A Practical Planning Guide for Patients Travelling from Australia for All-on-X at Elite Dental

If you have decided that dental treatment in Ho Chi Minh City is worth considering, the next questions are practical ones. How do you get there, how many trips are needed, how many days of leave should you request, how do you pay from Australia, and who will follow up with you once you are home?

At Elite Dental, we understand that travelling overseas for dental treatment involves more than just the treatment itself. This guide walks you through what to expect when planning your dental journey with us, from travel arrangements and treatment timelines to payment options, documentation and follow-up care after you return to Australia. Our team is here to help you prepare for each stage, so you can plan your trip with greater clarity and confidence.

Explore your dental treatment journey in Vietnam with personalised care and support from Elite Dental’s experienced team in Ho Chi Minh City

Key Points

• Direct flights make the trip convenient. There are direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Ho Chi Minh City, taking about 8 to 9 hours. From other cities, you will usually connect through one of these gateways.
• Most implant treatment involves two trips. The first trip takes about 5 to 7 days for All-on-4 (shorter for a single implant), followed by a healing period at home, then a shorter second trip of about 3 to 5 days.
• You can start from home. Elite Dental’s specialists can review your existing X-rays or scans remotely and prepare a preliminary plan before you book flights. The final plan is confirmed after an in-person examination.
• Concierge service takes care of logistics. Airport pickup, hotel booking support with some treatment plans, support with insurance, pension and treatment documentation, and an English-speaking coordinator who stays with you from your first message through to your post-treatment care.
• Care continues when you return home. A full clinical record for your dentist, remote follow-up via WhatsApp with a specialist doctor, manufacturer warranty for implants and restorations, and priority scheduling when you return for a check-up.
• Ask for a written plan. Request an itemised treatment plan in AUD, the implant brand and the name of your treating dentist before you book flights.

1. Getting There: Flights and Travel Time

There are direct flights connecting Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane with Ho Chi Minh City, with a flight time of about 8 to 9 hours. From Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Hobart and other regions, most passengers connect through a major gateway or through a hub such as Singapore or Kuala Lumpur.

Time zone. Ho Chi Minh City is on UTC+7. Local time is about 3 hours behind Australia’s eastern states during standard time and about 4 hours behind during daylight saving. Jet lag is usually very mild, and most patients can attend their first appointment within a day of arriving.

Airport pickup. Elite Dental’s travel support includes airport pickup, so you are met as soon as you land. With some treatment plans, the team can also support you with hotel costs near the clinic branch where you will be treated. Please ask your coordinator whether your plan includes hotel booking support.

2. When to Go

Treatment can be scheduled at any time of year, but a few factors may affect your choice of dates.

• Ho Chi Minh City is hot all year round. The dry season runs from about December to April and the rainy season from about May to November, usually with afternoon showers rather than all-day rain.
• Lunar New Year (Tết). Many businesses close or work reduced hours around Tết, usually in late January or February, and flights and hotels sell out very early. Check the date of Tết in the year you plan to travel and book well ahead, or plan to avoid this period.
• Australian school holidays and public holidays. Fares rise and seats sell out more easily. If your dates are flexible, travelling outside these periods makes booking easier.
• Healing period. Work backwards from the date by which you want your final teeth. Trip 2 usually takes place about 4 to 6 months after Trip 1, so plan both trips at the same time.

3. Visas and Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for Australian passport holders can change. Before booking flights, check the current rules with the Vietnamese embassy or consulate, or through Vietnam’s official e-visa portal, and confirm that your passport validity and visa validity are suitable for both trips. Your English-speaking coordinator can share your treatment schedule and relevant records to help you work out your length of stay, but cannot advise on visas.

4. The Two-Trip Timeline

Before Your Trip: Online Consultation

1. Share your photos and X-rays

Send your dental photos, X-rays and relevant records online for an initial review by our specialists.

2. Receive your treatment plan

Within 24 hours, receive an initial treatment plan, itemised estimate and recommended length of stay.

3. Confirm your travel dates

Your patient coordinator will help schedule appointments around your travel plans.

Trip 1: Approximately 5–7 Days for All-on-X

4. Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City

Arrange airport pickup from Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) and explore partner-hotel rates near our Metropole and Tú Xương clinics. Please note that hotel support is available depending on your treatment plan.

5. Diagnostics and treatment

Your specialist will conduct a comprehensive examination and 3D CBCT scan before finalising your treatment plan. For suitable All-on-X cases, implants and fixed temporary teeth may be placed during the same appointment. Any necessary extractions or additional procedures will be scheduled according to your clinical needs.

Your treatment begins with a comprehensive examination and 3D CBCT imaging. Based on your clinical needs, your specialist will finalise the treatment plan and determine the appropriate implant procedure and temporary restoration options.

Healing at Home: Approximately 4–6 Months

6. Remote follow-up

Allow time for the implants to integrate with the bone. You will receive written aftercare instructions, treatment documentation and remote follow-up support via WhatsApp, with coordination with your local dentist where appropriate.

Trip 2: Approximately 3–5 Days

7. Final teeth and follow-up checks

Once healing is confirmed, your specialist will fit the final CAD/CAM bridge, check your bite and comfort, and make any necessary adjustments.

Once healing is complete, the specialist places the final CAD/CAM bridge, carefully checking its fit, bite alignment, and comfort. Any necessary adjustments are made to ensure the bridge functions properly and integrates harmoniously with the patient’s bite.

How Much Time Should You Set Aside?

