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| Experiencing helps visitors balance body - mind - spirit at Alba Wellness Valley By Fusion |
An attractive destination for medical tourism
On a trip to Hue, Ms. Diana Clement (a British nationality) also went for a medical check-up at Hue Central Hospital. She expressed high praise for the doctors, nurses, and staff of the hospital, from the warm reception to the examination at the Ear - Nose - Throat Department, as well as the quality of services provided. This left a very positive impression on her as a foreign visitor.
As medical - healthcare tourism becomes increasingly popular, Hue is often mentioned as an attractive destination thanks to its beautiful landscapes and numerous natural hot springs (7 water sources, including 2 hot springs that have been developed into resorts). Another distinctive feature is Hue’s long-standing tradition of oriental medicine and its unique history of traditional medicine, once serving the royal court with highly advanced practices, creating opportunities to integrate with tourism development. Furthermore, the growth of modern medicine, with a network of hospitals equipped with advanced infrastructure and modern facilities, particularly Hue Central Hospital and Hue Central International Hospital, sets Hue apart in developing medical - healthcare tourism services.
Ms. Tran Thi Hoai Tram, Director of the Department of Tourism stated that the tourism sector has collaborated with the Department of Health, the Oriental Medicine Association, and Hue Central Hospital to implement several initiatives for developing medical - healthcare tourism. A prime example is the establishment of the International Aesthetic Center and the Hue Imperial Medical Institute, developed on the foundation of the Traditional Medicine Hospital.
Currently, several tourism businesses have begun exploring and expanding services to create medical - healthcare tourism products. These include meditation and healing tours, as well as models that combine traditional oriental medicine treatments with facilities such as Spatel D’Annam (Dai Nam Imperial Medical Institute). They also integrate culinary experiences with body-mind wellness practices, represented by destinations like Tinh Cu Cat Tuong Quan, Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion, and Kobi Onsen Resort Hue.
Identifying brand name
In early September, at a Senior Tourism Forum held in the framework of Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Health announced a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation for the effective and sustainable development of medical tourism for the 2025-2030 period. This is considered a golden opportunity for Vietnam in general, and localities in particular, to position their medical tourism brand name on the regional and global tourism map.
In reality, Hue holds great potential for developing medical - healthcare tourism services; however, much work remains in building and positioning a strong brand for this type of tourism. At present, medical - healthcare tourism services are only partially integrated into tours, with products still fragmented and few specialized tours dedicated exclusively to this field. There is also a lack of close coordination between travel agencies and service providers in medical examination, treatment, healthcare, physiotherapy, and aesthetics, etc.
To address these challenges, collaboration among stakeholders is essential, with a focus on Hue’s strengths and potential to develop suitable models. Globally, there are several approaches to medical tourism, with four typical models: cosmetic surgery and aesthetic care; treatment of serious illnesses (such as cardiovascular diseases, organ transplants, etc.); medical tourism combined with leisure and wellness travel; and traditional medicine-based tourism linked with healthcare services. Among these models, aside from cosmetic surgery and aesthetic care (in which Vietnam cannot yet compete globally in the short term), Hue can concentrate on the remaining three models, thanks to its natural conditions, abundant medicinal resources, and the high professional expertise of its medical staff.
According to Director of the Department of Tourism Tran Thi Hoai Tram, in this past August, the Department of Tourism held a working session in coordination with Hue Central Hospital and Daewon Cantavil Corporation (South Korea) to discuss opportunities for cooperation in developing healthcare - tourism products in Hue. The parties agreed to jointly research and design specialized medical tourism service packages, including general medical check-ups, specialized treatments combined with resort stays, cultural and culinary experiences in Hue and recovery care in a premium resort environment.
Along with these positive developments, it is necessary for the relevant sectors to make action plans for destinations, medical facilities, and service establishments catering to medical tourism and healthcare, thereby developing concrete tourism and healthcare products. The Department of Tourism and businesses need to work more closely together in promoting, marketing, and building suitable tourism services and products. At the same time, the locality should actively develop and offer unique medical - healthcare experiences based on natural and cultural resources, while also strengthening training and improving the skills of staff in the field of medical - healthcare tourism sector, contributing to elevating Hue’s tourism brand name to a wider reach.