How SmileJet operates in Vietnam

Each SmileJet Vietnamese partner clinic signs a partnership agreement that obliges them to:

• Pass and maintain compliance with our 18-point verification methodology
• Honour the published treatment quote with no on-arrival upcharges except where the in-clinic consultation reveals genuinely different case complexity (in which case re-quoting is required and the patient may walk away)
• Deliver English-speaking treatment from a treating dentist or dental coordinator
• Provide a written treatment plan and post-treatment record in English
• Honour the SmileJet treatment coordination support for SmileJet-referred patients, including absorbing re-treatment cases referred from other partner clinics in the country-wide network
• Submit patient outcome data to SmileJet for the 12-month period post-treatment
• Submit to the annual re-audit and any off-cycle inspections triggered by outcome data, complaint patterns, or material operational changes

In exchange, partner clinics receive curated patient referrals from SmileJet, listing on the SmileJet platform, and the marketing visibility that comes with verified-network status. SmileJet does not require exclusivity — partner clinics may take patients from other sources, including walk-ins and other marketplaces.

Dental practice in Vietnam is regulated by the Vietnamese Ministry of Health, which maintains the practitioner registry, sets practice standards, and licenses dental clinics. Every SmileJet partner clinic is licensed under this framework, and every treating dentist on the registry. Specialist credential claims (implantology, prosthodontics, etc.) are verified against post-graduate qualifications during our 18-point process.

SmileJet is not itself a regulated medical provider in Vietnam — we do not deliver clinical care, so there is no clinical-licensing requirement applicable to us. Our regulatory posture is as a marketing and referral platform with a verification layer; the medical regulation rests with the partner clinics.

For UK and EU patients comparing this structure to dental tourism in EU countries (Hungary, Poland), the relevant difference is: those EU countries place SmileJet-like marketplaces under broader EU consumer-protection regulation. Vietnam does not have an equivalent framework. Our country-wide verification methodology and treatment coordination support are our compensating mechanism, but they are private contractual commitments, not regulatory backstops.

Dental treatment received abroad does not need to be declared at customs in any of our origin markets (Australia, New Zealand, US, UK, Canada). Dentures and removable prosthetics are also fine — they are personal medical devices. Implants and crowns placed in your mouth are not goods being imported; they are part of your body upon arrival home.

For tax purposes, dental treatment costs may be deductible against medical expenses depending on your jurisdiction. In Australia, the Medicare Safety Net does not cover overseas dental work, but private health insurance with overseas dental coverage (some extras policies) may reimburse a portion. In the US, dental work qualifies for medical expense deduction if total medical expenses exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income. UK NHS does not cover overseas dental work; private dental insurance occasionally does. Always check with your tax advisor and insurer for your specific case.

Take-home items from your treatment trip — temporary removable prosthetics, retainers, take-home whitening trays, prescription medications — are personal-use and do not require declaration unless quantities are unusually large.

When a patient submits an enquiry through the SmileJet platform, the matching process works as follows. The coordinator reviews the submitted information: dental photos, any available X-rays, the patient's stated treatment goals, preferred city, and availability window. The coordinator matches the case to the most appropriate verified partner clinic in the chosen city based on the case type, available appointment schedule, and the specific clinical strengths of each clinic. For implant cases, the pre-treatment X-ray is shared with the clinic director before the match is confirmed, allowing the clinic to indicate whether the case is straightforwardly within their scope or may require CBCT assessment before a final quote is issued.

The quote issued by the partner clinic through SmileJet is itemised: each procedure line is listed separately with a price in USD. The quote locks the price for the agreed scope for a defined period (typically 90 days). If you accept the quote and pay the SmileJet platform fee, the appointment is confirmed and the deposit payment to the clinic can proceed. The quote you accept is the price you pay for the documented scope; on-arrival re-quotes only occur if the in-clinic CBCT or examination reveals genuinely different case complexity that was not visible from the pre-submission photos or X-rays.

Patients sometimes ask whether they can negotiate the quoted price. Partner clinic prices are set by the clinics themselves and are not typically negotiable through SmileJet. The prices within the SmileJet network are already at the partner-clinic rate, which is the standard rate clinics charge international patients. SmileJet does not add a markup on top of clinic prices. If you find a lower quote for the same procedure and brand at a different Vietnamese clinic, contact SmileJet — we will check whether the comparison is genuinely like-for-like (same implant brand, same prosthetic tier, same clinical team) and advise honestly.