The Hudson - Complete Guide
Dental implant tourism in Vietnam, explained without the sales fog.
By Hiep Nguyen, dental tourism coordinator - last updated May 2026
Real costs, implant brands, clinic checks, trip timing, recovery rules, and what to do if something feels wrong after you fly home.
In this guide
A note before you read
Most patients arrive at their first consultation without knowing what questions to ask. That puts the clinic, not the patient, in control of the treatment plan. Read this first, then ask for an itemised plan.
Both. And it is completely valid. But here is what most people get wrong: the risk does not come from the country you go to. It comes from who does your teeth.
You are getting the same brands and the same procedure. What you are not paying for is Sydney rent and Australian wages.
This decision is smart if you choose the right clinic. It goes wrong if you pick the cheapest one you found on Google. That is the whole difference.
A natural tooth has two parts:
When you lose a tooth, you lose the root too. Bone needs pressure to stay dense. No root means no pressure, so the jawbone slowly breaks down.
A dental implant replaces that root. A small titanium post is placed into the jawbone where the root used to be. Over 3 to 6 months, the bone grows into the titanium and the two fuse together. Once fused, a crown is attached on top.
The result is a tooth that is anchored into your jaw, not glued to the surface and not held up by the teeth beside it. Fixed. Permanent. Functional.
Most people ask: Is Vietnam safe? The better question is: Is this clinic safe? The good news is that you can tell before you fly.
Three questions will tell you more than any polished clinic website. Email any clinic before you commit.
A CBCT is a 3D scan of your jawbone. It shows the dentist where to drill, how to avoid nerves, how to check bone density, and how to plan the angle. Without it, they are guessing. The answer must be yes.
Serious clinics use specific, verifiable brands such as Straumann, Dentium, Osstem, Neodent, or Neobiotech. You should be able to verify the serial number after placement. The answer must be a brand name, not a vague phrase like high-quality international.
Biology takes time. Healing takes 3 to 6 months. If you are getting full-mouth implants, a proper clinic can provide fixed temporary teeth in the first trip so you are not left toothless. But your bone still needs time to fuse with the titanium.
Any clinic that promises final permanent teeth in one short trip is prioritising speed over biology. That is where avoidable failures begin.
Here is every single cost involved in getting a dental implant in Vietnam. The main clinical variable is the brand of the titanium post.
| Brand | Estimated cost | Positioning |
|---|---|---|
| Straumann (Switzerland) | $1,300 to $2,000 | Deepest clinical research and strongest global recognition. |
| Dentium / Megagen (Korea) | $900 to $1,300 | Global use with strong value for multi-implant cases. |
| Osstem (Korea) | $700 to $1,000 | Widely used and clinically sound when properly planned. |
The all-in implant price should include the titanium post, abutment, zirconia crown, and surgical placement. If the quote does not itemise these, ask again.
For a single implant from Australia, the dental work is often $900 to $1,400. Your first trip, including flights and seven nights in Hanoi, can add $1,200 to $2,000. Your second trip for the final crown can add another $800 to $1,400. Total: $2,900 to $4,800.
The same procedure in Sydney often costs $5,000 to $7,000. The saving on a single implant is real, but it is a marginal financial gain. Multiple implants change the math entirely.
For a full arch treatment such as All-on-4 across both jaws, clinical work may cost $12,000 to $18,000. Two return trips can add $2,000 to $3,400. Total: $14,000 to $21,400, compared with $40,000 to $70,000 in Australia.
You can fly home. The clinic can close. The dentist can retire. The implant stays in your jaw for the rest of your life.
This is why the brand matters so much. A great clinic placing an unbranded implant can give you a smooth experience today and a serious structural problem in five years.
Straumann is one of the most clinically researched implant brands in the world, with broad global availability. If you want the most recognised name in implantology with minimal compromise, this is the premium option.
Neodent is owned and engineered by Straumann Group. It sits at a more accessible price point while still benefiting from the group's quality control and engineering standards.
Dentium is documented across many markets and is particularly useful for complex cases such as All-on-4, All-on-6, and multi-implant treatment where consistency between placements matters.
South Korea is one of the most advanced dental markets in the world. Neobiotech's macro-thread design can help achieve initial stability in lower-density bone. If your scan shows lower bone density, ask whether this is appropriate for your case.
Every implant coordinated through The Hudson should come with a physical implant passport: your name, the brand, the model, the serial number, and the placement date. Keep it. If you ever need dental treatment anywhere in the world, your dentist will know exactly what they are working with.
Biology dictates this timeline, not your dentist. Here is what is happening under your gums at each stage, and what you need to do to protect your investment.
The surgical site is sealing. Swelling, mild tenderness, and a dull ache for the first two or three days are normal. Eat soft foods. Do not smoke. Do not touch the site with your tongue. Let it close.
