Vietnam Pharmacy Price List: What Common Medicines Actually Cost

Walk into two pharmacies in Vietnam and ask for “paracetamol,” and you may be shown several boxes with the same 500 mg dose at noticeably different prices. That does not necessarily mean one shop is overcharging. The manufacturer, pack size, dosage form and brand can all change the total at the till.

For a quick sense of scale, recent listed retail prices checked in September 2026 included 360–750 VND per tablet for paracetamol 500 mg, 600 VND per tablet for ibuprofen 400 mg, 950–1,000 VND per tablet for loratadine 10 mg, and 36,000 VND for a 60-tablet box of metformin 500 mg. These are examples from specific products, not national fixed prices or recommendations to use them.

The useful question is therefore not simply, “How much is this medicine?” It is: How much is this exact active ingredient, strength, formulation and pack, and is it appropriate for me? This guide shows how to answer that question without turning a pharmacy visit into a spreadsheet exercise.

A practical snapshot of common pharmacy prices

The table below uses publicly displayed prices from a large Vietnamese pharmacy chain. Prices can change with stock, location and promotions, so confirm them before paying.

This small sample already makes the main point. Three paracetamol products contain the same stated amount of the same active ingredient, yet the unit price varies by more than twofold. That difference may reflect the manufacturer, branding, distribution or commercial positioning. It does not tell you, by itself, which product is clinically suitable.

Likewise, a 36,000 VND box can sound more expensive than a medicine sold at 950 VND per tablet. Once pack sizes are taken into account, the first works out at 600 VND per tablet. The box total and the unit price answer different questions.

How to compare two medicines without comparing the wrong things

Begin with the active ingredient printed on the box, not the largest brand name. “Paracetamol 500 mg” is a useful comparison. “Pain medicine” is too broad: it could refer to medicines with different effects, contraindications and risks.

Next check the strength. A 500 mg tablet is not automatically equivalent to a 650 mg extended-release tablet, even when both contain paracetamol. Do not divide a stronger tablet or double a weaker one unless a pharmacist or clinician confirms that this is appropriate.

Then check the dosage form and release mechanism. Tablets, capsules, syrups, suppositories and effervescent tablets cannot be compared simply by package price. Modified-release, enteric-coated and combination products also deserve separate treatment. A combination cold medicine may contain paracetamol plus other ingredients, creating a risk of accidental duplication.

Finally, check the pack quantity. Calculate:

unit price = total pack price ÷ number of tablets, capsules, sachets or millilitres

For liquids, compare both concentration and bottle size. A 60 ml bottle containing 120 mg per 5 ml is not equivalent to a 100 ml bottle containing 250 mg per 5 ml. Parents should be particularly careful: dosing devices and age or weight instructions matter more than the apparent bargain.

Vietnam requires retail medicine prices to be displayed, and a pharmacy should not charge above its posted retail price. Ask for the price before the sale, keep the receipt and make sure the product supplied matches the name and pack discussed.

Why generic medicines often cost less

A generic medicine contains the same active ingredient and strength as its reference product, but it may be sold under the ingredient name or a different trade name. Vietnam has a large domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, so inexpensive locally made options are common.

A lower price does not make a registered generic “weaker,” and a higher price does not prove superior results. Yet “same ingredient” is not the only relevant detail. Formulation, release profile, approved indication and excipients can matter. Some people also need to avoid particular colourings, sugars or other inactive ingredients.

For a simple immediate-release product, a pharmacist may be able to offer a less expensive registered alternative. For narrow-therapeutic-index medicines, modified-release products, complex inhalers, insulin, anticonvulsants or a product that has been carefully stabilised over time, substitution deserves more caution. Do not change a long-term prescription merely because another box is cheaper.

A useful request at the counter is: “Do you have a registered generic with the same active ingredient, strength and dosage form?” Then confirm the manufacturer, registration information, expiry date and instructions before accepting it.

Which medicines usually require a prescription?

Vietnam distinguishes prescription from non-prescription medicines. In practice, access can feel inconsistent, especially between large chains and small independent shops. Convenience does not turn a prescription medicine into an over-the-counter one.

