What you need to know before traveling to Vietnam for dental care
Vietnam has become a
favorite spot not only for tourism but also for dental work in recent years.
There are thousands of international patients coming to Vietnam each year for
dental travel simply because of affordable prices, fantastic travel
destinations, and satisfactory results. If you are planning on traveling to
Vietnam for dental care, this article will help you have a beautiful holiday
and get the best results out of your dental treatment. Here is what you need to
know:
1. How to find a professional dentist and high-quality clinic.
Here is some
information you should check to find the best dental clinic Vietnam before planning your visit:
●
Profiles of the clinic
and dentists, make sure you get a dental treatment done by a professional
dentist.
●
Asking for the
equipment or picture of the clinic to see if they are modern, high-quality, and
clean and using state-of-the-art technologies or not. The tidiness of the
clinic is very important to determine if they comply with the infection control
standards or not.
●
Asking for before
–after images of the former patients that had the dental problem as yours.
●
How much does it cost?
In general, dental cost in Vietnam is 70% cheaper than the local dental cost in
the US so you can have more options for your dental problems. Ask for the cost
breakdown to avoid any surcharges.
●
Ask the clinic if you
can get follow- up care after the procedure to know how to handle complications
or in case of emergency.
●
Reviews from websites
of local dental tourism facilitator or international consultancy such as
Patients beyond Borders, Whatclinic, or Google, Yelp and TripAdvisor. It's
sensible that you check out three to five clinics to compare their quality and
then choose the one that best suits your requirements.
2. Consideration before you go
2.1. Out- of -pocket
payment or travel insurance.
Most international
patients chose out- of- pocket options because their health insurance doesn't
offer coverage for dental treatment or if it does, it just covers for a little
part of the cost. Dental tourism still costs much cheaper than your local
dental price even when you include all the dental, travel, transportation,
accommodation, food and drink, and you can even get discounts from your medical
insurance coverage.
It is likely that your
medical insurance doesn't offer coverage for medical care performed beyond the
border. In some cases, your medical insurance company is able to accept dental
work in a quality clinic in Vietnam. However, you’ll need to inform the clinic
necessary paperwork to prepare the paperwork and the procedures according to
the requirements of the insurance company. The bottom line is that you should
contact your health and dental insurance provider to have more details about
your rights to plan your treatment thoroughly.
2.2. Getting insurance for dental tourism or
not?
If you want to get
some coverage for your dental treatment in Vietnam, you can consider purchasing
dental tourism insurance. The insurance policy might cover the cost of overseas
medical treatment to fit the customer's plans and budget. Insurance companies
have offered some practical extensions such as:
●
Trip cancellation, in
case unexpected events come up, and you have to delay your trip,
●
Emergency overseas
dental treatment, in case complications arise after the planned treatment, and
a post-procedure is needed,
●
Additional costs of
transport and accommodation for you and your companion if you have
complications and need a post-procedure treatment,
●
Return travel and
accommodation for remedial dental treatment, in case you need to come back for
remedial treatment.
Each travel insurance
company has its terms to support you financially if any unexpected things
arise. You should consult with the insurance company before planning your
dental trip in order to be informed thoroughly about the insurable risks and the
coverage you might get.
2.3. Visa
Dental tourists shall
apply for Vietnam VISA on arrival for tourists. For a trip under 15 days,
citizens from Europe such as Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, UK don't need to
apply for a visa.
But if you are from
Australia, New Zealand, the US or Canada, you need to apply for a visa. The
single-entry stamping fee is US$25, a multiple-entry stamping fee is US$50. The
process is straightforward: you fill out an online application form and pay the
agency fee (around US$20). You'll then receive by email a VOA approval letter
signed by Vietnamese immigration that you print out and show on arrival, where
you pay your visa stamping fee in US dollars, cash only.
Make sure you have
your non-expired passport for at least six months and two blank pages for visa
stamp.
2.4. Currency and
payment method
So far, the available
payment methods for upfront and final payments are:
+
Cash
+
Bank transfer
+
Credit card
+
Transferwise, Western
Union
You can exchange your
money to Vietnam dong at the airport or local currency exchange spots such as
local jewelry stores, local Vietcombank transaction offices to get the best
exchange rate.
Many clinics accept
payments in cash or debit/credit such as MasterCard, Visa, and American Express
with only a 4% or 5% transaction fee. Not every clinic accepts payments on
traveler’s cheques.
Normally, payments
will be effected in Vietnamese currency (VND). The amount your credit card
account will be charged for is obtained through the conversion of the price in
USD into Vietnamese dong according to the current exchange rate of the
Vietnamese National bank.
2.5. Book your trip
early
You should book your
dental appointment with weeks of anticipation. Top dental clinics can be in
high demand, which means they have to be booked for a few days or even weeks.
We also recommend that you schedule your appointments on weekdays. Most clinics
open on Saturdays and Sundays as well but many local patients have booked
appointments in advance on weekends. Hence, it might not be too crowded and
enough time for you to get dental work done on weekdays.
