As per the newly approved national strategy, Vietnam is focusing on the development of a comprehensive, modern, and science-based traditional medicine sector with stronger international integration, which will make it an important part of the national healthcare system by 2030. This Decision No. 1976/QD-TTg was signed by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra on 13th October 2026, which approved the national strategy for traditional medicine development through 2030, with a vision to 2045.
This strategy aims to develop a coordinated system covering medical examination and treatment, technology, medicinal materials industry, training, and scientific research. Additionally, a traditional medicine economy supporting health tourism, enhancing national soft power, building Vietnam's national brand in traditional medicine, and adding new value will also be the goal of this strategic move.
The strategy also states that all provinces and cities are expected to develop traditional medicine hospitals, with at least 70 per cent of these hospitals having 300 beds or more by 2030. The geriatric hospitals are anticipated to have traditional medicine departments and integrate traditional medicine into elderly care and rehabilitation across geriatric departments in provincial-level general hospitals.
Furthermore, they aim to combine traditional and modern medicine to account for at least 10 per cent of services at specialised-level facilities, which is expected to be 20 per cent at basic-level facilities and 30 per cent at primary-level facilities.
Health stations across all commune levels are expected to expand capacity to provide traditional medicine services. Health insurance spending on examination and treatment associated with traditional medicines is anticipated to double its value compared to its 2025 level.
Vietnam also aims to increase at least 20 per cent of domestic demand for medicinal materials to ensure self-sufficiency and grow output value by at least 10 per cent annually in the medicinal materials, traditional medicines, and herbal medicine industries. It also hopes that the exports of these products increase by an average of at least 10 per cent annually.
With this strategy, scientific research, technology and innovation projects in traditional medicine are anticipated to show at least a 15 per cent rise annually, while the biotechnology -related research into medicinal materials and their products is expected to expand by 20 per cent of these projects.
Vietnam also intends to digitise at least 70 per cent of its traditional medicine knowledge, which is surveyed, collected and verified while researching, standardising and applying at least 30 traditional remedies and treatment methods in healthcare or product development.
National brands are expected to develop 30 products made from medicinal materials, traditional medicines and herbal medicines. By linking health services with the preservation and promotion of traditional culture and indigenous knowledge, five integrated service and product lines merging traditional medicine and healthcare are also planned for tourists.
Furthermore, by 2035, at least 90 per cent of provincial-level traditional medicine hospitals are expected to have 300 beds or more, and at least one specialised traditional medicine hospital should be established in each socio-economic region.
Additionally, traditional medicine services consisting of traditional and modern approaches are predicted to show a target share rise of 15 per cent at specialised-level facilities, 25 per cent at basic-level facilities and 40 per cent at primary-level facilities. On the other hand, domestic production is expected to increase by at least 25 per cent, promoting the demand for medicinal materials. All commune-level health stations should have at least one trained member in traditional medicine, and 30 per cent of health stations should have a traditional medicine doctor.
By 2045, Vietnam aims to develop a traditional medicine sector preserving national identity while achieving advanced regional and global standards. A total of nine groups of measures are outlined by the strategy, which include strengthening traditional medicine across all stages of life, training skilled personnel, improving policies, developing the medicinal materials industry, preserving traditional knowledge, promoting research and digitalisation, strengthening inspection and supervision, protecting intellectual property, expanding markets and international cooperation, and raising public awareness.
It also envisions upgrading infrastructure and equipment at traditional medicine hospitals and departments, attracting high-quality facility investments, developing pilot models of non-drug healthcare at the commune, ward and special-zone levels and improving services at grassroots healthcare facilities.
Thus, these nationally standardised professional guidelines and technical procedures, bringing together traditional and modern medicine, will further develop consistent application across healthcare facilities.
Traditional and modern medicine are expected to become closely integrated across mainstream healthcare, which is supported by science, digital transformation, technology, and a highly qualified workforce. Thus, the growing government support, increasing chronic diseases, preference for safe and effective traditional therapies, shift towards preventive healthcare, and international collaborations are also creating new market opportunities.
Link to this news: https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2026/10/14/vietnam-targets-modern-internationally-integrated-traditional-medicine-by-2030
