11 Vietnamese hospitals named among Asia-Pacific's best

In a landmark moment for the country's healthcare sector, 11 Vietnamese hospitals have debuted on Newsweek and Statista's prestigious list of the best specialist medical institutions in the Asia-Pacific.

The 2026 edition of the "Best Specialized Hospitals Asia Pacific" ranking, released last month by U.S.-based magazine Newsweek in partnership with the German data research firm Statista, recognizes a total of 925 premier hospitals across 11 countries and territories, including those with prestigious healthcare systems like Australia, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea.

Newsweek attributed Vietnam's debut in the rankings to the country's "rapidly developing healthcare infrastructure and clinical advancements."

The 11 Vietnamese representatives feature major public tertiary centers such as Bach Mai Hospital, Cho Ray Hospital, Viet Duc Friendship Hospital, Hue Central Hospital, and Hospital 19-8.

Private healthcare providers also made a strong showing. Recognized private institutions are Hanoi French Hospital, FV Hospital, Hong Ngoc General Hospital, Thu Cuc General Hospital, Vinmec Da Nang International Hospital, and Phuong Dong General Hospital.

Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo courtesy of the hospital

The inclusion of both public and private facilities highlights Vietnam's expanding capacity for advanced medical care.

Newsweek noted that the global landscape of specialist healthcare is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advances, clinical breakthroughs, and aging populations.

Hospitals across the Asia-Pacific are setting new benchmarks for specialized treatment. The ranking covers 10 distinct specialties: cardiology, oncology, pediatrics, neurology, cardiac surgery, endocrinology, neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology, and gastroenterology. The latter was added to the assessment for the first time this year.

South Korean hospitals dominated the 2026 rankings, leading in nine out of 10 specialties. A Japanese hospital secured the top position in the remaining category of neurosurgery.

The rankings focus strictly on actual specialist expertise rather than hospital size or brand recognition.

Scores were calculated using data gathered between February and March 2026. Thousands of physicians, hospital executives, and healthcare professionals across the region participated in an online assessment.

Reputation accounted for the majority of a hospital's score, making up 83.5% of the total. This was based on peer recommendations in primary, secondary, and tertiary fields, encompassing both international and national endorsements.

Accreditations and certifications contributed another 10% to the final score.

The remaining 6.5% was determined by patient-reported outcome measures, commonly known as PROMs. These patient-completed questionnaires measure perceptions of functional well-being and quality of life. The survey assessed how effectively hospitals implement this data to improve care processes and support clinical decision-making.