The country behind your new smile.
A thousand miles of coastline, 4,000 years of history and some of the world's best food. Here's everything worth knowing about Vietnam before your journey, from seasons to safety.
One country, three worlds
Vietnam stretches more than a thousand miles north to south, so it behaves like three destinations in one. Tap a region to explore its character, weather and highlights.
Beaches, lantern-lit ancient towns and imperial history packed into one short coastline. The easiest region to combine treatment, recovery and a real holiday.
Sunniest from February to August, with warm beach weather most of that stretch. The heaviest rain falls in autumn.
Somewhere is always in season.
There's no single best month for Vietnam, only a best month for each region. Pick your travel month and see how the north, center and south compare. When you build your journey with us, we match your treatment dates to the region at its best.
Plan around my datesSomewhere in Vietnam is almost always in season. We match your treatment dates to the region that suits them best.
A short history of Vietnam
From bronze-age river kingdoms to one of Asia's fastest-growing nations. Walk the timeline, and note how many of these places you can stand in between dental appointments.
Dai Viet & the great dynasties
The capital moves to Thang Long (Hanoi) in 1010, Vietnam's first university opens in 1070, and the Tran dynasty famously turns back the Mongols three times. Dynasties rise and fall, but the citadel keeps its seat for eight centuries.
The food alone is worth the flight
Every city has its own table. Phở and egg coffee in Hanoi, cao lầu in Hoi An's lanes, broken rice and sidewalk seafood in Saigon. Pick a city and start planning your first meal.
Broken rice with grilled pork
The original Vietnamese baguette
Southern-style noodle soup
Fresh shrimp & herb spring rolls
Iced Vietnamese milk coffee
Evening sidewalk feasting
Recovering from treatment? Vietnam is full of soft-food classics (phở, congee, smoothies, egg coffee) and your clinic will tell you exactly what suits each stage. See our recovery-friendly guide.
Is Vietnam safe? Honestly, yes.
Millions of travelers visit every year, and most say the same thing afterward: they felt safer than expected. Here's the straightforward picture, including the few things worth actually watching.
One of Asia's safest destinations
Vietnam consistently ranks among the safest countries in Southeast Asia for travelers. Violent crime toward visitors is rare; solo travelers, couples and families all travel comfortably here.
Crossing the street
The motorbike rivers look chaotic but follow a rhythm. Walk out steadily at a constant pace and traffic flows around you. Never step back suddenly, and use marked crossings where they exist.
Taxis & getting around
Use the Grab app (Southeast Asia's Uber) or hotel-arranged cars and you'll never haggle or be overcharged. On our packages, airport and clinic transfers are drivers we know by name.
Food & water
Skip tap water; bottled and filtered water are everywhere and hotels provide it. For street food, do what locals do: pick the busy stall with high turnover. Your clinic will advise what suits recovery days.
Petty theft, not danger
The main city risk is opportunistic: phone snatching from motorbikes or pickpockets in crowded markets. Keep phones off the curb edge, use crossbody bags, and leave passports in the hotel safe.
Health, pharmacies & help
Pharmacies are on nearly every block and international clinics operate in all three cities. Emergency numbers: 113 police, 115 ambulance. Travel insurance is smart; your Smiles Vietnam contact is a message away throughout.
Wondering about the dental side specifically? How we vet clinics, materials and warranties.
The essentials, sorted
Visas, SIMs, money and manners: the practical layer of the trip. Most of it we handle for you; all of it is easier than you'd think.
Visa
Most visitors use Vietnam's 90-day e-visa, applied for online before you fly. We guide your application step by step, free, as part of every journey.
SIM & connectivity
Local SIMs and eSIMs are fast and inexpensive. We'll point you to the right counter on arrival, or set one up for you so you land already connected.
Money
Cards are widely accepted in cities, but keep small cash for markets and street food. ATMs are everywhere. Tipping isn't expected, though it's always appreciated.
Etiquette
Remove shoes entering homes and temples, dress modestly at religious sites, and hand things over with both hands. A calm voice and a smile open every door in Vietnam.
Getting around
Grab for quick hops, private drivers for day trips (included in All-Inclusive), and one-hour domestic flights between the three hubs. Sleeper trains are the scenic slow option.
Power & practicalities
220V power with sockets that take most two-pin plugs (types A and C). Vietnam runs on GMT+7 year-round, so evening calls home line up well with US mornings.
Now imagine seeing it with a brand-new smile.
Build your journey in minutes: pick your treatment and region, and we'll weave the Vietnam you just read about around your appointments, as much or as little of it as you like.