Total saved vs at-home quote
AUD $17,000
Paid abroad
AUD $9,000
In Vietnam
At-home quote
AUD $26,000
Original estimate
The transformation
Before and after
Before
After
Neha's full-mouth smile makeover in Hanoi: 20 porcelain veneers across both arches
Diagnosis
Discoloured and uneven teeth across both arches in a 36-year-old patient, requiring a full smile makeover with porcelain veneers.
Treatment plan
Neha Iyer had been quietly unhappy with her smile for years.
At 36, the Sydney-based marketing manager had teeth that were uneven across both arches and had gradually lost their brightness. Nothing about it was obvious to anyone else. But in photos, on video calls, and in the mirror at the end of a long day, it was the first thing she noticed about herself. Her Sydney dentist had recommended a full set of porcelain veneers and quoted $1,300 AUD per unit. Twenty units came to $26,000 AUD.
She thought about it for the better part of a year and never quite booked it.
Why Hanoi
A friend of hers had returned from Vietnam earlier in the year with veneers she would not stop talking about. Neha asked for the details, did her own research, and got in touch with SmileJet. The clinic in Hanoi sent back a digital smile design preview, a shade conversation, and a clear seven-day timeline.
The price came in at $450 AUD per unit. Twenty units. $9,000 AUD total. Against the Sydney quote, that was a saving of $17,000.
Hanoi also made sense for another reason. Neha had always wanted to see Halong Bay and Ninh Binh, and a week in northern Vietnam with a few days of treatment in between sounded a lot better than a single afternoon at a Sydney clinic.
The treatment
She arrived on a Monday. Day one covered consultations, X-rays, the digital smile design, and shade selection. By day two the upper and lower arches were prepared, impressions taken, and temporaries fitted so she could walk out of the clinic looking and feeling normal.
Then the lab work began, and Neha had four days to herself.
Halong Bay and Ninh Binh
She took an overnight cruise to Halong Bay first. Limestone karsts, kayaking through caves, a quiet sunset on the top deck. From there she headed to Ninh Binh for two nights, biking through rice paddies, climbing the steps to Hang Mua for the view over Tam Coc, and taking the slow sampan ride through the river caves.
"I kept forgetting I was here for dental work," Neha said later. "It honestly felt like a proper holiday with one slightly odd appointment in the middle."
The final result
She was back in the clinic on day six for the fitting. Final cementation took place on day seven. The veneers were placed across both arches, checked for bite and shape, polished, and signed off. Neha flew home to Sydney the next morning.
The result: 20 porcelain veneers, 10 upper and 10 lower, evenly proportioned and brighter than the smile she had been hiding for years.
Cost in Hanoi: AUD $450 per unit, $9,000 total
Quoted in Sydney: AUD $1,300 per unit, $26,000 total
Saved: AUD $17,000
Time in Vietnam: 7 days
Trips taken between appointments: Halong Bay and Ninh Binh
If you have been deferring a smile makeover because of the price at home, Neha's story is worth sitting with. Seven days in Hanoi, two short trips into some of the most beautiful country in Southeast Asia, and a smile she is no longer trying to keep out of frame.
Frequently asked questions: Neha's Smile Makeover in Hanoi: 20 Veneers for $9K vs $26K in Sydney
Questions patients commonly ask after reading this story about dental treatment in Vietnam.
- How much did this patient save on veneers in Vietnam?
- This patient paid AUD $9,000 for veneers in Vietnam, compared to an at-home quote of AUD $26,000, a saving of AUD $17,000 (65%). Dental treatment costs in Vietnam are typically 60 to 80 percent lower than equivalent private dental care in Australia, the UK, or the United States, primarily because of lower clinic overheads and labour costs rather than any difference in materials or technology.
- How long does veneers take in Vietnam?
- This patient's veneers treatment in Vietnam took 7 days in Hanoi, Vietnam. Treatment timelines vary depending on the number of implants, whether bone grafting is needed, and the healing interval between implant placement and final crown or bridge fitting. A SmileJet treatment plan quote will include a personalised timeline based on your X-rays and clinical photos.
- Is veneers in Vietnam as safe as getting it done at home?
- Implant survival rates in accredited Vietnam clinics are comparable to Western standards. The Moraschini 2015 meta-analysis of 7,711 implants reported a pooled 5-year survival rate of 94.6 percent, consistent with outcomes published by US and European implant societies. SmileJet partner clinics are independently verified for practitioner credentials, sterilisation protocols, and implant brand traceability before listing. Patients receive all clinical records and X-rays digitally for their home dentist.
- What implant brands are available at SmileJet partner clinics in Vietnam?
- SmileJet partner clinics in Vietnam carry internationally recognised implant brands including Straumann (Switzerland), Nobel Biocare (Sweden/US), Osstem (South Korea), and BioHorizons (US). The specific brand available depends on the clinic; your treatment plan quote will specify which brand is recommended for your case and why.
- How did this patient find and choose a dental clinic in Vietnam?
- This patient used SmileJet to request a written treatment plan and cost estimate from verified clinics in Vietnam. SmileJet verified clinics are screened for practitioner credentials, hygiene standards, implant brand traceability, and English-language patient coordination before listing. The patient submitted dental X-rays and a description of the problem, received a written plan within 48 hours, and booked directly through the platform. The process is free and carries no obligation to proceed.
- What is the recovery like after veneers in Vietnam?
- Recovery after veneers is typically mild. Patients may experience sensitivity for 2 to 5 days after preparation and bonding. Most patients resume normal activities the following day and can fly home within 3 to 5 days of the final fitting appointment. Your clinic will provide written care instructions including foods to avoid during the initial settling period.
Could you save like this too?
Free written quote from 2 to 3 vetted clinics. Reply within 24 hours.
Your next step
Get a quote like this.
Tell us what you need. Written, fixed-price quotes from 2 to 3 vetted clinics within 24 hours.
- Free, no obligation
- Vetted clinics only
- Reply within 24 hours
Quote request sent.
We have received your request and will be back within 24 hours with vetted clinic recommendations and pricing.
