for admission.

Medical schools can use different admission routes for domestic and foreign applicants. Language of instruction, recognition of foreign school qualifications and clinical-training requirements must be checked separately.

The guide Are There English-Speaking Universities in Vietnam? is useful if teaching language is part of your decision.

What to ask the university before paying

Request a current fee document for your exact programme and intake.

The most useful questions are:

• What is the tuition for my student category?
• Is this the domestic programme or the international programme?
• Is the fee annual, semester-based or credit-based?
• What mandatory charges are not included?
• Can tuition increase during the degree?
• Is there a stated maximum increase?
• Are clinical placements included?
• Does a scholarship or subsidy continue for all six years?
• What happens to prepaid tuition if I withdraw or cannot obtain the required immigration documents?

Keep the university's written response and the official fee schedule. Medical education is a long programme, and small differences in annual policy can become significant over six years.

Bottom line

Medical-school tuition in Vietnam varies from relatively moderate public-university fees to much higher private-university rates. For 2026 to 2027, official examples include 71.05 million VND per year for Medicine at CTUMP's general undergraduate rate, 88 million VND at UMP Ho Chi Minh City, and a listed 815.85 million VND per year at VinUni before its published tuition support.

The correct figure for an individual student is the fee for the exact university, programme, intake and student category. International applicants should obtain that figure directly from the institution before making any financial commitment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City - 2026 undergraduate admissions and expected tuition
2. Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy - 2026 undergraduate admissions and tuition
3. VinUniversity - Undergraduate tuition fees 2026-2027
4. VinUniversity - Financial Regulations and Tariff for students