When planning to foreign-invested clinic or hospital in Vietnam, investors often focus on licenses, premises and equipment. However, another critical piece of the regulatory picture is the status of foreign doctors and medical professionals who will work in the facility.
Vietnam welcomes international expertise in healthcare, but foreign practitioners must comply with strict legal and professional requirements before they can examine and treat patients.
This article provides an overview of the key conditions for foreign doctors and medical professionals working in Vietnam and explains how this links to your clinic or hospital project, these staffing rules should be read together with the overal article Legal roadmap for opening a foreign-invested clinic in Vietnam.
- Can Foreign Doctors Practice in Vietnam?
Yes. Foreign doctors and other medical professionals can work in Vietnam, but their practice is subject to:
- Vietnamese laws on medical examination and treatment
- Immigration and work-permit regulations
- Approval by the competent health authority
In practice, this means a foreign doctor cannot simply arrive on a business visa and start seeing patients. They need to:
- Obtain a medical practice license (or have their qualifications recognized);
- Work for a licensed medical establishment (clinic or hospital);
- Hold valid work and immigration documents that match their position.
For healthcare investors, planning for foreign staff should be part of the overall licensing strategy, not a last-minute step.
- Basic Conditions for Foreign Doctors
While details can evolve with regulatory updates, foreign doctors in Vietnam are generally expected to meet the following baseline requirements:
2.1 Medical Qualifications and Experience
Foreign doctors must have:
- A recognized medical degree from an accredited institution;
- A valid practicing license or registration from their home country;
- A minimum number of years of post-graduate clinical experience (usually at least 3–5 years, depending on specialty and role);
- Clean professional and criminal records.
Authorities may request notarized and consular-legalized copies of diplomas, licenses and certificates, as well as CVs and reference letters.
2.2 Health and Ethical Standards
As in most jurisdictions, foreign doctors must:
- Pass a health check to confirm fitness for practice;
- Provide confirmation that they have no disciplinary sanctions or pending professional investigations;
- Commit to comply with Vietnamese rules of medical ethics and professional conduct.
- Language Requirements and Communication with Patients
Language is a key concern in clinical practice.
In Vietnam, foreign doctors must either:
- Demonstrate sufficient Vietnamese language proficiency to communicate safely with patients; or
- Work with a qualified medical interpreter who can ensure accurate and confidential communication.
In many private clinics and hospitals, especially those serving international patients, foreign doctors practice primarily in English or another foreign language. Even in these cases, the facility must ensure:
- Clear communication with patients who do not speak English;
- Proper translation of informed-consent forms and medical records where required;
- Compliance with regulations on medical documentation.
For investors, this means incorporating language and interpretation solutions into the staffing and operational plan from the outset.
- Medical Practice Licenses for Foreign Doctors
4.1 Recognition and Licensing
Foreign doctors must apply for a Vietnamese medical practice license (or equivalent authorization) issued by the competent health authority.
The application file typically includes:
- Legalized copies of diplomas and professional licenses;
- Evidence of clinical experience (years of practice, positions held);
- CV and reference letters;
- Health certificate;
- Proof of language ability or interpreter arrangements;
- Confirmation of the facility where the doctor will work.
Licenses may be granted for a defined scope of practice, such as:
- Internal medicine
- Surgery
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Dentistry
- Aesthetic medicine
The doctor must practice within that scope and cannot perform procedures outside their licensed field.
4.2 Link to the Host Facility
The practice license is not entirely independent from the healthcare facility. In many cases, authorities will consider:
- The scope of services of the clinic or hospital;
- The doctor’s role (e.g. medical director, department head, consultant);
- The alignment between the doctor’s expertise and the facility’s technical list.
Therefore, licensing foreign doctors and licensing the clinic or hospital are closely connected processes that should be coordinated carefully.
- Work Permits, Visas and Residence Cards
In addition to professional licensing, foreign doctors need the right immigration and labour status.
5.1 Work Permits
Most foreign doctors must obtain a work permit issued by the labour authority. The employer (clinic or hospital) is usually responsible for applying.
Required documents commonly include:
- Medical and professional qualifications
- Criminal record certificates
- Health certificate
- Employment contract or appointment letter
- Corporate documents of the employer
Some exceptions may apply (e.g. certain short-term assignments, lectures or training), but for regular clinical work, a work permit is typically mandatory.
5.2 Visas and Temporary Residence Cards
Once a work permit is issued, the doctor may qualify for:
- A work visa (e.g. LD-type visa) to enter and stay in Vietnam; and
- A temporary residence card (TRC) valid for up to a few years, allowing multiple entries.
Proper coordination between the clinic’s licensing and the doctor’s immigration status is essential. Investors should avoid situations where:
- The clinic is licensed but key foreign staff cannot legally work yet; or
- Doctors have visas but the facility is not ready or authorized to operate.
- Practical Considerations for Healthcare Investors
Staffing expectations and roles for foriegn medical staff will vary depending on whether you operate a clinic or a hopital. You can learn more in our guide on Opening a clinic vs opening a hopital in Vietnam.
Foreign medical staff are often central to the brand and quality of services of some clinics or hopitals. To avoid delays and compliance issues, it is wise to:
- Map out staffing needs early
Identify which positions must be filled by foreign doctors (for example, a renowned specialist or an international medical director) and which can be local. - Align recruitment with licensing timelines
Ensure that employment contracts, arrival dates and licensing processes for foreign doctors match the clinic’s projected opening date. - Budget for translation and legalization
Diplomas, certificates and experience letters often need to be translated into Vietnamese and legally authenticated. - Establish internal HR and compliance procedures
Monitor expiry dates of practice licenses, work permits and residence cards to avoid gaps or non-compliance.
- How Healthcare Setup VN Can Help
At Healthcare Setup VN, powered by TTVN Legal, we support both healthcare investors and individual practitioners in navigating these regulatory requirements.
Our services in relation to foreign doctors and medical professionals typically include:
- Advising on eligibility and strategy for foreign practitioners in Vietnam;
- Assisting with recognition of qualifications and preparation of practice-license dossiers;
- Coordinating the licensing of foreign doctors with the licensing of clinics and hospitals;
- Handling work permits, visas and temporary residence cards for medical staff;
- Drafting or reviewing employment agreements and internal regulations related to professional practice;
- Providing ongoing legal support for compliance, renewals and scope adjustments.
- Conclusion
Foreign doctors and medical professionals can play a vital role in the development of Vietnam’s private healthcare sector. However, their presence must be supported by a solid legal foundation: practice licensing, immigration status, and alignment with the host facility’s operating license.
For healthcare investors, planning for foreign staff should be part of the overall project design, not an afterthought. With the right legal guidance, it is possible to build an international-standard medical team that operates fully in line with Vietnamese regulations. Mismanaging the licensing and immigration status of foreign doctors is one of the common pitfalls we see in healthcare projects. It is featured in our article on Key mistakes foreign healthcare investors make in Vietnam.
If you are considering bringing foreign doctors or specialists to work in Vietnam, or planning a clinic or hospital that relies on international expertise, the team at Healthcare Setup VN / TTVN Legal is ready to assist.
Contact us for tailored advice on foreign medical staff and clinic licensing in Vietnam.
