Flights and logistics

Getting to Vietnam for dental treatment

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

Full trip planning guide Visa guide

Updated: May 2026 Sydney to HCMC: 8h 30m direct Sydney to Hanoi: 9h 15m direct

AI-ready summary

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 to 5 hours. Americans fly from Los Angeles or San Francisco via Tokyo, Seoul, or Hong Kong in 18 to 22 hours total. British patients route via Singapore, Hong Kong, or Doha in 14 to 16 hours. Canadians fly 20 to 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 to 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 to 2 weeks.

By SmileJet Editorial Team · Updated May 2026

8h 30m Sydney to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) direct. Shortest dental tourism flight from Australia.

A$480 to 960 Typical economy return fare Sydney to any Vietnamese hub city.

4 airports HAN (Hanoi), SGN (HCMC), DAD (Da Nang), PQC (Phu Quoc).

By origin city

Flight times and typical fares

Times shown are approximate and include direct options where available. Fares are typical economy return and vary substantially by season and booking lead time.

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 to 960
Melbourne	Direct, 9h 30m	Direct, 8h 45m	Direct seasonal, 9h 00m	1-stop via SGN	A$480 to 960
Brisbane	Direct, 9h 00m	Direct, 8h 30m	Direct seasonal, 8h 50m	1-stop via SGN	A$480 to 960
Auckland	1-stop via SIN or SGN, 12 to 14h	1-stop via SIN, 12 to 14h	1-stop via SGN, 13 to 15h	1 to 2 stop	NZ$890 to 1,400
Los Angeles	1-stop via TYO or ICN, 18 to 22h	1-stop via TYO, ICN or HKG, 18 to 22h	1-stop via ICN or HKG, 20 to 23h	2-stop	US$650 to 1,250
London	1-stop via SIN, HKG or DOH, 14 to 16h	1-stop via SIN, HKG or DOH, 14 to 16h	1-stop via SIN or HKG, 15 to 17h	2-stop	GBP 480 to 880
Toronto	1 to 2 stop, 20 to 24h	1 to 2 stop, 20 to 24h	2-stop, 22 to 26h	2 to 3 stop	CAD$1,100 to 1,800
Hoi An is reached via Da Nang International (DAD), 30 minutes by car. Direct Sydney to Da Nang is seasonal (approximately May to October).

Arrival airports

Choosing your arrival airport

HAN

Hanoi (Noi Bai International)

The direct entry for patients heading to a Hanoi clinic. Direct from Sydney, Melbourne, and 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 are located. 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 sits inside HCMC; taxi to Thao Dien or District 1 takes 25 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. Year-round tropical climate: factor in the heat on arrival and book air-conditioned accommodation near the clinic.

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 22. Da Nang direct is only seasonal from Australia: check before booking.

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 landing at PQC unlock the 30-day visa-free SEZ entry. Arrival via SGN with an onward domestic flight consumes a mainland e-visa instead.

Booking strategy

Practical booking tips for dental tourism patients

Book 4 to 8 weeks ahead

Vietnam fares from AU and NZ tighten substantially inside 30 days. The sweet spot for the lowest direct fares is typically 6 to 10 weeks before travel. For Auckland, London, and North American origins, 8 to 12 weeks is optimal.

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 them. 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 open up touring options between appointments.

Phu Quoc direct flights

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

FAQ

Getting to Vietnam FAQ

Can I book a two-trip implant case with different arrival cities?

Yes. Open-jaw routing is common for implant patients. Flying into Hanoi for the placement trip and out of Da Nang or HCMC on a separate return is straightforward and does not affect treatment continuity. Each trip uses its own 90-day single-entry e-visa. Open-jaw fares are typically within 5 to 15% of standard return fares and are bookable through any major airline.

How far in advance should I book flights to Vietnam?

Book 6 to 10 weeks ahead for the best economy fares from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane to Hanoi, HCMC, or Da Nang. Inside 30 days, fares tighten significantly. For Auckland, London, and North American origins, 8 to 12 weeks ahead gives the best range of price and timing options. Avoid booking during Tet (late January or early February) when fares spike and clinics close for 1 to 2 weeks.

Is it better to fly into HCMC and connect to Da Nang or Hoi An?

For most Australian and New Zealand patients heading to Da Nang or Hoi An, a direct flight to Da Nang (DAD) is easier and no longer than routing via HCMC. Direct Sydney to Da Nang is seasonal (approximately May to October). Year-round, a one-stop via HCMC or Hanoi is reliable and adds only 2 to 3 hours. Routing via HCMC adds airport time and the internal leg cost (approximately US$30 to 60 each way on VietJet or Bamboo). Go direct to DAD where the schedule allows.

Does the Phu Quoc visa-free entry depend on which airport I arrive at?

Yes, critically. The 30-day visa-free Phu Quoc SEZ entry only applies if your flight lands directly at Phu Quoc International Airport (PQC). If you arrive at Tan Son Nhat (SGN) in HCMC and connect to Phu Quoc on a domestic flight, you will have entered Vietnam on your mainland e-visa (or without one, which is a problem). The visa-free SEZ rule applies at international arrival at PQC, not at domestic transfer.