Field guide · 2026
Hospital visit in Vietnam: what to bring, a checklist
A hospital visit in Vietnam goes smoothly when you bring five things: ID, insurance details, a medication list, past records, and a way to pay. This short checklist covers each item and what happens when you arrive.
Bring your ID first
Bring your passport or another government photo ID. Hospitals use it to create your medical record. FV Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City says a new patient must register once and show a national ID card, a passport, or a birth certificate for a child. Hanoi French Hospital also asks for a passport or government ID.
Registration happens at the front office. In an emergency it happens at the emergency department. You only do it once at each hospital, so a second visit is faster.
Sources: FV Hospital, Your Visit Experience; Hanoi French Hospital, patient guide
Bring your insurance details
If you have health insurance, bring the card or the policy number. FV Hospital asks for the insurance card at registration. Hanoi French Hospital asks for insurance details only if they apply to you.
Call your insurer before you go. Ask if the hospital can bill them directly or if you must pay first and claim later. Keep every receipt. Insurers usually want a claim form and the original itemized invoice. For an outpatient visit they often want the medical report too. Some also ask for copies of prescriptions, test reports, your passport and your policy.
Sources: FV Hospital, Your Visit Experience; FV Hospital, Documents Typically Required by Insurers
Bring a medication and health list
Write down every medicine you take now, including vitamins and herbal products. Add your allergies and any ongoing health conditions. Hanoi French Hospital asks patients to bring information about allergies, current conditions and prescriptions. A written list is easy to hand over and saves time at the desk.
Bring recent test results, scans or letters from your home doctor if you have them. They help the new doctor see your history. Hanoi French Hospital calls medical history helpful but not essential. If you cannot get the papers, go anyway and tell the doctor what you remember.
Sources: Hanoi French Hospital, patient guide
Plan how you will pay
Hanoi French Hospital says it is standard practice in Vietnam to show insurance details or pay for services before the consultation. It accepts major credit and debit cards. If the doctor orders extra tests or imaging, you give consent first and pay before they are done.
Not every counter takes every card, so also carry some cash in Vietnamese dong. If you are admitted to the hospital, the billing and insurance cover are discussed later.
Sources: Hanoi French Hospital, patient guide
Plan your arrival
Call or book ahead if you can. FV Hospital lists a 24 hour hotline at (028) 35 11 33 33 and online booking. Its outpatient hours on its booking page are Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Saturday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Emergency care runs all day and night.
FV Hospital asks first time patients to arrive 15 minutes early for registration. Allow extra time for a first visit, since you will fill in forms before you see the doctor.
If English is not your first language, ask for an interpreter when you book. FV Hospital says it offers free interpreter support in English, French, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Russian, Khmer and other languages on request. Hanoi French Hospital offers help in English, French and Japanese.
If you are unsure which specialty to see, ask for a general practitioner. Hanoi French Hospital notes that a GP can assess you and then refer you to a specialist.
Sources: FV Hospital, Book an Appointment; FV Hospital, Your Visit Experience; Hanoi French Hospital, patient guide
Quick checklist
- Passport or government photo ID
- Insurance card or policy number, and your insurer's phone number
- Written list of medicines, allergies and conditions
- Recent records, test results or referral letters, if you have them
- Credit or debit card and some Vietnamese dong in cash
- Booking details and an arrival time 15 minutes early
This guide is general information from hospital patient pages. Rules differ by hospital, so confirm with the one you plan to visit.
Sources: FV Hospital, Your Visit Experience; FV Hospital, Book an Appointment; Hanoi French Hospital, patient guide; FV Hospital, Documents Typically Required by Insurers.