The swelling is gone and the gums look normal. But inside the jawbone, there is no biological fusion yet. The implant is held in place by mechanical friction. It feels stable, but it is not permanent. A hard bite now can disturb the screw.
This is the most dangerous phase because you feel normal. The initial mechanical tightness naturally decreases as the bone adjusts around the implant, while new bone is only beginning to attach to the titanium surface.
One hard bite during this phase can create micro-movements that stop the bone from fusing correctly. The implant may not fail dramatically. It may simply never integrate properly. Keep your diet sensible.
Osseointegration is complete. The titanium post and your jawbone have fused into a single structure. You return to Vietnam, the partner dentist confirms integration with an X-ray, and the permanent crown is fitted.
| Normal | Call the clinic or The Hudson |
|---|---|
| Mild swelling or tenderness for the first few days. | Swelling that worsens after day three or comes with fever. |
| A dull ache controlled by the medication plan. | Sharp pain that escalates, bleeding that does not settle, or discharge. |
| Feeling normal at month three while still avoiding hard bites. | Any movement, looseness, or shifting when you press or bite. |
A clinic promising permanent teeth in one week is placing a finished crown onto an implant that has not fused to the bone. It may look completed, but the foundation is not ready.
Less than you think. Implant placement is usually a minor procedure under local anaesthetic. No general anaesthetic. No hospital stay. You walk in, you walk out, and you go back to your hotel.
Vietnam handles itself: the food, the city, the things to do. This chapter covers the dental trip itself: what to have ready before you fly, while you are at the clinic, and before you board the flight home.
On consultation day, bring a written list of questions. A good clinic should not rush you, but people forget details when they are nervous or preparing for anaesthetic.
After the procedure, do not leave without three things: your implant passport, written post-operative instructions, and a direct clinic contact number.
Bring one bag, two changes of clothes, and enough for the flight and first day. Vietnam has everything else. Buy what you need when you arrive.
Most implants integrate without incident. But complications do happen, and when they do, you should not be dealing with them alone.
Most issues after returning home are healing variations: the site takes longer to close, mild surface sensitivity, or tenderness that lingers slightly longer than expected. These usually do not threaten the implant.
Actual implant failure is less common. It is most often linked with heavy smoking during healing, uncontrolled diabetes, or biting hard food during the stability dip around month three. All three are preventable risk factors to discuss clearly with the clinic.
The sign of genuine failure is movement. If the implant feels loose, moves when you press it, or shifts when you bite, that is the signal. Everything else needs assessment, but movement is the urgent red flag.
You do not need to figure this out on your own. Contact The Hudson as soon as something feels off. Send a message, a photo of the site if you can, and a description of what you are feeling.
We will speak to the clinic directly and come back with a clear picture of what is happening and what the right next step is. You can also contact the clinic directly if you prefer, but if you are unsure, start with us.
If the situation needs a physical assessment, The Hudson can help you find a trusted clinic in your city. Bring your implant passport. Ask for an X-ray and assessment. We will help you understand the results and coordinate the next step.
Genuine integration failure is rare. If it happens, the post is removed, the site heals, and the implant is replaced. Many reputable Vietnamese clinics cover this within the warranty period at no charge, subject to the warranty terms.
The Hudson coordinates the return appointment, warranty confirmation, and logistics so you are not trying to manage it alone from another country.
Vietnam does not take Amex everywhere. Your bank's international transfer may add a percentage fee on top of a poor exchange rate. On a $4,000 payment, that can be meaningful money gone before you sit in the chair.
You are about to send money to a company in Vietnam you found online. It is completely reasonable to be cautious. The Hudson does not ask you to send a large sum upfront.
A 10 percent deposit confirms the booking. The remaining 90 percent is paid directly at the clinic, in person, after you have met the team and are proceeding with treatment.
Before any transfer, The Hudson provides payment details in writing: company name, account number, bank name, and confirmation from a real person. If anything feels off, do not send. Contact us first.
The 10 percent deposit is collected through Stripe. You receive a secure payment link, pay by card, and receive a receipt immediately. No bank details to copy and no manual transfer errors.
For the remaining balance, Wise is often the cleanest option. It transfers money close to the mid-market exchange rate with a clear fee. On a full arch case, the difference compared with a standard bank transfer can be significant.
Load your Wise account at least three days before departure so you are not managing a large transfer from a hotel lobby the night before the procedure.
Early super release for dental treatment exists under Australian law, but approval criteria are strict. The ATO requires documented evidence that the condition is causing severe chronic pain or significantly impacting health, confirmed by registered medical practitioners.
Approval for implant cases is not guaranteed. It can be worth discussing with your super fund, but do not build your payment plan around it.
The money saved by coming to Vietnam does not have to sit in your bank account. Some patients upgrade their flight, extend the trip, pay off debt, or split the cost over time and keep savings untouched.
However you structure it, The Hudson's job is to make sure the saving does not disappear into unnecessary fees or unnecessary worry.
