Ads promising “100% melasma cure” or “top dermatologists”, cosmetic clinics advertising heavily before obtaining a license — these healthcare advertising violations have drawn heavy penalties. From 2026, Vietnam’s legal framework for advertising medical services has changed significantly. Every medical facility should update its compliance.
1. The new framework from 2026
- Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023 (15/2023/QH15): Article 20 lists prohibited advertising-related conduct;
- Law on Advertising (16/2012/QH13), as amended by Law 75/2025/QH15 (effective 1 January 2026);
- Decree 342/2025/ND-CP (effective 15 February 2026, replacing Decrees 181/2013/ND-CP and 70/2021/ND-CP): detailed conditions for advertising special products, goods and services.
2. The threshold condition: a valid license
Under Decree 342/2025/ND-CP, advertising medical examination and treatment services requires a valid medical practice license or operating license under the law on medical examination and treatment.
In other words: without an operating license (for facilities) or practice license (for individuals), any advertising of medical services is a violation — including “coming soon” or pre-booking ads. Inspectors have fined unlicensed advertisers, suspended facilities, and ordered all offending ads removed.
3. Three red lines under Article 20 of the 2023 Law
Even licensed facilities must not:
- Advertise beyond the licensed scope of practice or the approved professional scope — e.g., a dermatology clinic advertising cosmetic surgery outside its approved technique list;
- Exploit medical knowledge for deceptive advertising — e.g., “100% cure”, “never recurs”, “exclusive technology cures all diseases”;
- Publish blame-assigning information about practitioners or facilities over a medical incident before the competent authority has concluded.
4. Common advertising traps for private clinics
- “Before/after” images implying results without scientific evidence;
- Using doctors’ images or credentials (including doctors not working at the facility) to boost credibility;
- Unsubstantiated comparative claims (“better”, “cheaper” than others);
- Advertising while the facility is under suspension.
5. Penalties
Violations are punished under Decree 117/2020/ND-CP: fines, suspension of the right to use the operating/practice license, facility suspension, and orders to remove offending ads and publish corrections. Seriously deceptive advertising causing grave consequences may trigger criminal liability.
Q: Our clinic is licensed but wants to advertise a service not yet on the approved technique list?
A: Not allowed — that is advertising beyond the approved professional scope. Get the technique list supplemented and approved first.
Need a compliance review of your clinic’s ads, fanpage or website before a campaign? Contact us for advice.
This article was prepared by the FLAW AI Legal Council. It is pending QA review before owner approval; information is for reference only and does not replace legal advice for your specific case.