2.5. Language Barrier
This is crucial
because you need to communicate the treatment, possible options, and paperwork,
to name but a few. Most physicians in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city have passed
training programs from dental schools overseas so they can speak English well
and explain to you the treatment step by step. Not only physicians but also
staff members at the clinics can fluently comprehend and speak English.
To make sure there is
no language barrier between the clinic staff and you, ask the clinic or your
dental tourism agency whether your dentist and clinic staff can speak English
and whether they have a case manager to support you anytime you need.
3. Planning your dental trip
3.1. Balance your
vacation and your treatment
Vietnam is full of
surprises and is one of Southeast Asia's most underrated destinations. If
you're having trouble deciding which place you need to visit in Vietnam, take a
look at our suggested choices for destinations:
Ha Long Bay
The famous with
thousands of limestone islands eroded into jagged pinnacles by wind and water
action over millennia. This is the main cruising territory with the scenery of
the bay best seen by boat. Opt for at least an overnight tour to see Halong
Bay's iconic spellbinding sea views.
Hoi An
Hoi An’s old town
quarter is a joy to explore, well-preserved merchant houses from the 15th
century--when the town was the major meeting point for Japanese and Chinese
merchants flocking the place for the local silks. Plenty of old merchant houses
have been opened to the public so you can get a taste of these any time
convenient to you. With well-preserved facades and intriguing architecture, Hoi
An is the most atmospheric town in Vietnam.
Sapa
The verdant rice field
countryside surrounding Sapa, bordered by the jagged peaks of the Hoang Lien
Mountains. This is the top trekking destination in Vietnam and home to
Vietnam's most beautiful rural vistas. However, if you just got an implant or
dental surgery that requires you to keep physical activities to a minimum, it
might not be a great time for trekking or other sports.
Hanoi
Colonial history,
centuries-old architecture and traditional cuisine are just some of Hanoi’s
attractions. The city lures mostly Australian and New Zealanders, but an
increasing number from further afield like the US, UK, Canada. This is a great
place to explore on foot, the French-colonial city is also known for its
vibrant nightlife, silks, and handicrafts, as well as a multi-cultural
community that’s made up of Chinese, French and Russian influences.
Nha Trang
Often called the
Riviera of the South China Sea, Nha Trang boasts a six-kilometer stretch of
beautiful coastline with a wide array of dining and accommodation options along
the white sandy beaches. The option to swim in this city is excellent with
designated swimming areas and manicured lounging areas that make this a great
option for relaxing days soaking up the sun and sand.
Then how to arrange your time to travel between your
treatment sessions?
First of all, you need
to know your treatment plan. You need to be informed of how many days of stay
is necessary, the number of appointments, and gap time between appointments. If
you have any time restriction or special requirements during your trip,
remember to discuss it with the clinic in advance. Some dental clinics can be
very flexible in planning your treatment.
Once your treatment
plan is decided, it’s time to plan your travel. Whether you’re getting a root
canal treatment, veneers, crowns, or bridges or dental implants, there is a gap
time between appointments. You could use the spare time to make the most out of
your vacation, such as traveling to one of the above lovely destinations,
enjoying spa and wellness services, shopping, joining a cooking class. There
are countless activities for your time in Vietnam. Just bare in mind that you
have to follow the home care instructions of the clinic in which some
activities, food, and drinks might be restricted.
3.2. Costs
Treatment cost
Before you choose a
dentist for your treatment, remember to ask for the treatment cost, and more
specifically, the cost breakdown. The cost breakdown contains information about
the services and procedures applied in your case and how much does each of them
cost. By getting a cost breakdown, you make sure that there are no surcharges
and can remove optional services.
The cost of a single
dental implant in Vietnam ranges from $1,000 to $2,000. However, there's no
one-size-fits-all solution for dental implant surgery. Other factors which
affect the total cost you pay include:
➔
Your expectations: do
you prefer a natural-looking result over a functional "tooth
replacement"?
➔
Your dentist: a vastly
experienced and skillful dentist will be significantly more expensive
➔
Lab fees and material
costs
➔
Brand of dental
implant: Korean vs European and American brands
➔
Pain relief: Local
anesthesia vs IV sedation vs general anesthesia
➔
Additional surgery:
such as bone graft or sinus lift when needed
Travel cost
Vietnam is one of the
cheapest countries to visit. For a five-star experience in Vietnam, which is
the option many dental tourists choose, you are expected to pay about $150 per
day (about $75-$100 for your hotel room) or $200+ if you plan on dining out
often and staying in a very luxurious hotel.
For a comfortable
mid-range experience in Vietnam, it’s best to budget $60 to $100 per day for
your entire cost. This gives you enough to pay for a comfortable three to
four-star hotel room, eat in mid-range to high-end restaurants and visit most
activities and attractions.
With this guide of
Vietnam dental tourism, you now have a good base for your dental holiday plan.
Vietnam is truly one of the great dental tourism destinations of the world and
one that is worth visiting. We hope you'll have excellent dental treatment and
an amazing tropical vacation as well!
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implants vietnam
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