Visiting our clinic — a practical guide for New Zealand patients

Visiting Picasso for dental treatment is a straightforward clinical trip, not a complex logistical operation. This page explains what to expect: where our clinic is, how to get there from your New Zealand flight, what happens on your first appointment, and what we provide to make the visit practical.

Our clinic locations

Picasso operates six branches across four Vietnamese cities. New Zealand patients most commonly visit one of two main locations depending on their flight routing.

Most New Zealand patients choose Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Both have strong direct-connection flight routes from Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch via major SE Asian hubs.

Getting from the airport to our clinic

Hanoi (Nội Bài International Airport — HAN): Nội Bài is approximately 40–50 minutes from the Old Quarter by taxi or Grab (the dominant ride-share app in Vietnam). Grab is reliable, app-based, and shows the price before you confirm. A trip from HAN to the Old Quarter typically costs NZD 12–20 at current rates. We can arrange an airport transfer for patients who request it in advance — ask when you confirm your appointment.

Ho Chi Minh City (Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport — SGN): Tân Sơn Nhất is 20–40 minutes from Thảo Điền depending on traffic. Grab is the recommended option. Cost is typically NZD 5–12.

Clinic opening hours

Monday to Sunday, 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM at all branches. No dedicated public holiday closures for international patients, though it is worth confirming your appointment during Vietnamese public holidays (Tết — late January or February — is the main exception when clinic capacity is reduced).

What happens at your first appointment

Your first appointment at Picasso is diagnostic and planning. No treatment is performed on day one for new international patients unless you have requested otherwise.

First appointments are typically 60–90 minutes. Treatment usually begins on day two, once you have reviewed and approved the written plan.

What to bring to your first appointment

• A recent OPG (panoramic X-ray) if you have one from your New Zealand dentist within the past 12 months.
• Any CBCT scan you have already had.
• A description of your dental goals and current concerns.
• Your full medication list if you take prescribed medication.
• Your New Zealand dental quote if you have one — useful for like-for-like comparison.
• Travel insurance documentation — some policies require the clinic to provide a written treatment summary for claims.

If you sent records ahead of your visit, we will have them ready. No need to reprint or re-upload on arrival.

English at our clinic

All clinical consultations, treatment planning discussions, and written records at Picasso are conducted in English. Your treatment plan is provided in English and in NZD. Our reception team speaks English. We do not currently support French, Russian, or other languages.

Payment

• Visa and Mastercard (POS terminal at clinic)
• Vietnamese Dong (VND) cash
• Vietnamese bank transfer

Your treatment quote is presented in NZD for planning. The final invoice is issued in VND at the exchange rate confirmed on your quote document. Bring VND for incidentals such as transport, meals, and accommodation top-ups. ATMs and currency exchange are widely available near all our branches.

Bringing a companion

A companion is welcome and often practical. Many of our New Zealand patients bring a partner or friend — particularly for longer trips or implant cases where post-surgery rest is easier with support nearby. Let us know when booking so we can accommodate.

During your recovery time between appointments

Most treatment plans include gaps between appointments for laboratory fabrication (typically 3–7 days) or post-surgical rest (1–2 days). We are happy to provide recommendations for accommodation partners, local dining suited to post-treatment dietary restrictions, and nearby activities. These are offered as practical suggestions — we are a clinic, not a tourism operator.

See where to stay near our clinic for accommodation recommendations near our branches.

Contact before and during your visit

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 024 7308 8848

Email is the most reliable channel for real-time questions during your stay. If anything changes with your travel — flight delays, illness, schedule adjustment — email us as early as possible and we will reschedule without penalty.

Next step

Request a free NZD quote · Where to stay near our clinic · Plan your trip · Is it safe?

• Where to stay near our clinic — accommodation for New Zealand patients
• Getting to our clinic — directions for New Zealand patients arriving in Vietnam
• What to eat after dental surgery — a practical guide for New Zealand patients in Vietnam
• Currency and payment at Picasso Dental Clinic — a guide for New Zealand patients
• Getting around Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City — transport for New Zealand patients
• Airport transfers to Picasso Dental Clinic — options for New Zealand patients
• Hanoi, Da Nang, or Ho Chi Minh City: Which Picasso Branch Suits Your Trip?

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.

Last clinically reviewed

26 May 2026

Published by

Picasso Dental Clinic

Review policy

Every medical procedure page on this site is reviewed by a named Picasso clinician before publication and re-checked when pricing, materials, or protocols change. Source documents are linked at the bottom of each page.