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How do I verify a plastic surgeon’s license in Vietnam?

Date posted: 06-10-2026 | Last updated : 06-10-2026

To verify a plastic surgeon’s medical practice license in Vietnam, you can search online through the Ministry of Health’s portal or the Department of Health of the province/city where the doctor practices. When checking, you should not only confirm whether the doctor “has a license,” but also verify the doctor’s scope of practice and registered place of practice.

Doctors practicing medicine and providing medical treatment in Vietnam must hold an appropriate medical practice license corresponding to their professional title and scope of practice.

Since 2024, the term “medical practice license” has replaced “practice certificate.” However, during the transition period, patients may still encounter documents issued under the previous regulations.

You should not only check whether the doctor has a license, but also determine whether the scope of practice is appropriate for the planned medical procedure.

A doctor’s medical practice license and a healthcare facility’s operating license are two different types of documents. Holding a medical practice license does not mean that a doctor can perform every procedure at every healthcare facility.

Academic qualifications, professional titles, training certificates, or advertised experience do not replace a valid medical practice license.

1. Why Should You Verify a Plastic Surgeon’s Medical Practice License?

Checking a medical practice license, formerly known as a practice certificate, helps patients verify that the doctor is legally qualified to practice medicine and has an appropriate scope of professional practice for the planned procedure.

  • Verify that the doctor is legally authorized to practice: This helps reduce the risk of encountering someone impersonating a doctor or providing medical services without the required qualifications.
  • Check the doctor’s scope of practice: Having a license does not mean that a doctor is qualified to perform every type of surgery. The doctor’s authorized scope of practice should correspond to the planned procedure.
  • Verify the doctor’s place of practice: Patients can check whether the doctor is registered to practice at the hospital or healthcare facility where they plan to undergo surgery.
  • Improve transparency before surgery: License information can be cross-checked against the doctor’s full name, professional title, and information provided by the hospital or healthcare facility.
  • Do not rely solely on advertising: Titles displayed on social media, before-and-after photos, or the number of followers do not replace officially recognized information about the doctor’s professional authorization.

Key reasons why verifying a plastic surgeon's medical license is essential for patient safety.

To verify a plastic surgeon’s medical practice license in Vietnam, you can search for practitioner information through healthcare management systems or contact the Department of Health or the healthcare facility where the doctor is registered to practice. When checking, you should not only confirm whether the doctor “has a license,” but also verify the professional title, scope of practice, and registered place of practice. Under current regulations, a medical practice license is an important legal basis for determining whether a doctor is qualified to practice and what professional activities the doctor is authorized to perform.

Nghị định 96/2023/NĐ-CP – Government Portal

2. How Can You Verify a Plastic Surgeon’s Medical Practice License?

A plastic surgeon’s medical practice license can be verified through the following methods:

2.1 Search the Ministry of Health Portal

You can search for information about the doctor through systems and portals managed by the Ministry of Health. When public information is available, cross-check the doctor’s full name, license number, and scope of practice.

2.2 Search the Provincial or Municipal Department of Health

Many local authorities publish lists of licensed practitioners working at healthcare facilities. You can search the website of the Department of Health where the doctor practices, particularly in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and other major provinces and cities.

2.3 Ask the Hospital or Healthcare Facility for Information

Before undergoing surgery, patients can ask the hospital to provide or explain how to verify the doctor’s medical practice license number, professional qualifications, and information about the doctor who will directly perform the procedure.

2.4 Verify the Doctor’s Scope of Practice

Having a medical practice license does not mean that a doctor is authorized to perform every type of plastic surgery. Patients should check whether the doctor’s scope of practice and professional qualifications are appropriate for the planned procedure, such as rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, liposuction, or maxillofacial surgery.

2.5 Check Where the Doctor Is Registered to Practice

In addition to verifying the doctor’s personal information, patients should confirm whether the doctor is registered to practice at the hospital or healthcare facility where the surgery will actually be performed.

How to verify a plastic surgeon's medical license through official Health Ministry portals and facilities.

