Plan your Vietnam dental trip
Everything you need to plan a dental tourism trip to Vietnam — visa, flights, timing, what to pack, treatment timelines, and recovery itineraries. Country-wide here, city-specific one click down.
By SmileJet Editorial Team · Updated May 2026
Planning a dental tourism trip to Vietnam involves four stages: choosing which of the five SmileJet cities fits your climate, pace, and visa preference; obtaining the correct visa (90-day mainland e-visa for US$25, or Phu Quoc 30-day visa-free entry if flying direct); booking flights and accommodation with correct lead time (4–8 weeks for best fares, avoiding Tet in late January or February); and planning your treatment timeline around the specific procedure. Single implant cases require two trips totalling roughly 9 days across 3 months. All-on-4 typically requires a single 10–14-day trip plus a second trip 4–6 months later for the permanent bridge. Veneer cases are a single trip of 5–10 days. This page covers each stage at country level; each city's page covers the city-specific logistics one click further.
The four planning stages
-
01
Pick your city
The first decision. Five SmileJet Vietnamese cities, each with a distinct climate, pace, and visa profile. Use the comparison table or the 60-second quiz on the country pillar page to narrow down. Once you commit to a city, the rest of the trip plans itself around that city.
-
02
Sort the visa
For Hanoi, HCMC, Da Nang, or Hoi An: apply for the 90-day single-entry e-visa online. US$25, 3 to 5 business days, no embassy appointment. For Phu Quoc with direct entry: every nationality gets 30 days visa-free on arrival, no application required. Apply for the e-visa at least two weeks before travel.
-
03
Book flights and accommodation
Direct from Sydney to Hanoi, HCMC, and seasonally Da Nang. One stop from Auckland, Los Angeles, London, and Toronto. Phu Quoc has direct seasonal options from Bangkok and Singapore. Book 4 to 8 weeks ahead for the best fares. Avoid Tet holiday — late January or early February — when most clinics close for 1 to 2 weeks.
-
04
Plan your treatment timeline
Single implant cases run two trips: 4 days for placement, 3-month healing window at home, then 5 days for crown placement. Total roughly 9 days across two trips. All-on-4 cases are typically a single longer trip of 10 to 14 days. Veneer cases are a single trip of 5 to 7 days. Your city coordinator builds the per-day itinerary once you commit to a clinic.
What to pack
Documents
- Passport with 6+ months validity
- Printed e-visa (two copies)
- Travel insurance card
- Treatment confirmation letter from SmileJet
- Home dentist X-rays if you have them
For recovery
- Soft-bristle toothbrush
- Saline rinse
- Cold-pack gel (or buy on arrival)
- Loose-fitting clothing for swelling
- Headphones for downtime
Climate-specific
- Light layers for Hanoi October to April
- Reef-safe sunscreen for Da Nang, Hoi An, Phu Quoc
- Insect repellent for any tropical city
- Modest cover for cultural sites in Hoi An
- Universal travel adapter (Vietnam uses Type A, C, F)
Planning the recovery window
Most international dental tourism patients turn the recovery window into the holiday. Each Vietnamese city offers a different recovery setting. Here is how patients typically pace it.
Hanoi
Cool-weather walking. Old Quarter cafes, Hoan Kiem Lake laps, French Quarter heritage. Day trips to Halong Bay or Sapa once you are 4 to 5 days post-procedure.
Ho Chi Minh City
Indoor air-conditioned recovery in Thao Dien or District 1. Food walks once chewing returns. Mekong Delta day trips on rest days. Year-round, no climate friction.
Da Nang
Beach-walk-distance recovery at My Khe. Marble Mountains and Hai Van Pass on the active days. Easy pairing with Hoi An for the end of the trip.
Hoi An
Slowest recovery pace of any SmileJet city. Cycling along the river, Ancient Town lanterns at dusk, beach trips to An Bang or Cua Dai. Low stimulation, high charm.
Phu Quoc
Resort recovery on Long Beach. Snorkelling once cleared. Visa-free entry sets the tone. Boutique pace from start to finish, ideal for All-on-4 patients who want the trip to feel like a holiday.
Continue into one of the five SmileJet Vietnamese cities
Every quote, every coordinator, every clinic match happens at the city level.
