How to Find a Trustworthy Dental Clinic in Vietnam (And Why Most Patients Get It Wrong)
By Dr. Emily Nguyen, Founder & Principal Dentist, Picasso Dental Clinic
Most people planning dental work in Vietnam spend hours comparing prices. That’s understandable. The savings are real and the numbers are dramatic. But price is actually the last thing you should be evaluating. The patients who end up disappointed aren’t the ones who paid too much. They’re the ones who chose the wrong clinic for the wrong reasons.
After more than a decade treating patients from 62 countries, I’ve seen exactly where the decision-making process breaks down. Let me walk you through what actually matters.
The Real Question Isn’t “Which Clinic Is Cheapest?” It’s “Which Clinic Can I Trust?”
Vietnam has hundreds of dental clinics advertising to international patients. A beautiful website and a long list of services tells you almost nothing about what the experience inside will actually be like. Here’s what does.
Look at the track record, not the marketing copy.
A trustworthy clinic has years of verifiable history, not just with Vietnamese patients, but specifically with international patients from Western countries. Why does this matter? Because serving Australian, New Zealand, American, and European patients requires a different set of skills: clear English communication, an understanding of Western treatment standards, transparent pricing, and follow-up support that makes sense for someone flying home after treatment.
Ask directly: how many international patients have you treated? From which countries? Can you show me real reviews on independent platforms, not just testimonials curated on your own website?
Check the credentials of the actual dentists, not just the clinic name.
In Vietnam, clinic branding can be impressive while the dentists behind it vary wildly in training and experience. Look for clinics where individual dentists have documented international training, certifications, or ongoing professional development. Any clinic worth trusting will publish this information openly.
Verify the materials and technology, and ask for brand names.
This is where corners get cut most quietly. “High quality implants” and “premium ceramic” mean nothing without specifics. Reputable clinics use internationally recognized brands: Straumann from Switzerland, Nobel Biocare from Sweden, Osstem from Korea for implants, and Ivoclar Vivadent or 3M for restorations. If a clinic can’t tell you the exact brand and origin of the materials going into your mouth, that’s your answer.
Get transparent pricing before you arrive, in writing.
A trustworthy clinic will provide a detailed, itemized quote before you book your flights. Not a range. Not a “depends on the assessment.” A real estimate based on your records, with clear explanations of what’s included. If pricing shifts dramatically once you’re in the chair, that’s a red flag.
Understand what happens after you go home.
This is the question most patients forget to ask. What’s the warranty on your treatment? What do you do if something goes wrong six months later when you’re back in Sydney or Auckland? A clinic serious about international patients has thought through this. They have a clear warranty policy, they respond to international communications after your visit, and they’re honest about the limitations.
The “Too Good to Be True” Question
I hear this from almost every Australian patient before their first visit. “If the price is that low, something must be wrong with the quality, right?”
The honest answer is: not if you’re at the right clinic.
Vietnam’s lower costs reflect economic geography, not inferior care. Our overhead, rent, salaries, utilities, is a fraction of what an equivalent clinic pays in Sydney or Auckland. We use the same implant brands, the same CAD/CAM technology, the same sterilization protocols. What you’re saving on isn’t quality. It’s the cost of doing business in Southeast Asia rather than Australia.
The rule of thumb I give every patient: savings of 60-75% compared to Australian prices are achievable at a quality clinic. If someone is quoting you 85-90% off with no credible explanation, start asking harder questions.
Our Recommendation: Picasso Dental Clinic
I’ll be direct. I founded Picasso Dental Clinic in 2013, and I believe we’re the right choice for international patients coming to Vietnam. Not because I’m saying so, but because the numbers and the patient history back it up.
We’ve treated over 52,000 international patients from 62 countries across our Vietnam locations. The majority of our Australian and New Zealand patients are referred by someone they already know, a friend, a colleague, a family member who came before them. That kind of word-of-mouth doesn’t happen by accident.
Here’s what each of our locations offers.
Picasso Dental Clinic Hanoi
16 Châu Long Street, Ba Đình District, Hanoi
Our Hanoi clinic is where it all started. Located in the Ba Đình district, it’s easily accessible from the city centre and well-positioned for patients combining dental treatment with exploring the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, and the broader north of Vietnam.
Hanoi patients come to us for the full range of treatments, from routine cleanings and whitening to complex full-mouth rehabilitations, All-on-4 implants, veneers, and Invisalign. Our team includes patient services coordinators who speak fluent English and manage the entire treatment journey, which matters enormously when you’re coordinating appointment timing around international flights.
