Vietnam is strengthening its position in advanced cancer diagnostics and treatment as investment in nuclear medicine technologies continues to accelerate. Expanding oncology services, rising demand for molecular imaging and government investment in modern healthcare infrastructure are creating significant opportunities across the nuclear medicine sector.
While Vietnam-specific market values are not yet widely published, industry analysis estimates the country's nuclear medicine market is currently worth US$45–60 million in 2025 and is projected to reach US$75–100 million by 2030. Growth is expected to outperform many mature healthcare markets as Vietnam expands access to advanced diagnostic imaging and targeted radionuclide therapies.
Nuclear medicine combines imaging and therapeutic techniques using radioactive tracers to diagnose and treat disease at the molecular level. Technologies such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET/CT), Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT/CT) and therapeutic radioisotopes are playing an increasingly important role in oncology, cardiology, neurology and endocrinology.
Several long-term trends are driving market expansion across Vietnam:
- Rising incidence of cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurological disorders.
- Government investment in cancer centres and diagnostic imaging infrastructure.
- Growing installation of PET/CT and SPECT/CT imaging systems.
- Increasing adoption of precision medicine and molecular diagnostics.
- Expansion of radiopharmaceutical production and nuclear medicine services.
- Greater use of theranostics, combining molecular imaging with targeted radionuclide therapy.
- Increasing investment in clinical research and personalised cancer treatment.
Vietnam's broader medical imaging sector provides a strong foundation for continued growth. According to IMARC Group, the country's medical imaging market reached US$232.8 million in 2025 and is projected to grow to US$353.3 million by 2034, with nuclear imaging systems identified as one of the key technology segments alongside MRI, CT and digital radiography.
The expansion of oncology services is creating additional demand for nuclear medicine. Vietnam's cancer diagnostics market reached US$887.2 million in 2025 and is forecast to grow to US$1.60 billion by 2034, reflecting increasing investment in early diagnosis, precision oncology and advanced imaging technologies. Nuclear medicine is becoming increasingly important in staging cancer, monitoring treatment response and selecting patients for targeted radionuclide therapies.
Globally, the nuclear medicine equipment market continues to expand steadily. IMARC Group estimates the market reached US$3.4 billion in 2025 and will grow to US$5.6 billion by 2034, at a CAGR of 5.34%. Growth is being driven by increasing cancer prevalence, technological advances in hybrid imaging systems and greater adoption of molecular imaging in clinical practice.
Technological innovation is transforming the specialty. Modern PET/CT and SPECT/CT systems now incorporate artificial intelligence to improve image reconstruction, lesion detection and workflow efficiency, while new radiopharmaceuticals are expanding treatment options for prostate cancer, neuroendocrine tumours and other complex diseases. The emergence of theranostics—combining diagnostic imaging with targeted radionuclide therapy—is expected to become one of the fastest-growing areas of nuclear medicine over the coming decade.
Leading manufacturers including GE HealthCare, Siemens Healthineers, Philips Healthcare, Canon Medical Systems, United Imaging, Siemens Healthineers (Varian), Bayer and radiopharmaceutical suppliers such as Curium, Lantheus and Novartis continue to invest in advanced imaging platforms, AI-enabled software and targeted radiopharmaceutical therapies to support the growing demand for precision oncology.
As Vietnam continues to modernise its healthcare system and strengthen cancer services, nuclear medicine is expected to become an increasingly important component of diagnosis, treatment planning and personalised therapy. For suppliers of molecular imaging systems, radiopharmaceuticals, cyclotron technologies and nuclear medicine solutions, Vietnam represents one of Southeast Asia's most attractive long-term growth opportunities.