This is a legitimate concern I hear from international patients researching dental care in Vietnam, and I appreciate the direct question. I’m Dr. Emily Nguyen, Principal Dentist at Picasso Dental Clinic, and after treating over 70,000 patients from 65 nationalities since 2013, I can give you an honest answer about pricing practices in Vietnamese dental clinics.
Dr. Emily Nguyen’s Direct Answer
“Pricing practices vary significantly among Vietnamese dental clinics. Some clinics, particularly those in tourist areas or marketing heavily to foreigners, do charge higher prices to international patients than to local Vietnamese patients. However, at Picasso Dental Clinic locations in Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City, we maintain uniform pricing for all patients regardless of nationality. A Vietnamese local and an Australian tourist pay exactly the same price for identical treatment. Our transparent pricing policy reflects our commitment to ethical practice and treating all patients fairly. I can only speak definitively about our own practices, but I encourage patients to ask clinics directly about their pricing policies, request written estimates, and compare prices between facilities to ensure you’re receiving fair treatment. Reputable clinics should have no problem providing clear, consistent pricing information to anyone who asks.”
The Reality of Dual Pricing in Vietnam
Dual pricing, where foreigners pay more than locals for the same service, exists in various Vietnamese industries including hotels, tourist attractions, and some healthcare facilities. This practice stems from assumptions about foreign patients’ higher purchasing power and willingness to pay Western prices even in Vietnam. Some dental clinics participate in this pricing model, viewing international patients as premium customers who expect and can afford premium pricing.
The justification clinics give for higher foreigner pricing includes providing English-speaking staff, maintaining international standards, offering amenities like airport pickup or hotel coordination, and positioning themselves as premium providers serving expatriate and tourist markets. These added services do carry costs, but whether they justify significantly higher base treatment prices is debatable and varies by clinic.
However, many Vietnamese dental clinics, including Picasso Dental Clinic, reject dual pricing as unfair and unnecessary. We believe ethical healthcare pricing should be transparent and consistent, with everyone paying the same base price for the same treatment. Additional services like translation or special accommodations can be charged separately if desired, but core dental treatment prices should not vary based on the patient’s passport.
How to Identify Dual Pricing
Ask clinics directly about their pricing policy for foreigners versus locals. Reputable clinics comfortable with their pricing practices will answer honestly. Clinics that evade the question, provide vague responses, or seem uncomfortable discussing pricing differences may be hiding dual pricing structures that they know patients would object to.
Request written price lists or estimates and compare them with prices Vietnamese friends or colleagues receive for identical treatments. If a Vietnamese acquaintance can inquire about prices and you can do the same, comparing the quotes reveals whether the clinic charges everyone equally. Significant price discrepancies for identical treatments indicate dual pricing.
Online research helps too. Vietnamese-language websites, forums, and social media sometimes list prices that differ from English-language marketing materials targeting international patients. At Picasso Dental Clinic since 2013, our pricing has remained consistent across Vietnamese and English communications because we have nothing to hide regarding our pricing practices.
Why Picasso Dental Clinic Uses Uniform Pricing
Our philosophy is that quality dental care should be accessible to everyone at fair, transparent prices. We don’t believe someone’s nationality should determine what they pay for healthcare. A root canal requires the same materials, time, and expertise whether performed on a Vietnamese university student or an Australian retiree. Charging different prices for identical services contradicts our values.
Uniform pricing also simplifies operations and eliminates the ethical ambiguity of deciding who pays what. We don’t need complex pricing tiers, negotiations, or uncomfortable conversations about why prices differ. Every patient receives the same clear, written estimate based on treatment needed, not on where their passport was issued.
This approach has built trust with both local and international patients. Vietnamese locals appreciate that we don’t price them out to subsidize discounts for foreigners. International patients appreciate knowing they’re paying the same fair prices as locals rather than inflated “foreigner premiums.” This mutual trust supports the long-term patient relationships we value more than maximizing short-term revenue through variable pricing.
Market Positioning and Pricing Variations
Some clinics position themselves specifically as premium providers targeting wealthy expatriates and medical tourists, with prices reflecting this positioning. These clinics may charge everyone higher prices, both locals and foreigners, based on their premium service model rather than discriminatory dual pricing. High prices for everyone differ from charging foreigners more than locals for identical services.
Budget clinics serving primarily local Vietnamese patients may offer lower prices that international patients can also access. These facilities often lack English-speaking staff, Western amenities, or the international-standard equipment that some foreign patients expect. The lower prices reflect different service levels rather than discriminatory pricing based on nationality.
