VietNamNet Bridge – Living in a faraway place, it is essential for expats to know about the country's healthcare service as an effective way of protecting themselves. Below is an overview of the healthcare service in Viet Nam that expats should take into account. Public healthcare service in Viet Nam is overloaded. Even though there has been dramatic improvement in the past few years, the public healthcare service in Viet Nam remains a major issue. Firstly, doctors are seriously overworked, with the number of patients having significantly increased. Overworked doctors may suffer health problems themselves, and, as a result, may offer lower quality of care to their patients. Not only doctors, facilities in public hospitals are also failing to meet treatment demands. At present, in many public hospitals in Viet Nam, it is extremely … [Read more...] about Expat guide to healthcare service in Vietnam
Vietnam expat health insurance
Vietnam’s life insurance market faces challenges
Twenty-four-year-old Ms. Trinh Van Anh, the manager of an international school in Hanoi, does not have a life insurance policy and hasn’t thought about getting one, even though her monthly salary of $1,000 is higher than most of her peers. “No one recommends I take out a policy,” she said. “No one knows what life insurance covers, what it gives the policyholder, or what the benefits are.” Like Ms. Anh, many other Vietnamese people remain confused about what life insurance can actually bring. Even though premiums in Vietnam are on track for yet another record year, the gains are coming from a very low base and foreign insurers have yet to truly crack the market despite dominating. It should take only a few more years, though, for them to make more substantial headway. Foreign insurers’ playground 2016 continued to see robust growth in Vietnam’s insurance market, with the life insurance segment reaching a ten-year high. Insurance … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s life insurance market faces challenges
Vietnam turns illness-free in 20 years?
Editor’s note: Van Thanh, a 23-year-old medical student, joined the "Ky Vong Viet Nam 20 Nam Toi" ("My Expectations for Vietnam in 20 Years") writing contest with a dream that illnesses would no longer be a cause for concern in Vietnam in 2035. If Thailand boasts a tourism industry, why do we not dream of a medical industry for Vietnam, which draws patients from regional countries? As a medical student, my greatest hope is witnessing advances in the local healthcare sector, regarding medical staff’s expertise, modernity and people’s access to medical services. Illnesses- great worry Eight years ago, my cousin died of head trauma at 24 following a road accident. The inadequacy at a provincial-level hospital failed to grab the young man back from the Death. Even at a central hospital, I once witnessed an elderly patient who had no option but to refuse treatment after the hospital staff told him his treatment fee. The sum may be inconsiderable for many, but is … [Read more...] about Vietnam turns illness-free in 20 years?
Molisa set to lift cap on expat employees
Foreign investor pressure could lift the 3 per cent cap on expatriates employed at an enterprise in Vietnam.Le Bach Hong, Deputy Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (Molisa), said the ministry was seeking ways to change Decree 93/2005/ND-CP, which governs the recruitment of foreign nationals in Vietnam, to fit the country's new WTO membership status. However, technical barriers will be issued to control the employment of foreign nationals and encourage employers to hire local labour. Fierce debate has swirled around the controversial cap with the international business community telling the annual Vietnam Business Forum and CG meetings the limit is a backward policy in the context of Vietnam's open investment climate and global integration.However, Hong defended Molisa's stance and pointed to enterprise surveys which revealed many firms had a 2 per cent foreign worker ratio because "employing an expatriate is in fact more expensive than a local worker"."Our desire is … [Read more...] about Molisa set to lift cap on expat employees
Vietnam experience: You never know when…
We rarely think of personal disasters or unforeseen circumstances when we travel. Our sense of adventure and our busy lives tend to gloss over the need to consider what we should and can do in the event of an accident or health crisis. Preparation prevents heartache, so here's something people can print/write out and stick on the back of their phone or in their wallet. Just copy and paste it and take it to the local photocopy shop. Trong trường hợp khẩn cấp vui lòng liên hệ: In case of emergency please contact: Nói tiếng Việt Vietnamese speaking Tôi có/không có bảo hiểm y tế I have/do not have medical insurance Công ty bảo hiểm y tế của tôi là My medical insurance is Nhóm máu của tôi là My blood type is: Tôi bị tiểu đường: Có/Không I am diabetic: Yes/No Dị ứng: Có/Không Allergies: Yes/No Living in a foreign culture is exhilarating, frustrating, life-changing and mind-boggling. Provided you haven't landed in our fabulous south central coastal Vietnamese … [Read more...] about Vietnam experience: You never know when…