KOTRA, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, has held a Meditech export business meeting in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to help Korean medical device and digital healthcare companies expand into Southeast Asia. The event, linked to the 2026 K-Med Expo, brought together 71 Korean firms and 100 Vietnamese buyers, signaling growing opportunities for aesthetic and medical device suppliers in Vietnam's rapidly modernizing healthcare market.
Market signal
Vietnam's medical device market is expanding rapidly, driven by 5–8% annual economic growth over the past three years. According to local research firm FIIN Group, private healthcare spending in Vietnam is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 7.5% from 2025 to 2030. This creates a favorable environment for foreign suppliers, especially those offering digital health solutions and aesthetic devices.
Korean device presence in Vietnam
South Korea already holds the largest share of Vietnam's medical device import market, accounting for 16.3% of the $320 million total. Korean products are well-regarded for their advanced technology and design, according to local distributors. The business meeting featured companies offering AI-based cancer diagnostics, imaging equipment, surgical-assist robots, and skin-rejuvenation lasers, reflecting strong demand across both therapeutic and aesthetic segments.
Regulatory and channel signals
Vietnam's government is prioritizing healthcare infrastructure upgrades, and recent high-level visits between Korean and Vietnamese leaders have emphasized cooperation in AI, biotech, and healthcare. KOTRA also conducted seminars, product briefings at local hospitals, and consulting on medical device registration and certification through its K-Bio Desk network. These efforts aim to streamline market entry for Korean suppliers.
What buyers should watch
Vietnamese buyers and distributors attending the event showed heightened interest in Korean digital healthcare and aesthetic devices. KOTRA reported that 48.3% of companies that participated in similar programs last year successfully exported to Vietnam. The agency plans to expand ASEAN market support with Korean pavilions at medical device exhibitions in Vietnam and Singapore in September, and Indonesia in October, plus continued certification and logistics assistance via 12 K-Bio Desks across the region.
Source: Read the original report | Published: June 04, 2026