Logistics

Getting to Vietnam

Direct flights from Sydney to all three mainland hubs. One stop from Auckland, Los Angeles, London, and Toronto. Phu Quoc reached via mainland connection or seasonal direct from Bangkok and Singapore.

By SmileJet Editorial Team · Updated May 2026

Vietnam is directly accessible from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane to Hanoi (9h 15m), Ho Chi Minh City (8h 30m), and seasonally Da Nang (8h 50m) — the shortest intercontinental flight times of any major dental tourism destination for Australian patients. New Zealanders route one-stop via Singapore or Sydney, adding 3–5 hours. Americans fly from Los Angeles or San Francisco via Tokyo, Seoul, or Hong Kong in 18–22 hours total. British patients route via Singapore, Hong Kong, or Doha in 14–16 hours. Canadians fly 20–24 hours via one to two stops. Phu Quoc is reached via Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) connection year-round, or on seasonal direct flights from Bangkok and Singapore. Book flights 4–8 weeks ahead for the best economy fares. Avoid the Tet holiday window (late January to mid-February) when fares spike and clinics close for 1–2 weeks across all five SmileJet cities.

Flight times and typical fares by origin

From	Hanoi (HAN)	HCMC (SGN)	Da Nang (DAD)	Phu Quoc (PQC)	Typical fare
Sydney	Direct, 9h 15m	Direct, 8h 30m	Direct seasonal, 8h 50m	1-stop via SGN	A$480 – A$960
Melbourne	Direct, 9h 30m	Direct, 8h 45m	Direct seasonal, 9h 00m	1-stop via SGN	A$480 – A$960
Brisbane	Direct, 9h 00m	Direct, 8h 30m	Direct seasonal, 8h 50m	1-stop via SGN	A$480 – A$960
Auckland	1-stop via SIN/SGN, 12-14h	1-stop via SIN, 12-14h	1-stop via SGN, 13-15h	1-2 stop	NZ$890 – NZ$1,400
Los Angeles	1-stop via TYO/ICN, 18-22h	1-stop via TYO/ICN/HKG, 18-22h	1-stop via ICN/HKG, 20-23h	2-stop	US$650 – US$1,250
London	1-stop via SIN/HKG/DOH, 14-16h	1-stop via SIN/HKG/DOH, 14-16h	1-stop via SIN/HKG, 15-17h	2-stop	GBP 480 – GBP 880
Toronto	1-2 stop, 20-24h	1-2 stop, 20-24h	2-stop, 22-26h	2-3 stop	CAD$1,100 – CAD$1,800

Hoi An is reached via Da Nang International (DAD), 30 minutes by car. Direct flights to Da Nang from Sydney are seasonal — typically May to October. Fare ranges are typical economy returns and vary substantially by season and booking lead time.

Choosing your arrival airport

HAN

Hanoi (Noi Bai International)

The cleanest, quickest entry for patients heading to a Hanoi clinic. Direct from Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane on Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, and seasonal carriers. Approximately 45 minutes by taxi from the airport into the Old Quarter where most SmileJet partner clinics sit. Cool dry winters and mild autumns make Noi Bai a comfortable arrival.

SGN

Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat International)

The largest international gateway in Vietnam. Direct from every major Australian capital and from Auckland via Singapore. Tan Son Nhat is centrally located inside HCMC — taxi to Thao Dien or District 1 takes 25 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. Year-round tropical climate, so factor in the heat on arrival.

DAD

Da Nang International

The right airport for Da Nang or Hoi An patients. Direct seasonal from Sydney and one-stop year-round via SGN, HKG, or ICN. Ten minutes from My Khe Beach hotels. Hoi An is a 30-minute taxi ride from DAD, costing roughly US$15 to US$22.

PQC

Phu Quoc International

The visa-free entry point. Direct seasonal from Bangkok, Singapore, and a few other regional hubs. Patients from outside the region typically connect via SGN. Important: only direct flights to PQC unlock the 30-day visa-free entry; arrival via SGN consumes a mainland e-visa.

Practical booking tips

Book 4 to 8 weeks ahead

Vietnam fares from AU/NZ tighten substantially inside 30 days. The sweet spot for the lowest direct fares is typically 6 to 10 weeks before travel.

Avoid Tet holiday bookings

Vietnamese New Year (Tet) falls in late January or early February. Most clinics in all five SmileJet cities close for 1 to 2 weeks. Fares spike and availability disappears. Plan implant placement trips for outside this window.

Two-trip implant cases

Single implant cases need a placement trip and a crown-fitting trip with roughly 3 months between. Book the placement trip first, fix the date with your clinic, then book the second trip once the first is locked in.

Open-jaw routing for All-on-4

Some All-on-4 patients fly into one Vietnamese city and out of another (Hanoi in, Da Nang out). Open-jaw fares are usually within 5 to 15% of return fares and free up touring options between airports.

Phu Quoc connections

If you are routing Phu Quoc, fly direct to PQC if any direct option exists from your origin (or via Bangkok/Singapore). The visa-free entry is only honoured at PQC arrival, not at SGN with onward connection.

Da Nang seasonal direct

Direct Sydney to Da Nang is roughly May to October. Outside that window, route via SGN or HAN with a short connection. Hoi An patients almost always go via DAD regardless.

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