Stem cell therapy is now part of Vietnam’s healthcare system, but it’s tightly regulated. It’s used in approved hospitals to treat conditions like blood cancers, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, and joint problems. The Ministry of Health oversees every step, from clinical trials to licensing, to make sure treatments are safe and based on evidence.

This article explains what stem cell treatments are allowed in Vietnam, how they are regulated, and recent developments in this field.

Is Stem Cell Therapy legal in Vietnam 2025?

Stem cell therapy is legal in Vietnam but it’s only for approved medical conditions such as blood cancer’s, cerebral palsy, spinal cord paralysis and bone-joint disorders, as confirmed by official guidance from the Ministry of Health in Vietnam. It’s also only allowed to be treated by government approved hospitals.

Best Stem Cell Therapy clinics in South East Asia

We don’t let any clinic just sign up or pay to be listed.

We speak to every clinic directly and review their medical team, the treatments they offer, how their stem cells are sourced and how they follow up with patients after treatment.

We also review licensing documents to confirm they meet the legal and medical standards of the country they operate in. For example, whether cells are processed in a GMP-certified facility or if they provide documentation on stem cell quality.

Clinics must also agree to let us collect and publish independent patient reviews. Both positive and negative.

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How does Vietnam regulate Stem Cell Therapy

Vietnam strictly regulates stem cell therapy through the Ministry of Health, which only allows it for approved medical treatments. According to the Ministry’s Circular on new medical techniques, every stem cell therapy must first go through clinical trials, ethical review and receive official approval from the Ministry of Health before it can be used in patients.

In 2019, the Ministry of Health issued an official notice reminding hospitals and clinics that all cell-based therapies must follow these rules and warning against unlicensed treatments. This means only hospitals and clinics specifically approved by the Ministry can legally provide stem cell therapy in Vietnam.

What Stem Cell Treatments are allowed in Vietnam?

In Vietnam, doctors can use stem cells from umbilical cord blood to treat serious blood diseases like leukemia but NOT other conditions.

Approved hospitals are also allowed to grow or prepare stem cells in a lab, but this can only happen in licensed facilities under strict supervision from the Ministry of Health and only for approved treatments. This table covers available treatments in more detail

What Stem Cell Treatments are Illegal in Vietnam?

Cosmetic, Neurological & Chronic stem cell treatments are illegal in Vietnam.

There are clinics trying to offer these  treatments, especially cosmetic & anti aging treatments.

Recently, the government put out a specific notice warning people about getting stem cell treatments for beauty purposes & closed down underground clinics as published in this article.

Stem Cell Therapy abroad

If you’re living in Vietnam or in South East Asia, other countries that offer Stem Cell Therapy include:

• Japan
• South Korea
• Thailand
• India
  

These countries are a little further out but are also options:

• Dubai
• Colombia
• Panama

If you’re considering Stem Cell Therapy in other countries, our article on Best Countries for Stem Cell Therapy will help you understand options around the world.

How much does Stem Cell Therapy cost in other countries?

Costs around the world vary from $3,500 all the way up to $30,000+. It all depends on the country your visiting, treatment your getting & cell dosage. We’ve gathered our pricing data in a few different ways & we’re always updating it, but here’s a table below to help you compare pricing in different countries:

Is Vietnam a good option for Stem Cell Therapy?

Whilst Vietnam is making strides in Stem Cell Therapy, you may want to compare options in other countries too.

Realistically, there’s only a couple of actual approved hospitals that can perform stem cell therapy in Vietnam & the technology/expertise is relatively new here. 

Latest Stem Cell Therapy Advancements in Vietnam 2025

• In July 2023, doctors at the Vinmec Institute of Stem Cell Research and Gene Technology treated a 4-year-old child with acute leukemia using CAR‑T cell therapy, a breakthrough treatment where a patient’s own immune cells are reprogrammed to fight cancer. 
  • The child went into complete remission, making this Vietnam’s first successful CAR‑T case and a major step forward for advanced cancer care, according to Vinmec’s official report on the treatment.
• In late 2024, Hoa Lam Shangri‑La Healthcare signed an agreement with Japan’s Cyto‑Facto  to establish Vietnam’s first quality control center for stem cell production, built to meet international cGMP standards.
  • The center will focus on cell processing, training, and standardizing mesenchymal stem-cell therapies, especially for joint regeneration, according to an announcement from the Therapeutics Research in Health Asia (TherHA) network.