Photo courtesy of Tam Anh General Hospital

Vietnam is attracting a growing number of international patients for robot-assisted cancer surgery, with procedures at Tam Anh General Hospital starting from about VND85 million, or US$3,000.

International patients seek shorter waits and lower costs

VietnamPlus reported that patients from countries including the United States, France, Canada and Australia have undergone robotic procedures in Vietnam. One Canadian patient travelled for prostate cancer surgery after facing a two-month wait in his home country and was discharged 48 hours after the operation.

An American patient who underwent a robot-assisted hysterectomy was able to walk and eat normally within 12 hours and left hospital the following day. Individual recovery times vary, but the cases illustrate why access, cost and less invasive techniques are drawing interest from overseas.

Hospital expands use of da Vinci Xi systems

Tam Anh General Hospital operates two US-made da Vinci Xi surgical systems for complex conditions across urology, gastrointestinal surgery, thoracic surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology. The hospital says it has completed nearly 500 multidisciplinary robotic procedures after more than a year of operation.

The system uses a magnified high-definition 3D view and highly flexible robotic instruments to help surgeons work precisely in confined areas. The hospital has also introduced single-site procedures through an incision of about 2-2.5cm and dual-console surgery, which allows two specialists to operate the system within the same surgical field.

What it means for foreigners in Vietnam

Foreign residents and medical travellers now have another high-technology treatment option in Vietnam, but price should not be the only consideration. Patients should obtain a written treatment plan, confirm the surgeon's experience, expected hospital stay, aftercare arrangements and total fees, and check whether their insurer will cover treatment. Anyone travelling specifically for surgery should also plan sufficient recovery time in Vietnam and arrange follow-up care before returning home.

12 August 2026

That's great for Vietnam and foreign patients...too bad that locals will not be able to afford this treatment as it is a years salary for most.