Visas and travel to Vietnam

Vietnam is straightforward to visit, but entry rules depend on your passport and change from time to time. Check them before you book.

Visas

Many nationalities can apply for an electronic visa on the official portal at evisa.gov.vn. Use only the official site, because some lookalike sites charge extra fees. Some passports allow a visa-free stay of a limited length. Make sure your planned stay, including any second implant trip, fits inside what you're allowed.

Applying for an e-visa

The application is online. Follow the portal's current list of requirements. Applicants are usually asked for:

• a passport that's valid well beyond your planned stay, with blank pages
• a recent passport-style photo and a scan of your passport's photo page
• your planned entry date and the airport or border crossing where you'll arrive
• a card to pay the government fee

Apply well before you fly, and print or save the approved e-visa to show at check-in and on arrival. Check the details carefully, because a mistake in your name or passport number can mean applying again.

Time your stay around treatment

Work out how long you'll be in Vietnam from the clinic's appointment schedule, then add spare days at the end. Crowns usually take 3 to 7 days, veneers 7 to 10, and implants usually need two trips. Our guide to planning your visits has the timings for each treatment. If your treatment plan grows after the first examination, check straight away whether your visa or exemption still covers the stay.

Flights

Most international flights land at Tan Son Nhat (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City and Noi Bai (HAN) in Hanoi. Da Nang (DAD) has international routes from several Asian cities. Book a flexible return ticket if you can, in case the clinic needs an extra appointment.

Arriving

At the airport, ride-hailing apps and airport taxis are the simplest way into the city. Set up the app and a payment method before you fly, and keep your hotel and clinic addresses written in Vietnamese on your phone. Our guide to getting around Vietnam explains how.

Getting around

Domestic flights link Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang many times a day. Trains and long-distance buses are slower and cheaper. Within cities, ride-hailing apps are the easiest way to reach appointments.

Health and insurance

Read your government's travel health advice for Vietnam before you go, including advice on vaccines. Many travel insurance policies exclude planned medical treatment, so check what yours covers and whether you can add cover for complications. If you take regular medicines, bring enough for the whole trip in your hand luggage, with a copy of the prescription.

Money

Vietnam's currency is the đồng. Many clinics accept cards, but ask whether a card surcharge applies, and keep enough cash for taxis and meals. Our article on money in Vietnam covers cash, cards, tipping and paying the clinic.