If you are unwell in Hoi An
Hospital in Hoi An — or a doctor to your room?
Hoi An is a small town, and its medical options are smaller than most visitors expect. Serious cases are often transferred to Da Nang, about 30 km away. That is worth knowing before you need it. Many of the illnesses that ruin a trip — food poisoning, fever, dehydration, an infected cut — do not need that journey at all and can be treated where you are staying. This page helps you tell the difference.
Go to a hospital or call 115 now if you have
These are emergencies. Do not wait for a home visit and do not finish reading this page — call 115 (Vietnam's ambulance number) or get to the nearest emergency department. From Hoi An, an ambulance may take you on to Da Nang; that decision is the paramedics' to make, and the sooner it starts the better.
- Chest pain, pressure or tightness — or pain spreading to the arm, neck or jaw
- Difficulty breathing, or breathing that is getting harder
- A head injury, or any loss of consciousness, even briefly
- Bleeding that does not stop with firm pressure
- A seizure, sudden confusion, or a face, arm or leg that has gone weak or numb on one side
- Severe abdominal pain that keeps getting worse
- A high fever with a stiff neck, a rash that does not fade under pressure, or drowsiness
- A serious road accident — even if you feel fine at first
- Any severe allergic reaction: swelling of the face, lips or throat
Call 115. If someone can drive you and you are stable, the emergency department in Hoi An is the fastest first stop — they will arrange transfer to Da Nang if it is needed.
A doctor coming to you is usually enough if
None of the following normally requires an emergency department, and none of them is improved by a taxi ride to a hospital while you feel terrible — or by a 45-minute drive to Da Nang.
- Food poisoning: vomiting, diarrhoea, cramps — the single most common reason travellers call us
- Dehydration after a stomach bug, a long day in the sun, or a heavy night
- Fever, sore throat, cough, or a chest infection that is not making you breathless
- A cut, a scooter graze or a burn that needs cleaning and dressing
- An infected wound, or stitches that need removing before you fly
- A urinary or skin infection
- You need an injection, an IV drip, or blood taken as prescribed by a doctor
- You simply want to be examined by an English-speaking doctor without leaving your room
Hospital vs. a visit to your accommodation — honestly
Both have a place. This is how they actually differ for a visitor in Hoi An.
| Hospital | Doctor comes to you | |
|---|---|---|
| Serious or unclear emergency | The right choice, always — imaging, surgery, intensive care | Not appropriate. We will tell you so and help you get moving |
| Getting there | Taxi or ambulance; serious cases may continue on to Da Nang | You stay where you are — hotel, homestay, villa or Airbnb |
| Language | Varies by facility and by who is on shift | Our clinicians speak English |
| Common travel illness | Works, but usually means waiting and travelling while unwell | Usually resolved in one visit |
| Paperwork for travel insurance | Available; ask before you leave | We issue an invoice and a record of what was done |
If we think you need a hospital, we will say so — before you pay us anything. Turning away a patient who needs more than we can safely give is part of the job, not a failure of it.
About medical care in Hoi An
Hoi An has a general hospital and a number of small clinics and pharmacies, but no large international clinic and no English speaking hospital of the kind travellers picture. What visitors are most often surprised by is scale: for anything complex, patients are commonly transferred to the larger hospitals in Da Nang, roughly 30 km and about 45 minutes away. We are not going to rank facilities for you or promise what any of them offers on the day you turn up — that changes, and getting it wrong would be worse than saying nothing. What we can tell you is how to make the visit go better.
- Bring your passport and your travel insurance details — both are usually asked for
- Ask for an itemised invoice and a written summary before you leave; insurers want both
- Take a photo of every document, prescription and box of medication you are given
- If you are told you need to go to Da Nang, ask whether it is urgent enough for an ambulance or safe to travel by car
- Have someone with you if you can — with a language barrier and a fever, a second person helps
What we do
Licensed doctors and nurses who come to your hotel, homestay or villa in Hoi An and across Quang Nam.
What it costs
The full cost is confirmed with you before the visit — never decided on the spot.
What travellers say
★★★★★
Absolutely fantastic experience. My wife became very poorly with a stomach bug, and they were very quick to respond on a Sunday. They sent someone over to check on her and provide her with medication and blood work. So grateful to have the service in Da Nang and would highly recommend it if you are feeling unwell and you want someone to come to you.
★★★★★
I had a daily visit from a nurse after a football injury taking a lot of skin off my leg. They always arrived on time, very friendly and my injury has healed fast, I really appreciate the service. Thank you very much.
★★★★★
I was very pleased: modern equipment, high-quality service, and a high level of professionalism. The medical staff explains everything clearly and thoroughly, and you can feel their attentive and friendly attitude. It's clear that they put their heart and soul into their work and truly know their business. I recommend them.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a hospital in Hoi An?
Do you come to Hoi An, or only Da Nang?
Is there a clinic near me in Hoi An?
Can I see a general practitioner, a family doctor or a travel doctor in Hoi An?
I have food poisoning. Do I need a hospital?
Do your doctors speak English?
Can I claim this on my travel insurance?
How quickly can someone come?
What if you decide I need a hospital after all?
Not sure whether you need a hospital?
Message us and describe what is happening. We will tell you honestly whether this is something we can treat where you are, or something that needs an emergency department.
WhatsApp us