Pharmacy in Vietnam: These 3 Chains Are All You Need

According to global travel health data, the most common illnesses travelers face are diarrhea and respiratory issues like the common cold.

While many people pack a small supply of medicine from home, you might find yourself needing to visit a local pharmacy in Vietnam. This guide will show you exactly which pharmacies to trust and how to explain your symptoms.

First, Do You Need a Prescription at a Vietnam Pharmacy?

Basically, no. Vietnam is surprisingly lenient when it comes to dispensing medicine, though it’s unclear if this is a general rule or one that applies more flexibly to foreigners.

Almost any medicine you can buy over-the-counter at home is also available without a prescription in Vietnam. While rules can vary for stronger professional medicines, you can often still purchase them.

I have never heard of anyone being asked for a prescription when buying the following types of drugs at a pharmacy in Vietnam:

• Skincare medications (including acne treatments)
• ED drugs like Viagra and Cialis

Of course, using these medications without a doctor’s guidance comes with risks, and you are solely responsible for any issues that arise. This is only for those who can accept that responsibility.

Recommended Pharmacy Brands in Vietnam

The easiest and safest approach is to search Google Maps for a major chain pharmacy. These operate nationwide in all major destinations like Phu Quoc, Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Ho Chi Minh City.

You only need to remember these three names:

• Pharmacity
• Long Chau
• Nha thuoc An Khang

The image below shows a Google Maps search for these brands in Da Nang. There are dozens of them. Honestly, it makes me wonder why there are so many pharmacies in Vietnam.

According to a summer 2023 report by QandME, a Vietnamese market research firm, Long Chau is the largest chain with 1,016 stores, followed by Pharmacity with 937 and An Khang with 524.

These three brands are reliable, well-stocked, and manage their inventory properly. You can confidently visit any of them to buy common travel medicines for colds, headaches, or stomach issues without a prescription.

However, if you’re trying to buy highly specialized “professional medicines,” you may be refused without a prescription, even at these chains.

What About Local Neighborhood Pharmacies?

For lack of a better term, we’ll call these “neighborhood pharmacies.” These are typically independent, family-run shops. You can find them by searching Google Maps for “Nha Thuoc.”

“Nha Thuoc” is simply the Vietnamese word for pharmacy, so your search results will also include the big chains like Pharmacity and Long Chau.

Just look for results that are named “Nha Thuoc” followed by other Vietnamese words, and ignore the big brand names. The photo below is a perfect example.

When it comes to buying prescription drugs in Vietnam, these smaller pharmacies are often much more lenient than the large chains. If you’ve lost an important medication from home or urgently need it, a local “Nha Thuoc” is your best bet.

How to Explain Your Symptoms

The best method is to use a translator app and keep your sentences short and simple. I tested this by translating various combinations of symptoms like “sore throat,” “fever,” “runny nose,” and “diarrhea” to see if the translations were accurate.

Phrases like “I have a sore throat and a runny nose” or even “I was bitten by a dog” translated perfectly well. Show the translated text to the pharmacist, and they will almost certainly understand what you need.