This Saigon guide was written by Beauty Link in October 2026 and lists its sources section by section. No doctor reviewed it, and it does not replace medical advice from your surgeon.
How the options in Ho Chi Minh City differ
When you search for cosmetic surgery in this city, the listings are a mix. You will see directories of clinics, surgeon finders, pages for single surgeons, cosmetic medical centres, and hospitals of aesthetic and plastic surgery. Some pages list many places side by side, so a long list does not tell you which places suit your procedure.
Smartraveller, the Australian Government's travel advice site, says standards can differ between hospitals and doctors in the same country. In Saigon's case, it warns that even foreign private clinics may fall below Australian standards. So it tells travellers to confirm local accreditation and to steer clear of any unofficial medical facility.
That is why Beauty Link works with hospitals only, not clinics. Each of our partners in the city is on the Ministry of Health register. That licence says nothing certain about how your own surgery will go, though, so run the checks below as well.
Sources: Google Australia search results for this topic (October 2026), Smartraveller, Beauty Link team records
What to check before you choose a hospital
Start with where your operation will take place. Ask your surgeon where your operation will happen and how they will do it, as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) suggests. It also suggests asking if they have hospital privileges to do it, and at which hospitals.
Next, check the surgeon. healthdirect Australia says it can be hard to get good information about a doctor's training and experience in another country. So ask directly. The NHS suggests asking:
- what training and qualifications they have
- which organisations they belong to
- how long they have been practising
- how many procedures like yours they have done
- whether they speak a language you understand
Ho Chi Minh City has its own professional body for plastic surgeons, the Ho Chi Minh City Society of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery. Its website says it was founded in 2007, and it has a member list. You can ask your surgeon which groups they belong to, then look them up.
Meet your actual surgeon twice before the operation, the NHS advises, rather than only sales staff. Smartraveller adds a further check: indemnity and malpractice insurance for the surgeon and the hospital.
Sources: American Society of Plastic Surgeons, healthdirect Australia, NHS, Ho Chi Minh City Society of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Smartraveller
Where to stay while you recover
Ask the hospital early whether you will stay overnight, and for how many nights. If you will recover somewhere other than the hospital, ASPS says to ask about that place's licensing too. ASPS also suggests asking how long a recovery period to expect, and what kind of help you will need.
Then choose your hotel or apartment around your check ups, not around sightseeing. Questions to ask in your WhatsApp group before you book a room:
- How many check ups will I have, and on which days?
- How long does the trip from the room to the hospital take at that time of day?
- Will the hospital arrange transport, or should I book a car?
- Can the hospital suggest places to stay near it?
- Who do I call at night if I am worried?
Your Beauty Link advisor sits in that group too, for translation as you ask these questions.
A few points from Smartraveller's Vietnam advice can help you choose:
- Insects. Dengue and other insect borne illnesses are common. It suggests insect proof accommodation and insect repellent.
- Security. Hotel break ins are reported, so keep your room locked, even when you are inside.
- Weather. Storm season usually runs from June to November. Floods and storms may affect flights and roads.
- Air. Air pollution can be high in major cities, especially from January to March.
- Getting around. Streets are busy and traffic can come from any direction. Official metered taxis are generally reliable. If you book a car through an app, check the car and driver match the details you were given.
Saigon is busy, but recovery is for rest. The NHS lists alcohol, sunbathing, sightseeing and swimming as things to skip. Smartraveller also suggests taking someone with you for support if things go wrong.
Sources: American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Smartraveller, NHS, Beauty Link team records
When you can fly home
The NHS describes general waits before flying, because surgery and air travel each raise the chance of a dangerous clot:
- breast surgery or liposuction: wait 5 to 7 days
- a tummy tuck or facial cosmetic surgery: wait 7 to 10 days
These are what the NHS describes in general. Your surgeon in Saigon will tell you which wait applies to you.
Ask who will handle your follow up once you are home. Back home, the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons expects that Australian health services will likely deal with any problems. If you need help from your own government while you are here, Smartraveller says Australians can contact the Australian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.
Sources: NHS, Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, Smartraveller
How Beauty Link helps in Ho Chi Minh City
We are a concierge in the city, not a surgery provider. Our service is free for patients: in Saigon, the hospital covers our fee. Andrew Lam, our Co-founder, runs Beauty Link.
Here is how it works:
- You tell us your goals and timing in a few short questions.
- We connect you with a licensed Saigon hospital over WhatsApp, with your advisor in the chat.
- The hospital is asked to talk through suitable options, send a personal treatment plan and quote, explain what is included, and share before and after photos of similar cases.
- Your advisor stays in the group for communication and translation.
- Our driver meets you when you land in the city. Your advisor checks on you as you heal in the city and again once you are home.
Beauty Link helps with facial surgery, nose surgery, breast surgery, body contouring and non surgical treatments. You can also read about plastic surgery in Hanoi if you are open to either city.
Sources: Beauty Link team records
Ho Chi Minh City questions
The hospital and surgeon matter more than the country. Smartraveller notes that overseas hospitals are often on a par with Australian ones, yet standards vary inside a single country. Look at each Saigon hospital's licence, surgeon and aftercare. For more, see whether plastic surgery in Vietnam is safe.
Prices are not listed on our site. Each Saigon hospital writes a quote, and healthdirect Australia says you should always get one. Smartraveller notes that fixing a complication can add to the bill. See plastic surgery Vietnam cost for what goes into a quote.
There is no single answer that fits everyone. What matters more is the hospital, the surgeon and the care plan you choose. Comparing destinations? Try plastic surgery in Korea vs Vietnam.
Ask each surgeon about their training, years in practice and number of cases like yours. Then check their membership of the city's plastic surgery society yourself. Our guide to checks for a Vietnam plastic surgery hospital has a full question list.
healthdirect Australia says common cosmetic procedures include a tummy tuck, liposuction, breast implants and a facelift. Beauty Link helps with facial surgery, nose surgery, breast surgery, body contouring and non surgical treatments. Each hospital offers its own range, and your surgeon decides which procedure suits you.
No. Smartraveller says Medicare stops at the border, and a basic travel policy will rarely pick up medical tourism either. Even at home, healthdirect Australia says Medicare and private funds do not usually pay for cosmetic surgery. Check your policy before you book.
Yes. Smartraveller suggests telling your Australian GP about the trip and getting checked 6 weeks or more before you leave for Saigon. healthdirect Australia says your GP is also who to see if a problem shows up after cosmetic surgery.
Sources: Smartraveller, healthdirect Australia, NHS, Beauty Link team records