At Picasso Dental Clinic, we occupy a middle ground: international-quality care with English-speaking staff at prices significantly below Western countries but fair to all patients regardless of origin. Our pricing reflects actual costs plus reasonable profit margins, not what we think different nationalities can or will pay.
What Influences Legitimate Price Differences
Different clinics have different cost structures that legitimately affect pricing. Prime location rents in expat neighborhoods cost more than clinics in local areas. State-of-the-art equipment requires significant investment. International-standard materials cost more than economy alternatives. English-speaking staff command higher salaries than Vietnamese-only speakers. These real cost differences justify price variations between clinics.
The experience level and specialization of treating dentists also influences pricing reasonably. Specialists with advanced training and decades of experience may charge more than recent graduates. Complex procedures requiring specialized skills command higher fees than routine treatments. These merit-based and complexity-based price differences are fair and transparent, unlike nationality-based pricing.
What separates legitimate pricing factors from discriminatory dual pricing is that legitimate factors apply equally to all patients. If a clinic charges more because they use premium Swedish dental implants rather than economy Chinese implants, that price applies to everyone choosing that implant system. If they charge foreigners more while giving locals the same implants at lower prices, that’s discriminatory dual pricing.
How to Protect Yourself as an International Patient
Research multiple clinics and compare pricing for your specific treatments. Get written estimates from three to five clinics, ensuring you’re comparing identical treatments with the same materials and techniques. Significant outliers in either direction deserve scrutiny and explanation. If one clinic charges three times what others quote, understand why before dismissing it as overpriced or assuming it’s proportionally better.
Ask explicitly whether quoted prices are the same for all patients or whether different pricing applies to foreigners. Frame the question directly: “Do you charge the same prices to Vietnamese locals and international patients for identical treatments?” The answer reveals the clinic’s pricing philosophy and whether they’ll treat you fairly.
Read reviews from both Vietnamese and international patients. If Vietnamese reviewers praise affordable prices while international reviewers complain about expensive treatment, dual pricing may be occurring. Consistent feedback across nationalities about pricing suggests uniform rates. At our Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City locations, reviews from diverse nationalities mention our reasonable, transparent pricing consistently.
The Value Proposition for International Patients
Even at uniform fair prices, Vietnamese dental care offers exceptional value for international patients. Treatment costing $10,000 in Australia or the US might cost $3,000 to $5,000 in Vietnam using identical materials and techniques. This dramatic price difference comes from lower Vietnamese operating costs, labor costs, and rent, not from compromised quality or dual pricing schemes.
International patients should expect to pay Vietnamese market rates, which are dramatically lower than Western rates, not bargain-basement prices that would indicate corner-cutting. If a crown costs Vietnamese locals $300 to $400, that’s a fair price for international patients too, representing excellent value compared to $1,500 crowns back home.
The goal isn’t finding the absolute cheapest option regardless of quality. It’s finding high-quality care at fair, transparent prices that genuinely save money compared to home-country costs while ensuring safety and excellent outcomes. Picasso Dental Clinic’s pricing achieves this balance, offering international-standard care at true Vietnamese market rates accessible to all patients.
Transparency in Treatment Planning
We provide detailed written treatment plans with itemized costs before any treatment begins. Every procedure, material choice, and fee appears clearly explained. This transparency allows informed decision-making and prevents surprise charges. If we recommend a crown, the estimate specifies whether it’s porcelain-fused-to-metal, all-ceramic, or zirconia, with the corresponding price for that specific material.
Changes to treatment plans during care get discussed and approved before implementation. If we discover additional cavities during a planned cleaning, we explain findings and costs before proceeding. Patients never receive bills for treatments they didn’t explicitly approve. This respect for patient autonomy and financial planning distinguishes ethical practices from those focused primarily on maximizing revenue.
Payment is expected at treatment completion with no hidden fees added later. The estimate you approved matches the final bill. At our clinics across Vietnam, this straightforward approach eliminates the financial anxiety that murky pricing practices create. You know exactly what you’re paying and why.
Cultural Considerations and Expectations
Some international patients assume they should pay more for superior service or special accommodations. While we’re happy to provide English communication and understanding of Western dental expectations, these don’t justify inflated base treatment prices. Our English-speaking staff and cultural competence benefit all patients and represent investments in quality care, not reasons to charge foreigners premium rates.
Vietnamese culture values fairness and relationships. Overcharging foreigners while giving locals discounts would violate these values and harm our reputation within the community. Our Vietnamese patients refer international friends and colleagues to us precisely because they know we’ll treat everyone fairly. Building genuine trust across cultures requires consistent, equitable treatment.