Many patients allow around one week for the first trip and 3–5 days for the second. Your patient coordinator can prepare a day-by-day itinerary based on your treatment needs and travel dates.

5. Paying from Australia

Written quote in AUD. Elite Dental’s price list is published in VND, USD and AUD. Once your scans have been reviewed, ask for a written, itemised treatment plan in AUD so that you know exactly what is included before you book flights. The price of a single implant is an all-inclusive package covering the implant post, abutment and crown. Additional procedures such as bone grafting, sinus lifting or tooth extraction are charged separately when your condition requires them.

Payment methods. You can pay by cash, bank transfer or credit card, and instalment options are available on request. Please ask the coordination team which options apply to your plan.

Document Assistance

Elite Dental assists with preparing relevant insurance, pension and treatment documentation upon request. Any questions regarding insurance coverage, reimbursement eligibility or pension fund access should be directed to your provider or the relevant qualified professional.

Additional Costs

Remember to include return flights, accommodation for both trips, transfers and meals in your overall travel budget.

6. Concierge Service from Your First Message to Post-Treatment Care

When you book treatment at Elite Dental, a dedicated team takes care of all the logistics of your dental trip.

7. Care After You Return to Australia

Treatment does not end when you land at home. Based on Elite Dental’s AACI-accredited safety standards, post-treatment care consists of five parts from the moment your treatment ends.

1. A full clinical record for your dentist. You receive your treatment records and implant information to share with your local dentist, so that they know exactly what has been placed.
2. Remote follow-up via WhatsApp with a specialist doctor. Between the two trips, your specialist can monitor your healing remotely. If you have pain, swelling or a loose implant, message the team and send photos if needed. For urgent symptoms, go to the nearest medical facility first and then let us know.
3. Manufacturer warranty for implants and restorations. Warranty terms differ by implant system, so please confirm them in writing together with your treatment plan.
4. Continuity of care with your dentist at home. A local dentist or oral hygienist can continue your regular cleanings and check-ups, based on your records.
5. Priority scheduling when you return for a check-up. If you return to Ho Chi Minh City, your coordinator will help arrange your appointments.

8. Getting Started: A Simple Checklist

• Prepare recent X-rays or a CBCT scan and a short summary of your medical history
• Send them to the Elite Dental team for a preliminary review
• Request a written, itemised treatment plan in AUD
• Confirm the implant brand and the name of your treating dentist
• Check visa and passport requirements
• Choose dates for both trips, with the healing period in between
• Book flights and accommodation once the plan has been agreed

Want to check a clinic’s credentials before deciding? Read 8 Red Flags to Avoid When Getting Dental Work Abroad and All-on-4 Implants: Australia vs Vietnam.

9. How Does Elite Dental Meet These Criteria?

Elite Dental Vietnam is a premium international dental system in Ho Chi Minh City, built on U.S.-standard quality, evidence-based dentistry, internationally trained doctors and patient-centred care.

Accreditation. It is the first dental clinic in Vietnam to achieve AACI accreditation, with a score of 95.33/100 under Version 2.1 for dental facilities. The same standards framework is applied at all three branches in Ho Chi Minh City (Huynh Tinh Cua, Tu Xuong and Metropole), covering clinical practice, governance and infrastructure.

Clinical team. The clinic follows the philosophy of “minimal intervention, maximum preservation” and combines it with modern technology to support diagnosis and treatment. The team includes more than 30 specialist doctors trained in France, Italy, the U.S. and Japan, and complex implant cases are led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Hung Lam, DDS, PhD, Chief Medical Officer. The name and professional background of your treating dentist are provided to you in writing before you travel.

Materials and treatment plans. Elite Dental is a recognised Straumann Center of Dental Education and uses documented, traceable implant brands, with manufacturer documentation available on request. Every treatment plan is itemised and agreed in writing before you depart.

Elite Dental Group’s THL Academy is recognised as a Straumann Center of Dental Education, reflecting our commitment to continuous professional development, clinical knowledge sharing, and advancing dental expertise through education and training.

Support. A coordinated process runs throughout, from the first consultation and treatment planning to post-treatment follow-up. Implant patients receive the Implant Passport, a documented and portable warranty record, along with a named contact for follow-up, so that you know whom to ask before, during and after treatment.

For a free treatment plan, call (+84) 28 7306 3838.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to speak Vietnamese to be treated at Elite Dental? No. Elite Dental’s coordination team speaks English, and your treatment plan is provided in English.

Who will be my point of contact? An English-speaking coordinator stays with you from your first message through to post-treatment care, and a dedicated support team is available whenever you need it.

How many trips will I need? Most implant cases involve two trips, with a healing period at home in between. Your dentist will confirm the schedule for your case.

Can I get a plan before I fly? Yes. You can send your existing X-rays or scans for a preliminary review. The final plan is confirmed after an in-person examination.

Can I pay in Australian dollars? Elite Dental publishes prices in AUD, and your written treatment plan can be provided in AUD. Please ask the team about payment methods and instalment options.

Can my insurer or super fund help cover the cost? That depends on your insurance policy or fund. Ask your insurer, your super fund or a licensed financial adviser.

This article is for general information only and is not financial, legal or medical advice. Questions about pension funds, insurance or tax should be directed to a licensed financial adviser, your super fund or your insurer. Visa and entry requirements may change, so please confirm them with the relevant authority before you travel. Your treatment plan is confirmed by a dentist after an in-person examination.