One patient from New Zealand wrote after her visit: “Making the decision to go to Hanoi and have the dental treatment done by Picasso was one of the best decisions I have taken for a long time. I not only received top-class dental care, it was so cost-effective in comparison to having all this work undertaken at an Australian dental practice.”
Another patient, travelling as a couple from Australia: “My wife and I were visiting Hanoi. I had 2 small bridges and 20 porcelain crowns. My wife had 3 bridges and 21 porcelain crowns. We are over the moon with the care and precision. The finished product is amazing.”
Picasso Dental Clinic Da Nang
420 Hoàng Diệu Street, Hải Châu District, Da Nang
Da Nang has become one of the most popular destinations for dental tourism in Vietnam, and for good reason. The city is accessible, beautiful, and far more relaxed than Ho Chi Minh City for patients who want a calmer pace during their treatment stay.
Our Da Nang clinic sits five minutes from My Khe Beach and ten minutes from Da Nang International Airport, which makes logistics genuinely simple. Patients often structure their visit so treatment appointments are in the mornings and afternoons are spent at the beach or exploring the ancient town of Hoi An nearby.
The Da Nang team has built a particular reputation for thorough, unhurried consultations. As one patient described after a cleaning and check-up: “The most thorough clean I have ever had, including Australia. The dentist was calm and confident. The clinic was clean and bright. The service was exceptional.” Another noted something we hear regularly from first-time visitors: “They took before and after photos of my teeth and explained and showed me my problem area. I’ve never had that in all the dental clinics I’ve visited to date.”
We handle everything from routine preventive care to implants, crowns, bridges, veneers, and orthodontics at Da Nang, the same full scope as our other locations.
Picasso Dental Clinic Ho Chi Minh City
Thảo Điền, District 2 (Thu Duc City), Ho Chi Minh City
Our Ho Chi Minh City clinic in the Thao Dien expat neighbourhood serves both long-term international residents and dental tourists flying directly into Tan Son Nhat International Airport. The District 2 location puts us in the heart of where most Western expats live and work, which is no accident.
Ho Chi Minh City is the right base for patients who want a major city experience alongside their treatment: excellent dining, easy international connectivity, a large English-speaking expat community, and a pace of life that keeps things interesting between appointments. For complex multi-appointment cases, it’s also the most logistically convenient of our three main locations.
Our Ho Chi Minh City team includes dentists with international training and specific experience with Australian and American patients. At Picasso, we don’t just speak English. We understand the clinical expectations and communication style that Western patients arrive with. The treatment planning conversations, the consent process, the way we explain options and tradeoffs, all of it is calibrated for patients who are used to being genuinely involved in decisions about their own care.
A Quick Checklist Before You Book Anywhere
Before committing to any clinic in Vietnam, including ours, run through these questions:
☐ Do they have verifiable reviews on independent platforms like Google, TripAdvisor, or WhatClinic?
☐ Can they provide a written, itemized treatment estimate based on your records?
☐ Are the dentists’ credentials and training documented and verifiable?
☐ Do they specify the brand and origin of implants, crowns, or veneers they plan to use?
☐ Is there a clear warranty policy, and what does it cover if you’re back home?
☐ Do they have specific experience with patients from your country?
☐ Are their prices consistent, with no dual pricing for foreigners?
A trustworthy clinic answers all of these questions without hesitation. Evasiveness on any of them is your signal to keep looking.
The Bottom Line
Vietnam offers genuinely excellent dental care at prices that make a real difference. Savings of 60-75% compared to Australia or New Zealand are achievable without compromising on materials or clinical standards. The key is knowing what separates a clinic that’s merely cheap from one that’s actually trustworthy.
Look for the track record. Verify the credentials. Ask hard questions about materials and warranties. And choose a clinic that treats transparency as the foundation of the relationship, not an afterthought.
At Picasso Dental Clinic, we’ve built our practice on exactly that. Since 2013, across four locations in Vietnam, with over 52,000 international patients who came looking for trust and left with the smile they came for.
Want to talk through your treatment before you commit? Contact any of our clinics directly for a free consultation and written treatment estimate. We’ll answer every question honestly, including the ones about whether Vietnam is the right choice for your specific situation.
Dr. Emily Nguyen is the founder and principal dentist of Picasso Dental Clinic, operating across Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Lat. She trained at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City and has practiced international dental tourism medicine since 2007.