International patients sometimes offer to pay more, assuming Vietnamese prices are “too cheap” and perhaps indicating lower quality. We appreciate the generosity but decline. Our prices reflect quality care at fair Vietnamese market rates. Accepting inflated payments from some patients while charging others standard rates would undermine the pricing integrity we’ve worked hard to establish.
When Higher Prices Might Be Justified
Specialized services genuinely unavailable elsewhere or requiring extraordinary expertise may command premium pricing that applies equally to all patients. If a clinic is the only facility in Vietnam offering a particular advanced treatment, premium pricing might be reasonable. If treatment requires flying in an international specialist, those added costs legitimately increase prices for everyone.
Emergency after-hours care, weekend appointments, or rush treatment often costs more due to staff overtime and scheduling disruptions. These convenience charges should apply equally regardless of nationality. At Picasso Dental Clinic, our standard hours appointments cost the same for everyone, while emergency or after-hours care incurs premium fees for all patients needing those services.
Elective premium services like sedation options, private recovery rooms, or extensive cosmetic consultation time may be priced as add-ons. These optional upgrades cost the same for everyone and provide value to patients who choose them while keeping base treatment prices accessible to those who don’t need extras.
Our Commitment at Picasso Dental Clinic
Since 2013, we’ve treated patients from 65 countries alongside Vietnamese locals using consistent, transparent, fair pricing for all. This ethical approach has built our reputation and loyal patient base across diverse communities. We’ve never participated in dual pricing and never will because it contradicts our values and the trust-based relationships we build with patients.
Our written estimates provide complete price transparency. Our treatment quality meets international standards regardless of patient nationality. Our staff treats every patient with the same respect and attention. These principles aren’t marketing claims but the operational reality of how we’ve conducted our practice for over a decade.
We encourage patients to verify our claims by comparing our prices with quotes from other reputable Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City clinics, reading reviews from patients of various nationalities, and asking our Vietnamese and international patients directly about their pricing experiences. Transparency withstands scrutiny, which is why we welcome it.
Making Informed Choices
Not all clinics charging different prices to foreigners are necessarily unethical, especially if they’re transparent about operating as premium providers with prices reflecting that positioning. What matters is honesty about pricing practices so patients can make informed choices about where to seek care and what they’re paying for.
If a clinic openly states they provide premium services at premium prices for everyone, that’s transparent positioning. If they quote foreigners high prices while quietly discounting for locals without disclosing this dual structure, that’s deceptive and unethical. The difference lies in transparency and consistency, not just the absolute price levels.
As an international patient, you deserve to know whether you’re paying the same rates as locals, paying premium rates everyone pays for premium services, or being charged a “foreigner premium” that locals avoid. Asking directly and insisting on clear answers protects you from unfair treatment and helps support clinics practicing ethical pricing.
The Broader Impact of Pricing Practices
Dual pricing damages Vietnam’s medical tourism reputation when international patients discover they’ve been overcharged compared to locals. Word spreads quickly through online reviews and expat communities, harming not just the offending clinic but Vietnam’s healthcare sector generally. Ethical clinics suffer reputation damage from unethical competitors’ practices.
Transparent, fair pricing builds sustainable medical tourism that benefits patients and providers long-term. International patients receive excellent value, return for future care, and recommend Vietnamese dentistry to others. Vietnamese clinics build sustainable businesses based on quality and reputation rather than opportunistic pricing. Everyone benefits from ethical practices that build trust across cultures.
At Picasso Dental Clinic, we’ve seen this positive cycle work. Patients treated fairly return years later for additional care and refer friends, family, and colleagues. Our practice has grown through reputation and referrals, not through extracting maximum revenue from each transaction through variable pricing schemes.
Final Recommendations
Before choosing a Vietnamese dental clinic, ask explicitly about their pricing policies for international patients versus locals, request written estimates before committing, compare prices among multiple reputable clinics, read reviews from patients of various nationalities, and trust clinics that demonstrate transparent, consistent pricing. These steps protect you from unfair treatment while supporting ethical providers.
If you’re seeking dental care in Vietnam and want the confidence of knowing you’re receiving fair, transparent pricing regardless of your nationality, I invite you to visit Picasso Dental Clinic at any of our locations in Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, or Da Lat. We’ll provide the same clear, written estimates we give all patients, answer all pricing questions honestly, and deliver international-quality care at fair Vietnamese market rates. Our decade-plus track record of treating international and local patients equally speaks louder than any marketing promises. Experience the difference that ethical, transparent pricing makes in your dental care journey.
