20 Years of Waiting
DentalPassport Made My Dream Smile a Reality

Ok so I just got back from Vietnam and I HAVE to tell everyone about this… im still kind of in shock at how well everything went. Im from Fort Lauderdale and i literally waited 20 YEARS to get veneers done because the cost here is absolutely insane. But I finally did it and honestly? Best decision Ive made in years.

So heres the thing – i had been researching dental tourism for like forever, watching all these YouTube videos and Reddit posts about people going to different countries. I kept seeing these amazing before and after photos and part of me was like “this cant be real right??” But the prices… man, the prices kept pulling me back in. My dentist here in Fort Lauderdale quoted me $45,000 for 22 veneers. FORTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS. I literally laughed when he told me because i thought he was joking but nope, dead serious.

Thats when i found SmileJet through some google search rabbit hole at like 2am (as you do lol). They work with clinics in Vietnam and the before/after photos looked incredible. I spent probably 3 weeks just looking at their website, reading reviews, stalking their Instagram, basically trying to convince myself this was legit and not some scam. My sister thought i was crazy tbh, she was like “youre gonna fly halfway around the world to let someone mess with your teeth??” But i was so tired of hiding my smile for literally two decades that i just said screw it and booked through SmileJet.

The flight from Fort Lauderdale to Ho Chi Minh City was LONG. Like 24+ hours with layovers long. I was exhausted when i landed but also running on pure adrenaline and nervousness. Vietnam is HOT, like stepping into a sauna the second you walk outside. SmileJet had arranged everything though – the driver who picked me up from the airport was so nice and patient even though i dont speak a single word of Vietnamese. He kept smiling and pointing at things trying to show me around which was sweet.

First impressions of HCMC (thats what everyone calls Ho Chi Minh City apparently)? Organized chaos is the best way to describe it. Motorcycles EVERYWHERE, like thousands of them just weaving through traffic. The city is loud and busy and kinda overwhelming but in an exciting way?? I stayed in District 1 which SmileJet recommended and its basically the tourist area with tons of cafes and restaurants.

The morning of my first clinic visit i was nervous AF not gonna lie. My hands were shaking while i was getting ready. But the clinic… holy crap you guys, it was WAY nicer than my dentist back home. Like modern equipment, everything looked brand new, super clean. I walked in and immediately felt better about my decision.

Dr. Phan was my dentist and he spoke perfect English which was such a relief. SmileJet had coordinated everything so they were expecting me and the staff was so welcoming. The consultation took like an hour – he took a million photos and scans of my teeth, explained exactly what he was gonna do, showed me examples. I didnt even tell him what tooth shape i wanted because i could tell he was a perfectionist like me. I just trusted him completely to do what needed to be done. Looking back that might sound crazy but something about his confidence just made me feel secure.

During the actual procedure i was prepared for the worst because id seen sooo many videos of people complaining about severe pain during dental tourism procedures. I literally psyched myself up thinking “ok Eren, you waited 20 years for this, you can handle some pain.” But honestly?? There was minimal discomfort. Like yes i felt pressure and some weird sensations but actual pain? Barely any. The dental team kept checking on me constantly – “are you ok?” “do you need a break?” “is this comfortable?” – and they meant it, it wasnt just going through the motions.

The whole process took about a week total with multiple appointments. Between visits i explored the city which was actually pretty fun despite still being a bit sore. The food in Vietnam is AMAZING. I became obsessed with banh mi – these Vietnamese sandwiches that cost like $1.50 and are better than anything id get at home for $10. Also the coffee… omg the Vietnamese iced coffee is sooo good and everywhere you go its like $2 maximum. I kept thinking “how is everything so cheap here??”

I used Grab (its like their Uber) to get around and it was super easy even without speaking Vietnamese. The whole city just worked somehow despite looking chaotic. People were really friendly too – lots of smiling and trying to help even with the language barrier.

The day i got to see my final results… i cant even describe it properly. I looked in the mirror and just started crying. Like full on tears streaming down my face in the dental chair. The clinic staff probably thought i was upset but i was just so overwhelmed with joy and relief. Twenty years of hiding my smile, of being self conscious, of putting this off because of cost – all of that just hit me at once. Dr Phan had done EXACTLY what i hoped for and honestly even better.

SmileJet checked in on me throughout the whole trip which was really reassuring. They made sure my appointments were going well, that i was comfortable at the hotel, just generally made sure i wasnt lost or stressed in a foreign country. Their coordinator answered my panicked 3am texts when i was worried about something (time zones are weird lol).

Even the little things were handled well – like SmileJet arranged this driver for all my airport transfers and clinic visits and he was genuinely so kind. Helped with my bags, waited patiently, didnt make me feel rushed. Its the small touches that made the whole experience feel less scary you know?

Ok so lets talk money because I know thats what everyone actually wants to know. My total cost for 22 veneers through SmileJets Vietnam clinic was less than $12,000. Let me repeat that – LESS THAN TWELVE THOUSAND DOLLARS for 22 veneers. Back home? $45,000. The math is insane. Even with flights (around $1,200), hotel for a week (maybe $400 total), food and getting around (another $300), im still at like $14,000 total. Thats saving over $30,000 for literally the same quality work. Actually no, BETTER quality work because Dr Phan is incredible.

Payment was easy too – they took credit cards and SmileJet had explained all the costs upfront so there werent any surprise fees or hidden charges. What you see is what you pay which is refreshing compared to dental bills at home where they nickel and dime you for everything.

Recovery wise, i followed all Dr Phans instructions (mostly lol, i might have eaten some crunchy banh mi when i wasnt supposed to but dont tell him). Had a couple check ups during the week to make sure everything was healing properly. Some sensitivity but nothing crazy, definitely manageable with basic painkillers.

Im still waiting for the professional photos and videos the clinic took but i wanted to share my own selfies because i literally cannot stop smiling now. Like i smile at random people on the street, i smile in the mirror, i smile while eating breakfast. My sister was like “ok we get it you have new teeth” but i dont care lol, i have 20 years of not smiling to make up for.

Would i do this again? In a heartbeat. Would i recommend it? Absolutely. Is it worth the travel? Hell yes. The money you save is honestly life changing. I keep thinking about what else i can do with that extra $30,000 i didnt spend – thats a car, or travel, or savings, or whatever. Meanwhile i have this amazing smile that i actually feel confident about for the first time in my adult life.

If youre sitting there like i was, researching at 2am, wondering if dental tourism is legit, wondering if you should just book it – DO IT. Seriously. I wish id done this years ago instead of putting it off. SmileJet made everything so straightforward and stress free, and the quality of care in Vietnam is honestly better than what ive experienced in the US.

There is literally no justification for charging $45,000 for veneers when you can get world class results for a quarter of that cost through SmileJet. None. The whole “you get what you pay for” thing doesnt apply here – youre getting BETTER care for less money, it just happens to be in Vietnam instead of Florida.

Anyway, if anyone has questions im happy to answer them. Still riding this high of actually having a smile i love. Cannot recommend this enough.

— Eren, Fort Lauderdale FL ✈️🦷✨