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The listing in Ho Chi Minh City includes psychologists, clinical social workers and counselling psychologists.
Sessions in Ho Chi Minh City are offered in English, Vietnamese, French and Norwegian.
At a glance
- Who they work with
- Adolescents, Adults, Elderly, Couples, Families, Parents, Groups.
- Common concerns
- Anxiety, couples and marriage, depression, grief and bereavement and self-esteem.
- Session fees
- 700,000 VND to 1,800,000 VND for an hour with a psychologist or counsellor, per our Ho Chi Minh City fee guide. Those are advertised prices.
Where the filters do not settle it, a first conversation is where most people decide.
The Vietnam page lists every city we cover, and the accordion below answers what the professional titles mean and how fees usually work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I find a therapist in Ho Chi Minh City?
The profiles listed above are practitioners who consult in Ho Chi Minh City, or who name Ho Chi Minh City as an area they work in. You can narrow the list by profession, by the difficulties someone works with, by language, by client group and by identity.
You can also filter for practitioners who work online. Open a profile to send an enquiry, ask for a number, or book, where those buttons are shown.
Is this a list of registered and licensed therapists in Ho Chi Minh City?
Which body registers a practitioner depends on the profession and on where you are. Ask a practitioner what training they completed, what title they use, and whether they hold a registration anywhere, then ask to see it.
You can read how therapy regulation differs between countries. Everyone listed must be qualified for the work they offer. Whether that qualification is also a licence depends on the profession. A tick beside a registration, qualification or membership means we have seen evidence for that entry, not that we endorse the practitioner.
The Verified mark means we have run a closer check on that practitioner's documents. The practitioner pays for that check, and it fails if the documents do not pass. Of the 12 practitioners listed in Ho Chi Minh City, 6 carry the Verified mark.
Should I see a psychologist, a psychiatrist, a therapist or a counsellor?
Therapist covers anyone who offers talk-based help with emotional and relationship difficulties. The word says nothing about training. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specialises in mental health. Psychiatrists can prescribe medicine.
A psychologist is trained in the study of the mind and behaviour, and works by assessment and talk therapy. Where the title is protected, a psychologist needs a recognised qualification in psychology and registration with the body that governs the profession.
Counsellors and psychotherapists work by talk therapy as well, and what their training requires depends on the title and on where you are. As a rule of thumb: if medicine may be part of the answer, start with a psychiatrist.
For an assessment or a formal report, start with a psychologist. For ongoing counselling or therapy, see a counsellor or a psychotherapist. The profession filter above shows which of these are listed here.
The titles that carry legal weight are the registered ones.
How much does therapy cost in Ho Chi Minh City?
A session with a psychologist or counsellor commonly costs 700,000 VND to 1,800,000 VND. Those are advertised prices. An online session is usually not much cheaper than one in a consulting room. Practitioners commonly charge the same rate either way, so you save the travelling and the time around it.
A practitioner's profile shows their fees where they have given them; ask the practitioner for the fee.
What are more affordable or low-cost therapy options in Ho Chi Minh City?
Many practitioners keep a few reduced-fee places. They set the reduction themselves after asking about your income, so ask rather than assume. Group therapy costs less per session, and for a number of difficulties it works as well as individual work.
Publicly funded clinics and non-profit services will often see you without a referral.
In Ho Chi Minh City itself, Ho Chi Minh City Mental Hospital is one place to ask. Phone +84 28 3923 4675. The hospital's 2026 schedule sets a general or specialist examination fee of 50600 VND for both insured and uninsured patients. An examination booked as a requested service costs 150000 VND. The hospital is open to the public. The published base examination fee of 50600 VND applies without health insurance cover. Details change, so confirm with the service before you go.
Is online therapy a good option?
For most common difficulties the research puts video sessions close to in-person work. It holds on the same condition as any therapy: the relationship between the two of you has to be a good one. It suits you if you live far from a practitioner, have little room in a week, or want a choice your own town cannot offer. It suits some situations less well, and a practitioner should say so.
A practitioner usually suggests meeting in person where there is immediate risk to safety, or nowhere private to talk. Text-based and on-demand app services do cost less, and they are a different product, not a cheaper version of the same one.
The evidence behind them is thinner than for regular psychotherapy. They often sell messaging rather than a scheduled hour with one practitioner who knows your history. Of the practitioners listed in Ho Chi Minh City who have stated how they work, 12 offer online sessions.
Filter the list above for online availability to see who offers it here.
Are therapy sessions confidential?
Yes, within limits. An ethical code requires a registered practitioner to keep what you say private. A professional body's code binds its members too. The limits are narrow and commonly include a serious and immediate danger to you or to another person, and abuse of a child or of a vulnerable adult.
A court can also order it disclosed in some circumstances. A claim to an insurer usually carries some information with it. A practitioner should set those limits out in the first session. You are entitled to ask where the line sits before you say anything you would rather keep private.
What should I expect in the first session?
The first session is an orientation and a brief assessment, and usually lasts about an hour. The therapist will ask what brings you, say how they work, and go through confidentiality, fees and practical arrangements. You can ask about their approach and experience. You do not need to prepare anything; come as you are.
Whether it is a good fit matters more than any technique. Therapy works better when the working relationship is strong,3 and that relationship usually takes a few sessions to settle, so give it time before deciding.
Read our guide on What is Therapy?
Which type of therapy should I look for in Ho Chi Minh City?
The person matters as much as the method. The names you will come across include cognitive behavioural therapy, psychodynamic therapy, EMDR, family therapy and couples therapy. The nature of the difficulty shapes the choice, and so does whether you want something short and focused or something open-ended. It also depends on how much of the past you want to work with, and what you can sustain in time and money.
A trained practitioner will say what they think would suit, and say so when they are not the right person.
Is therapy for me?
You do not need a diagnosis to benefit from therapy.1 Therapy helps when something is not working and you want to think it through with someone. If you want change, support, or clarity, therapy is a reasonable place to start.
Therapy can help with:
- Personal growth to build confidence, self-understanding, and emotional maturity2
- Low mood, worry, emptiness, or irritability
- Relationship strain and conflict
- Support for your child or teenager
- Big changes like job loss, bereavement, relocation, or divorce
About one person in eight lives with a mental health condition, and many more face stress or want more from life.1 You do not need to wait for a crisis.
Read our guide on Who Needs Therapy?
Why choose an independent therapist?
Choosing an independent therapist in Ho Chi Minh City gives you more control. You approach them directly. Nobody is assigned to you. The two of you agree the goals and the way of working together. Independent practitioners can adjust the approach, the pace and the session length to what you need. Fewer parties are involved in your care, and you can see the same clinician over time, which supports deeper work.
Nearby places and related listings
- Therapists in Da Nang (3)
- Therapists in Hanoi (5)
- Marriage counselling in Ho Chi Minh City
- Therapists across Vietnam, the country list, all cities
References
[1] World Health Organization (2022). Mental Health Fact Sheet.
[2] World Health Organization (2022). World Mental Health Report.
[3] Ardito, R. B., & Rabellino, D. (2011). Therapeutic alliance and outcome of psychotherapy.
Real choice. Authentic, independent, clinician-led care.
TherapyRoute is a clinician-led directory that champions independent practitioners who answer to you and their professional ethics. We don't take commissions, sell your data, or assign therapists by algorithm. You browse, compare, and choose.
Vincenzo (Enzo) Sinisi, Clinical Psychologist (HPCSA), Psychoanalyst (IPA/SAPA), Group Analyst (IGA)


