Vietnam remains one of the more affordable destinations for many students. The country has a relatively low cost of living compared with many popular study destinations, while its economy continues to grow strongly. It is also home to a rich culture and several long-established medical universities. However, many mainstream medical programs in Vietnam are taught in Vietnamese, so international applicants should confirm the language of instruction, admission pathway, internship requirements, and degree or licensing recognition directly with each university before applying. In this article, we will be looking at well-established medical schools in Vietnam for international students to consider.
How long is medical education in Vietnam?
Medical doctor training in Vietnam is usually a 6-year undergraduate program entered after high school. Vietnam has also used an “upgraded doctor” pathway: a student completes a 3-year assistant doctor program, works clinically for at least 12 months, and then completes an additional 4-year medical training program. Pathways and licensing requirements can change, so applicants should check the current rules and each university’s program page before enrolling.
What are the requirements for applying to Vietnamese medical schools?
The basic academic requirement for undergraduate entrants is completion of high school, or an equivalent qualification recognized in Vietnam. Domestic admissions commonly use the national high school graduation examination, competency assessments, direct admission, or combinations of exam scores with international certificates, depending on the university and year. International applicants should check each university’s current admissions notice because document requirements, language requirements, quotas, and recognition rules vary by program.
Top Medical Schools in Vietnam
1. Hanoi Medical University
Established in 1902 as Indochina Medical College, Hanoi Medical University is often described as Vietnam’s first modern university and one of the country’s most established medical institutions. Admission to its medical programs is selective.
HMU’s Medicine Doctor program is a regular undergraduate program that lasts 6 years and is taught in Vietnamese. The university also offers 6-year programs in Traditional Medicine and Preventive Medicine, along with other health-science degrees.
Clinical training is supported by Hanoi Medical University Hospital and a network of affiliated hospitals. International applicants should confirm whether a suitable language track is available before applying.
With its long history of medical education, the university has developed international training, research, and exchange links. Applicants should check HMU’s current international cooperation and admissions pages for active programs.
2. University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City – Faculty of Medicine
The University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City traces its roots to 1947. Based in Ho Chi Minh City, it is one of Vietnam’s major public medical universities.
Its medical school developed from Saigon’s early medical training institutions. Today, the medical unit is the School of Medicine, reorganized from the former Faculty of Medicine in June 2025.
Before moving to the Medicine Learning Center on Hong Bang Street in 1966, medical training used facilities such as the Pasteur Institute, Saigon Hospital, and the Human Body Institute. Clinical training is closely connected with University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, which was established in 2000 and is now a Grade I hospital with nearly 1,000 beds.
3. Vietnam Military Medical University
Formerly the Vietnam Military Medical School, the academy was established on March 10, 1949, to train military medical staff. It later developed into today’s Military Medical Academy, also known in English as Vietnam Military Medical University.
Based in Hanoi, the academy primarily trains health professionals for the armed forces, while some civilian training quotas are assigned by the Ministry of National Defense and published by the relevant authorities. For 2025, the civilian undergraduate quota was 280 places, including 200 for Medicine, 40 for Pharmacy, and 40 for Preventive Medicine.
Military-track applicants should expect additional defense-sector screening and physical standards. Current quotas, eligibility rules, and available tracks should always be checked in the latest admissions notice.
4. Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy
Established in 1957, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy is a public institution based in Central Vietnam. Formerly Hue Medical College, it was renamed Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy in 2007.
The university is a member of Hue University. It has trained doctors, pharmacists, and other health specialists for Central Vietnam and beyond.
After academic training, students receive clinical exposure through Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital and other training sites. The university hospital was established in 1998 and has about 700 beds.
5. Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy – Faculty of Medicine
The Faculty of Medicine predates the establishment of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy itself. It was founded in July 1979 to fulfill the need for medical education in the Mekong Delta region.
Early teaching involved lecturers from Can Tho University and visiting lecturers from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi medical institutions, with clinical instruction supported by Can Tho General Hospital. In 2002, the Prime Minister approved the establishment of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy by separating the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy from Can Tho University.
Today, the Faculty of Medicine is responsible for multiple medical training and research activities, including undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. Students should check the current program pages for language of instruction and international admission availability.
6. Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy
The next on our list of medical schools in Vietnam is Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, a public educational institution based in the northern coastal city of Hai Phong. It began in 1979 as Campus II of Hanoi Medical University in Hai Phong. In 2013, Hai Phong Medical University was renamed Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy.
Its medical curriculum combines theoretical study at the university with practical and clinical training.
Students practice at hospitals and health facilities in Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Hai Duong, and nearby areas, with affiliated practice sites totaling about 5,000 beds.
7. Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine – Vietnam-Germany Faculty of Medicine
Formerly the University Training Center for Healthcare Professionals in Ho Chi Minh City, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine was established as a university on July 1, 2008.
Admissions policies have changed over time and are now published through current annual quotas and notices rather than the older household-registration limitation. Applicants should check the latest admissions portal for eligibility by region, quota, and program.
The university offers medical training, including the Vietnamese-German Faculty of Medicine. The Vietnamese-German General Medicine program is a full-time program taught in Vietnamese, English, and German and lasts 6 years and 3 months.
Clinical teaching is carried out through city hospitals and partner sites. The Vietnamese-German program is linked with Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz; Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine awards the Vietnamese Doctor of Medicine degree, while Mainz issues a certificate students can use in the German medical licensing process.
8. Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy
Based in Thai Binh province in northern Vietnam, Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy is a public medical university. Its predecessor was established in 1968 as the Thai Binh branch of a medical university, became Thai Binh Medical University in 1979, and adopted its current name in 2013.
The university offers undergraduate health-science programs, including 6-year regular programs in General Medicine, Traditional Medicine, and Preventive Medicine.
Lectures and practical demonstrations are held in university facilities, while clinical placements are arranged through hospitals and health-care partners.
In addition to Vietnamese students, the university has trained international students from countries including Laos, Cambodia, and Mozambique.
9. Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy
The final candidate in our list of medical schools in Vietnam is Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy. The institution was established in 1968 as a campus of Mountainous Medical University. It later became Bac Thai Medical College, then Thai Nguyen Medical University under Thai Nguyen University in 1994, and finally Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy in 2008.
The university focuses on training health professionals for the northern mountainous and midland regions of Vietnam. It offers six undergraduate programs and 31 postgraduate programs, with international admissions information published by the university.
Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy offers programs such as General Medicine and Preventive Medicine, and it remains active in research and partnerships. Applicants should use the current admissions portal to confirm available programs, language of instruction, and eligibility.
I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Scholarships Page and Open Courses for International Students.