Antibiotics, medicines for diabetes and blood pressure, many psychiatric medicines, oral isotretinoin and controlled or dependence-forming medicines require proper clinical oversight. The metformin example in the table is explicitly presented by the retailer as a product sold on medical indication. A displayed price therefore shows what a product may cost; it does not mean it is suitable for self-treatment.

Common pain relievers, allergy medicines and rehydration products may be available without a prescription in appropriate formulations, but they still have contraindications and interactions. Ibuprofen can be unsuitable for some people with kidney disease, stomach ulcers, bleeding risk, certain cardiovascular conditions or pregnancy. Paracetamol can cause severe liver injury when total daily exposure is excessive, especially when several cold-and-flu products are combined.

If you are unsure, take the original box, prescription or a photograph of the label to the pharmacy. Travellers can also consult our guides to medicines in Vietnam and bringing prescription medicines into Vietnam.

Buying medicine safely in Vietnam

Choose a licensed pharmacy with clearly identified staff, intact packaging and a proper receipt. Large chains are easy to recognise, but a well-run independent pharmacy can also be appropriate. What matters is traceability and professional handling.

Before leaving the counter, verify five details: the active ingredient, strength, dosage form, quantity and expiry date. Check that the seal is intact and that the printed name matches what the pharmacist described. If a medicine needs refrigeration, ask how it has been stored and how to transport it.

Be cautious when a seller proposes an unlabelled strip, removes tablets from their original packaging without adequate identification, or will not explain the manufacturer and expiry date. Extreme discounts, spelling errors, blurred printing and missing registration information are also reasons to stop. Do not buy prescription medicines through anonymous social-media accounts or informal delivery offers.

For antibiotics, a quick sale is not a substitute for a diagnosis. Our guide on buying antibiotics without a prescription in Vietnam explains the legal and clinical issues. For diarrhoea, treatment depends on the cause and severity; see the practical guide to diarrhoea in Vietnam rather than choosing an antibiotic from price alone.

Keep the receipt and photograph the package if you may need follow-up care. The exact trade name and manufacturer help another clinician or pharmacist understand what you took.

Why a price list can never be definitive

Medicine prices move. A retailer may change a promotion, one manufacturer may be temporarily out of stock, or a pharmacy may only have a different pack size. Imported brands can also be affected by supply and distribution costs. Prices in hospital pharmacies, community pharmacies and online listings may differ.

Location matters less than many visitors expect for inexpensive generics, but availability can differ between central districts, smaller cities and rural areas. A rare medicine may require ordering. Online listings may also show a price while requiring pharmacist consultation before purchase.

Insurance adds another layer. A medicine dispensed during covered treatment may be handled differently from a retail purchase made without the relevant prescription, facility or referral pathway. Ask for an itemised invoice if you plan to claim from Vietnamese or international insurance.

For these reasons, use the figures here as a comparison method and recent snapshot, not a promise. Confirm the exact pack and current price with the pharmacy. More importantly, confirm that the medicine and dose are right for you.

A better way to ask at the pharmacy

Instead of asking only “What is cheapest?”, show the pharmacist the ingredient, dose and formulation you need. Ask whether the quoted amount is for one tablet, one blister or the whole box. If a substitute is offered, ask what changed and whether the dosing instructions remain the same.

For a new symptom, tell the pharmacist your age, allergies, pregnancy or breastfeeding status, medical conditions and other medicines. Seek medical care for severe symptoms, breathing difficulty, confusion, dehydration, persistent high fever, significant bleeding, chest pain or deterioration rather than continuing to test over-the-counter products.

A good pharmacy purchase is not the smallest number on a price tag. It is a traceable product, clearly priced, correctly selected and used with enough information to avoid preventable harm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. Vietnam Ministry of Health — rules on retail medicine price listing
2. Long Châu — Paracetamol 500 mg Quapharco retail listing
3. Long Châu — Paracetamol 500 mg Stada retail listing
4. Long Châu — Ibuprofen 400 mg Vacopharm retail listing
5. Long Châu — Loratadine 10 mg Traphaco retail listing
6. Long Châu — Metformin 500 mg Tipharco retail listing