Verifying a medical practice license is not only about determining whether a doctor is licensed. It also helps patients assess the doctor’s professional authorization and scope of practice before choosing a service. The World Health Organization (WHO) also identifies health practitioner licensing as a mechanism for ensuring that practitioners meet minimum competency requirements to practice within a legally defined scope, while helping regulatory authorities oversee professional competence, ethics, and compliance with applicable standards.

WHO – Health Practitioner Regulation: Design, Reform and Implementation Guidance

3. What Legal Requirements Must Plastic Surgeons Meet?

Plastic surgeons in Vietnam must hold a valid medical practice license, have an appropriate scope of practice, and perform surgery at a licensed healthcare facility authorized to provide the relevant procedure. Holding a medical degree or being introduced as a “plastic surgeon” is not, by itself, sufficient to establish that a person is legally authorized to perform every type of plastic surgery.

Key requirements include:

  • Hold a valid medical practice license: The doctor must be issued a medical practice license by the competent authority in accordance with Vietnam’s laws on medical examination and treatment.
  • Have an appropriate scope of practice: The doctor’s professional qualifications and authorized scope of practice must correspond to the surgical procedures they perform.
  • Be registered to practice at the healthcare facility: The doctor must be properly registered to practice at the hospital or healthcare facility where the service is provided, in accordance with applicable regulations.
  • Practice within the authorized professional scope: Doctors may not perform procedures or techniques beyond their authorized scope of practice or applicable conditions, except in circumstances permitted by law, such as emergencies.
  • Perform surgery at a qualified healthcare facility: Plastic surgery procedures must be performed at a facility with an appropriate operating license and authorized scope of practice/technical procedure list, as well as the necessary operating room, anesthesia and resuscitation, and emergency care facilities.
  • Comply with professional standards and procedures: Doctors are responsible for conducting examinations, assessing indications, explaining potential risks, maintaining appropriate medical records, and monitoring patients in accordance with applicable professional regulations.

Licensed surgeon with many years of experience in the aesthetic industry.

4. Plastic Surgery Team at Kangnam Aesthetic Hospital

Kangnam Aesthetic Hospital has two main hospital facilities licensed to provide medical examination and treatment services: Kangnam Hanoi – License No. 194/BYT-GPHĐ and Kangnam Saigon – License No. 287/BYT-GPHĐ. Patients can verify the facilities’ licenses, authorized professional scope, and approved list of technical procedures before undergoing surgery.

  • Dr. Galvin Nguyễn: Medical Director and Head of the Body Contouring Department at Kangnam Aesthetic Hospital Hanoi. Medical practice certificate No. 038579/HNO-CCHN, which Kangnam states covers medical examination and treatment within the specialty of plastic surgery.
  • Dr. Harvey Nguyễn: Head of the Korean Aesthetic Department at Kangnam Aesthetic Hospital. Medical practice certificate No. 028305/HNO-CCHN.
  • Dr. Felix Trần (Dr. Trần Huỳnh): Specializes in body contouring, breast augmentation, liposuction, and abdominoplasty at Kangnam Saigon. Medical practice certificate No. 000378/BP-CCHN.

Dr. Galvin Nguyen is a popular choice among clients for cosmetic surgery.

5. Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Doctor Be Verified Using Only Their Full Name?

Depending on the search system used by the relevant regulatory authority, patients may be able to search using the doctor’s full name or other identifying information. However, if the doctor has a common name, patients should cross-check additional details such as their date of birth, license number, place of practice, or other identifying information provided by the system to avoid confusing them with another practitioner.

Can a Doctor With an Older Practice Certificate Still Practice?

Yes. Practice certificates issued under the 2009 Law on Medical Examination and Treatment before January 1, 2024, may continue to be used as medical practice licenses until they are converted in accordance with the applicable transition schedule. Doctors may practice within the professional scope approved by the competent authority.

Does a Doctor’s Medical Practice License Replace the Operating License of a Hospital or Clinic?

No. These are two separate types of licenses. The doctor must hold an appropriate medical practice license, while the healthcare facility must also have an operating license and an authorized scope of practice appropriate to the services it provides.

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