How to plan a dental trip to Vietnam with family or a group

Going to Vietnam for dental treatment with family or friends is common, especially for overseas Vietnamese visiting home. A group trip needs a little more planning, because everyone's treatment takes a different amount of time.

Start with each person's treatment

Each person needs their own plan, based on their own X-rays and photos. One person may need a few fillings, another a set of crowns, another implants that take two trips. Ask the clinic for a separate written plan and quote for each person.

Once you have the plans, the longest treatment sets the length of the trip.

Coordinate the appointments

• Ask one clinic to schedule everyone. A clinic with several dentists can often run appointments at the same time, so the group spends less time waiting.
• Put the longest treatments first. Start the person with the most visits early in the trip, and fit shorter treatments around them.
• Keep easy days after surgery. Anyone having an extraction or implant placement will want to rest that day and the next. Plan sightseeing for others on those days.
• Fix the dates before booking flights. Book once the clinic has confirmed every appointment.

Book travel for the group

• Visas. Check the rules for each passport. Our visas and travel guide has the basics.
• Flights. If one person's treatment ends earlier, they can fly home first, but don't book anyone's return before their final check.
• Accommodation. A hotel or apartment near the clinic is easiest. People recovering from treatment can rest nearby while the others go out.
• Getting around. Ride-hailing apps make it easy to move a group between the hotel and the clinic. Read getting around Vietnam.

Bring a companion

A family member or friend who isn't having treatment is useful after surgery. They can get the patient back to the hotel, pick up soft food and medicine, and help keep track of appointments. Our article on eating after dental work helps with meals on the days after treatment.

Keep records separate

Ask the clinic for each person's X-rays, treatment notes, receipts and warranty separately. Each person's dentist at home will need their own, and so will any insurance claim.

When everyone's plans are ready, use the trip planner to compare verified clinics for the treatments your group needs.