(Hanoi, 3rd — Comprehensive Report) Data from the Vietnamese Ministry of Health shows that Vietnam’s pharmaceutical market has maintained steady growth in recent years, with an annual increase between 6% and 8%. In 2025, Vietnam’s total pharmaceutical exports will rank fourth among Southeast Asian countries, demonstrating the country’s increasing competitiveness in the pharmaceutical industry.
According to Vietnam News Agency, statistics from the Drug Administration of Vietnam under the Ministry of Health show that the total value of Vietnam’s pharmaceutical market has risen from about US$2.7 billion in 2015 to an estimated US$8 billion by 2026, making Vietnam one of the fastest-growing pharmaceutical markets in Asia.
Currently, Vietnam has six enterprises exporting pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients, with a total export value reaching US$312 million in 2025, ranking fourth among Southeast Asian countries and gradually becoming an important pharmaceutical exporter in the region. Foreign-invested enterprises account for about 75% of export value, reaching US$230 million, while local companies contribute around US$82 million. Vietnam’s pharmaceuticals are mainly exported to the Asian market, followed by Europe and Japan.
Meanwhile, Vietnam’s domestic pharmaceutical production capacity continues to strengthen. Nationwide, there are 243 pharmaceutical factories that meet WHO’s Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, a significant increase compared with 158 factories in 2015.
Currently, Vietnamese companies are capable of producing 13 categories of essential medicines recognized by the World Health Organization and can supply 11 of the 12 vaccines included in the national expanded immunization program. Vietnam is also gradually developing production technologies for biological materials, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and excipients.
Vo Tuan Cuong, Director of the Drug Administration of Vietnam, pointed out that the Ministry of Health will reduce the number of administrative approval items for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries from 124 to 75 by 2025, a reduction of nearly 40%. This will help lower compliance costs, further reduce burden on enterprises and consumers, and promote the industry’s continued development.