Blog
NZ vs Vietnam Dental Costs: What New Zealanders Actually Pay at Picasso
A real cost breakdown for New Zealand patients comparing dental treatment prices in NZ versus Picasso Dental Clinic in Vietnam — including flights and accommodation in the Vietnam total.
New Zealand patients comparing dental treatment at home versus Picasso Dental Clinic in Vietnam typically find savings of NZD 10,000 to NZD 35,000 net of flights and accommodation, depending on case complexity. This article shows the real numbers for common treatment plans — crowns, implants, veneers, and full-arch work — with all travel costs included in the Vietnam figure.
“NZ quoted me $22,000. I paid $5,400 in Hanoi — including flights and a week in a nice hotel.”
That is a real figure from a real patient who came to Picasso Dental Clinic in 2025 for a full-mouth restoration: six implants, crowns, and a bone graft. It is not an outlier. It reflects a price gap that has existed for years and is structural rather than temporary.
This article puts the numbers in one place so you can check the arithmetic yourself.
How to read the comparisons below
All New Zealand figures are drawn from the 2025-2026 NZDA-aligned fee survey and represent the typical range at a private clinic in a main centre. Rural and smaller-town NZ practices sometimes quote lower; specialist practices sometimes quote higher.
All Picasso figures are from the May 2026 published price list at 1 NZD = 15,000 VND. The Vietnam all-in column adds NZD 3,000 in travel costs (mid-range flights + accommodation + food for one person over 10 days). That figure is conservative for longer cases and generous for shorter ones.
The saving shown is the difference between the NZ quote range midpoint and the Vietnam all-in total.
Porcelain veneers
| Case | NZ private range | Picasso treatment | Travel overhead | Vietnam all-in | Typical saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-unit Emax Press veneers | NZD 6,000–10,000 | From NZD 2,400 | NZD 3,000 | ~NZD 5,400 | NZD 600–4,600 |
| 8-unit Emax Press veneers | NZD 12,000–20,000 | From NZD 4,800 | NZD 3,000 | ~NZD 7,800 | NZD 4,200–12,200 |
| 10-unit smile makeover (Emax) | NZD 15,000–25,000 | From NZD 6,000 | NZD 3,000 | ~NZD 9,000 | NZD 6,000–16,000 |
| 16-unit full-arch veneers | NZD 24,000–40,000 | From NZD 9,600 | NZD 3,000 | ~NZD 12,600 | NZD 11,400–27,400 |
At 4 units, the saving is real but modest — the trip may or may not be worth it depending on your circumstances. At 8 units and above, the arithmetic is compelling.
Dental implants
| Case | NZ private range | Picasso treatment | Travel overhead | Vietnam all-in | Typical saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single implant (Straumann/Nobel Biocare) | NZD 6,000–9,000 | From NZD 2,667 | NZD 3,000 | ~NZD 5,667 | NZD 333–3,333 |
| Two implants (Straumann/Nobel Biocare) | NZD 12,000–18,000 | From NZD 5,334 | NZD 3,000 | ~NZD 8,334 | NZD 3,666–9,666 |
| Four implants (Straumann/Nobel Biocare) | NZD 24,000–36,000 | From NZD 10,668 | NZD 3,000 | ~NZD 13,668 | NZD 10,332–22,332 |
Single-implant patients who combine their implant with other treatment (crowns, veneers, a clean) get better travel-cost efficiency from the trip than implant-only patients. One implant alone is close to break-even; one implant plus four crowns and a veneer case is strongly positive.
Crowns
| Case | NZ private range | Picasso treatment | Travel overhead | Vietnam all-in | Typical saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Emax Press crowns | NZD 3,000–5,000 | From NZD 534 | NZD 3,000 | ~NZD 3,534 | NZD (534)–1,466 |
| 4 Emax Press crowns | NZD 6,000–10,000 | From NZD 1,068 | NZD 3,000 | ~NZD 4,068 | NZD 1,932–5,932 |
| 6 Emax Press crowns | NZD 9,000–15,000 | From NZD 1,602 | NZD 3,000 | ~NZD 4,602 | NZD 4,398–10,398 |
Two crowns alone does not cover travel costs. Six crowns does so comfortably. The crown cases that work best for dental tourism are multiple crowns combined with other treatment, where the travel overhead is shared across a larger plan.
