"MBBS without NEET" is one of the most searched phrases by Indian students exploring options abroad — and it's also one of the most misleadingly answered, by agents who tell students exactly what they want to hear rather than what's actually true. Here is the complete, honest answer for Vietnam specifically.
⚠️ Official Notice from Aieraa Overseas: Aieraa Overseas Studies is the pioneer and official admission partner for Vietnam's NMC-approved medical universities, with direct MoUs across all 7 partner institutions. Beware of agents or consultancies falsely claiming to be "partnered with Aieraa." Do not make any payments without calling us first at +91 93441 41424.
The Short Answer
Yes, you can get admission to a Vietnamese medical university without a NEET score. Admission at all of Aieraa's 7 partner universities is based on your Class 12 marks — not an entrance exam, and not a NEET score. But that's only half the picture, and the half that matters more is this: you will still need to qualify NEET at some point if you want to practice medicine in India after graduating. Any claim that you can skip NEET permanently and still practice in India is false, no matter which country's university makes it.
Where NEET Genuinely Doesn't Apply: Admission
Admission to a Vietnamese partner university requires no entrance exam of any kind — Vietnamese or Indian. What it requires is your Class 12 marks, and the exact requirement varies by university:
| University | Class 12 Requirement |
|---|---|
| Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy (CTUMP) | 80% aggregate in Maths, Chemistry, Biology |
| Dai Nam University (DNU) | Valid NEET score alone — no fixed Class 12 percentage |
| Dong A University (UDA) | 65% overall aggregate in Class 12 |
| Buon Ma Thuot Medical University (BMU) | 65% overall aggregate in Class 12 |
| Phan Chau Trinh University (PCTU) | 60% aggregate in PCB, plus English as a subject |
| Cuu Long University | 60% aggregate in PCB |
| University of Health Sciences, VNU-HCM (UHS-VNU) | 60% aggregate in PCB |
You'll notice Dai Nam University is a slight exception: it accepts a valid NEET score as an alternative admission route with no fixed Class 12 percentage attached, rather than requiring one. That's a NEET-friendly admission path, not a NEET-avoidance one — the other six universities skip NEET entirely for admission purposes and go by Class 12 marks alone. Age requirement is the same everywhere: at least 17 years old by December 31st of the admission year.
Where NEET Genuinely Does Apply: Practicing in India
This is the part some agents leave out, and it's the part that matters most for your actual medical career. To practice medicine in India after completing an MBBS abroad — from Vietnam or anywhere else — the National Medical Commission (NMC) requires two things:
- A valid NEET-UG qualification (this is what makes you eligible to have gone abroad for medical study under NMC's Foreign Medical Graduate Regulations, FMGR 2021, in the first place).
- Clearing the FMGE/NEXT licensing exam after you graduate and return to India, which every foreign medical graduate must pass — regardless of which country's university they attended, or how highly ranked it is.
In other words: NEET isn't a one-time hurdle you clear before applying to India-based colleges and then never think about again. Under FMGR 2021, it's a qualification that stays relevant to your eligibility to have studied abroad, and FMGE/NEXT is the actual licensing exam that determines whether you can practice in India. Neither of these disappears because you chose to study in Vietnam instead of India. For the full pathway, see our licensing pathway guide.
Why This Matters: Be Careful of "100% No NEET, Ever" Claims
Some unauthorised agents and consultancies market MBBS abroad with the phrase "no NEET required" without the crucial qualifier — that NEET isn't required for admission, but still matters for practicing in India afterward. A student who takes that claim at face value, skips preparing for or qualifying NEET altogether, and only discovers years later — after completing the MBBS — that they can't sit FMGE/NEXT without a valid NEET qualification, has lost years and lakhs of rupees to a misleading sales pitch. This is exactly the kind of misrepresentation Aieraa Overseas warns students about: verify any claim about NEET, fees, or university partnership directly with us or with official NMC guidelines before making a decision, not just with whichever agent tells you what you want to hear.
What If I Haven't Qualified NEET Yet?
If you're exploring Vietnam because you're still preparing for NEET, or unsure whether you'll qualify, the honest guidance is: qualify NEET first if you possibly can, since it's the gateway to practicing in India regardless of where you study. If you've already qualified NEET but didn't secure a seat you're happy with in Indian counselling, that's the scenario Vietnam is genuinely built for — see our full guide on what to do after NEET counselling for the complete decision framework.
Frequently Asked Questions
So do I need NEET for MBBS in Vietnam or not?
You don't need it for admission to a Vietnamese university — Class 12 marks are what matters there. You do need a valid NEET qualification later, to be eligible to sit FMGE/NEXT and practice medicine in India after graduating.
What if I never plan to practice in India?
If your firm intention is to practice outside India (for example, after qualifying for USMLE in the US, PLAB in the UK, or AMC in Australia), NEET's role is smaller, though NMC's FMGR 2021 framework still governs the legitimacy of studying abroad in the first place. Talk to an Aieraa counsellor about your specific long-term plan before assuming you can skip NEET preparation entirely.
Is Dai Nam University's NEET-based admission route better than the other universities' Class 12-based route?
Neither is "better" — they're simply different eligibility paths suited to different students. If your Class 12 marks are strong but your NEET score is modest, the Class 12-based universities work in your favour. If the reverse is true, Dai Nam's NEET-score-based route may suit you better. Your Aieraa counsellor can advise based on your actual scores.
Important: Only Trust Authorised Admissions — A Note from Aieraa Overseas Studies
Aieraa Overseas Studies is the pioneer and official admission partner for Vietnam's NMC-approved medical universities, with direct MoUs across all 7 partner institutions. We have successfully placed over 1,000 Indian students across our partner universities, and every admission is handled directly by our team with full transparency.
Beware of unauthorised agents and consultancies claiming to have partnered with Aieraa or offering admissions to our partner universities. These agents are not authorised by Aieraa and have no official standing with our partner universities. Any such claim is false.
Do not make any payments to any individual or agency without first verifying their authorisation directly with us. Always call us at +91 93441 41424 before making any payment — no matter how small.
Your medical career is too important to risk on an unauthorised admission. Trust only Aieraa Overseas Studies.
Get the Honest Answer for Your Specific Situation
Whether you have a NEET score already, are still preparing, or aren't sure how it affects your options, Aieraa's counsellors will give you a straight answer, not a sales pitch. Call +91 93441 41424, or visit our Contact page for a free consultation.
Note: NMC regulations and FMGR guidelines can be revised over time. This article reflects the framework as understood at the time of writing — always confirm current NMC rules directly or with your Aieraa counsellor before making a decision.