Vietnam’s healthcare sector is undergoing strong development, and compliance with new hospital construction regulations is critically important for investors and healthcare project developers. This article will analyze the key updates in the 2025 hospital construction guideline circular.

See also: Comprehensive Guide on Hospital Licensing Conditions in Vietnam (2025)

1. Overview of the New Circular

The Ministry of Health issued Circular No. 35/2024/TT-BYT, stipulating the basic quality standards for hospitals, effective from January 1, 2025. The Circular aims to standardize the quality of healthcare facilities in Vietnam, replacing old regulations and adding important new content aligned with the development trends of modern healthcare.

2. Key Changes in the Hospital Construction Guidelines

2.1. Requirements on Scale and Area

• Minimum construction floor area must reach 50 m²/bed or more (Article 41 of Decree 96/2023/NĐ-CP)
  • This regulation applies to general hospitals, traditional medicine, dental and specialized hospitals
    • General hospitals: minimum 30 beds
    • Traditional medicine and dental hospitals: minimum 20 beds
    • Specialized hospitals: > 20 beds; specifically for ophthalmology hospitals: > 10 beds
  • Construction requirements: floor area > 50 m²/bed; hospital frontage > 10 m wide for ambulance access to emergency zone; examination rooms must have a minimum area equivalent to rooms of the same type
  • Must have full departments: outpatient, inpatient, emergency, laboratory, surgery, sterilization
  • Equipment must be appropriate to the registered scope of expertise
• QCVN 01:2021/BXD (National technical regulation on construction planning): Floor area: at least 100 m²/bed
• TCVN 4470:2012 sets design standards for hospitals with ≥ 500 beds
• TCVN 9214:2012 sets design standards for general clinics
• According to Circular 35/2024/TT-BYT and Clause 2 Article 41 and Article 56 of Decree 96/2023/NĐ-CP: hospitals must arrange emergency access zones for ambulances, pre-hospital emergency areas, and connected transport infrastructure

2.2. Technical Standards

• Ventilation systems are mandatory to control infections and ensure air quality in hospitals. According to QCVN 01:2021/BXD regulations on building density and ventilation components
  • TCVN 4470:2012 standard on general hospital design
  • TCVN 5687:2024 standard on ventilation and air conditioning
• According to TCVN 4470:2012 and provisions of Articles 40 and 41 of Decree 96/2023/NĐ-CP, hospitals must meet the following requirements for operating and intensive treatment rooms:
  • Operating rooms must be located in a separate sterile area, with isolated traffic flows according to section 6.4.1.3 of TCVN 4470:2012, to minimize cross-contamination risk
  • Design must ensure a one-way traffic flow principle from outside to inside, from clean to sterile zones
  • Operating rooms > 36m²/room, height > 3.1m to ensure space for surgical equipment and safe movement of medical staff, constructed according to TCXDVN 365:2007
• Vietnamese law strictly regulates the design, installation and operation of electrical systems and backup power sources
  • QCVN 01:2021/BXD stipulates electricity supply indicators:
    • National-level hospital: 2.5 kW/bed
    • Provincial/city-level hospital: 2 kW/bed
    • District-level hospital: 1.5 kW/bed
  • TCVN 9207:2012 National Standard on electrical wiring installation in residential and public buildings
  • TCVN 7447-7-710:2006 National Standard on electrical installation requirements for medical areas

3. Technical Regulations and National Standards

The Circular sets out specific requirements on:

• Fire protection system: Must be designed, equipped and operated according to TCVN 3890:2023, including automatic fire alarms, wall-mounted fire extinguishers, gas/foam extinguishing systems, emergency staircases and lighting
• Medical waste treatment regulations: Hospitals must have waste treatment systems meeting national standards such as QCVN 28:2010/BTNMT, QCVN 07:2009/BTNMT, and comply with Circular 20/2021/TT-BYT on medical waste management. Waste storage areas must be separated, sealed, with waterproof flooring and ventilation
• Medical gas supply system standards: Hospitals must be equipped with oxygen and medical compressed air systems. Leakage detection and pressure warning devices and backup sources must comply with TCVN 8022-1:2009 and TCVN 8022-2:2009, equivalent to ISO 7396-1:2007 and ISO 7396-2:2007. Specifically:
  • TCVN 8022-1:2009: Design, installation, and operation of medical gas and vacuum pipeline systems
  • TCVN 8022-2:2009: Anaesthetic gas scavenging system, ensuring safety for patients and medical staff by minimizing exposure to anaesthetic gases and vapors
• IT infrastructure: Must meet the standards of Circular 54/2017/TT-BYT on IT application in hospitals

4. Impact on Investors and Developers

• Increased initial investment costs but ensures long-term quality
  • High requirements for technical infrastructure, medical gas systems, wastewater treatment, and IT raise initial investment costs significantly
  • However, this leads to more stable long-term operations, reduces legal risks, and enhances healthcare facility credibility
• Need for long-term investment plans and sustainable development strategies
  • With periodic inspections, assessments, and increasingly strict quality criteria, healthcare facilities cannot operate under short-term or intermittent investment models
  • Requires a long-term financial strategy, a roadmap for workforce, technology and service development

A report by Bắc Giang Newspaper highlights priority funding for upgrading and equipping health stations, ensuring 100% basic equipment availability. This reflects the government’s focus on improving healthcare in disadvantaged areas—offering investment opportunities for private stakeholders in underserved regions.

5. Conclusion and Recommendations

The 2025 circular on hospital construction represents a significant legal milestone toward improving healthcare quality in Vietnam. For investors and healthcare developers, compliance with the new standards and implementation roadmap is vital for successful and sustainable operations.

To effectively execute a healthcare project, stakeholders should:

• Study updated legal and technical standards;
• Develop a long-term investment and resource allocation plan;
• Consult healthcare construction experts for compliance and efficiency;
• Closely monitor Ministry of Health guidance for timely adjustments.

For more information, please contact your local health authority or consult the experts at Harley Miller Law Firm.

See also: Vietnam’s Medical Equipment Market – A Comprehensive Guide for Foreign Investors.

Harley Miller Law Firm

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