All-on-4 full-arch treatment
| Case | NZ private range | Picasso treatment | Travel overhead | Vietnam all-in | Typical saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-on-4 one arch (Osstem) | NZD 28,000–40,000 | From NZD 8,333 | NZD 3,000 | ~NZD 11,333 | NZD 16,667–28,667 |
| All-on-4 one arch (Nobel Biocare) | NZD 35,000–50,000 | From NZD 14,667 | NZD 3,000 | ~NZD 17,667 | NZD 17,333–32,333 |
| All-on-4 both arches (Osstem) | NZD 56,000–80,000 | From NZD 16,666 | NZD 3,000 | ~NZD 19,666 | NZD 36,334–60,334 |
| All-on-4 both arches (Nobel Biocare) | NZD 70,000–100,000 | From NZD 29,334 | NZD 3,000 | ~NZD 32,334 | NZD 37,666–67,666 |
Full-arch treatment is the clearest case for dental tourism. The savings on a two-arch All-on-4 case routinely exceed NZD 40,000 after all travel costs. This is the treatment category where New Zealand patients consistently describe the trip as life-changing rather than merely practical.
What the materials are
The same brands. Picasso uses Ivoclar Emax Press and Ivoclar Lava for ceramic restorations — the same manufacturer used in New Zealand private labs. For implants: Nobel Biocare and Straumann at the premium tier, Osstem and Neodent at the mid tier. These are not budget substitutes. They are the same products, made in the same factories, with the same manufacturer warranties.
The price difference is not a materials difference. It is a cost-of-operation difference — labour, property, practice overhead — combined with a favourable exchange rate. That gap is structural and has persisted for over a decade.
The honest caveat
Dental tourism works at scale. If your treatment plan is under NZD 4,000 to NZD 5,000, the flights and accommodation will absorb most or all of the saving. We will tell you if that is your situation.
The other caveat: the trip requires 7 to 14 consecutive days available and a commitment to New Zealand follow-up care every 6 months. If you cannot manage either of those, the maths do not matter.
Send your photos and X-rays and we will give you a written NZD treatment plan within 24 hours — itemised by tooth, by material, by warranty term. That is the only number that matters for your specific case.
Get a free NZD quote · View the full price list · Use the savings calculator
About this page
Medically reviewed by
Dr. Emily Nguyen
Founding Clinical Director, Picasso Dental Clinic
DDS · Founder and Clinical Director, Picasso Dental Clinic group
Clinical focus: Cosmetic dentistry · Veneers · Smile design
Dr. Emily Nguyen founded Picasso Dental Clinic in 2013 (originally Serenity International Dental Clinic) and led its 2023 rebrand. She sets clinical standards across the group's six branches in Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Lat, and personally reviews cosmetic protocols including the Portrait Sitting workflow for veneers and smile makeovers.
Frequently asked questions
Are the materials at Picasso the same quality as in New Zealand?
Yes. Picasso uses the same internationally manufactured brands as New Zealand private clinics: Ivoclar Emax Press for porcelain veneers and crowns, Straumann and Nobel Biocare implants, 3M Lava for full-contour zirconia crowns, and Osstem and Neodent for mid-tier implant cases. The price difference is a function of labour costs, clinic overhead, and the exchange rate — not a difference in material specification.
How much do flights and accommodation add to the Vietnam cost?
For a New Zealand patient, budget NZD 1,200 to NZD 2,000 for return flights, NZD 100 to NZD 200 per night for accommodation (NZD 700 to NZD 1,400 for 7 nights), and NZD 50 to NZD 80 per day for food and transport. Total travel overhead for one person on a 10-day trip typically falls between NZD 2,300 and NZD 4,000. All cost comparisons on this page include this travel overhead in the Vietnam figure.
What is the minimum treatment value that makes the trip worthwhile?
The trip generally makes financial sense when your Picasso treatment plan reaches approximately NZD 4,000 to NZD 5,000 — the point where treatment savings reliably exceed all-in travel costs. For most patients this means 8 or more veneers, multiple crowns, one or more implants, All-on-4, or full-mouth reconstruction. We will tell you in writing if your case does not justify the trip.