Most first-time dental tourists arrive in Da Nang with some anxiety about the unknown. By the end of Day 2, that anxiety is almost universally replaced by surprise at how straightforward the process is. Here is an honest day-by-day account of what a typical 10-day Da Nang implant trip looks like.
Day 1: Arrival and orientation
Da Nang International Airport (DAD) is 10 minutes from An Thuong, the beach district where most SmileJet partner clinics are located. Grab is the recommended transport app – metered taxi from the airport to An Thuong costs A$4–7. Check into your hotel, eat a proper meal (you will not feel like eating on Day 3), and walk to My Khe Beach for orientation. No clinic appointment today – this is a rest and jet-lag recovery day.
Day 2: Consultation and CBCT
The consultation is the most important appointment of the trip. Block 90 minutes. The treating clinician reviews your existing X-rays (bring any OPGs or CBCTs from home if available) and takes a CBCT 3D scan (30 minutes, no discomfort). The scan is analysed chairside or same-day; the treatment plan is confirmed or adjusted based on what the CBCT reveals about your bone density and anatomy. This is the appointment to ask all your questions – materials, timeline, what happens if you need a graft, what the two-trip schedule looks like.
Day 3: Surgery
Implant placement under local anaesthesia. Single implant: 45–75 minutes. Multiple implants: 90–150 minutes. Full arch (All-on-4): 2.5–4 hours. You are awake throughout. The local anaesthetic is comprehensive – most patients are surprised that they feel pressure rather than pain. Post-procedure, you leave with a prescription for anti-inflammatories and antibiotics, written aftercare instructions, and a direct contact number for the treating clinician. Rest afternoon. Vietnamese congee (cháo) from a nearby An Thuong café is the ideal first post-procedure meal.
Days 4–7: Recovery and beach
Day 4: still soft food, gentle walking only. The An Thuong café strip is excellent for this phase. Day 5: most patients feel substantially better. A shaded late-afternoon walk to My Khe is appropriate. Day 6–7: most patients who came for a single implant are comfortable enough for light sightseeing – the Marble Mountains (25 minutes by taxi) or Hoi An (45 minutes south, the UNESCO World Heritage old town) are the two standard day-trip options and both involve walking at a pace you control. Avoid the Hai Van Pass motorbike tour until Day 7 minimum.
Days 8–9: Post-op check and clearance
A Day 5 or Day 8 post-operative check at the clinic (30 minutes, no discomfort) confirms healing is progressing normally. The treating clinician reviews the site, removes any sutures if placed (most modern implant protocols use dissolving sutures), and clears you for return travel. You receive the written surgical report – implant brand, batch number, dimensions, placement date, torque values – for your home dentist records.
Day 10: Return flight
Da Nang International Airport to Sydney or Melbourne with one stop (typically Singapore or HCMC). Total travel: 10–12 hours. Most patients are comfortable in economy class by Day 10 post-implant. If there is any residual swelling or soreness, Day 12 departure is available as a buffer – discuss trip length flexibility with SmileJet when booking.
The 3-month wait for Trip 2
After returning home, the implant fuses with the jawbone over 3–6 months. Trip 2 (4–5 days for single implant crown fitting; 7–10 days for full-arch zirconia) completes the restoration. Many patients plan Trip 2 to coincide with a Hoi An day-trip extension – An Hoi Island old town is 45 minutes south and makes an excellent short extension for a second trip that is purely a crown-fitting appointment.