Editorial · December 7, 2013
Dental Clinic License in Vietnam: What to Ask to See
A dental clinic license is the paper that lets a clinic treat patients in Vietnam, and it is only half of the proof you can ask for. The dentist needs a separate paper too. This guide shows what each one is and how to ask for it politely.
Two papers, not one
Vietnam’s Law on Medical Examination and Treatment took effect on January 1, 2011. It sets two separate requirements. The first is a practicing certificate for the person who treats you. The second is an operating license for the place where treatment happens.
A dental clinic is a medical facility under this law. So the clinic needs its operating license, and each dentist who treats patients there needs a practicing certificate. One paper does not replace the other. A clinic with a license can still employ someone who has no certificate, and a certified dentist can still work in a room that has no license.
Both papers come from the health authorities. The practicing certificate is issued to a named person. The operating license is issued to a named facility at a named address.
What to ask to see
Ask the front desk for two things. Ask to see the clinic’s operating license. Ask to see the practicing certificate of the dentist who will treat you.
A good clinic will not mind. Staff who handle this every week will usually bring the papers out in a minute. If they hesitate, ask again kindly and say you would like to see them before you book a procedure.
You can also ask for a photocopy to keep in your own file. A copy lets you check the details at home, without pressure.
How to read the papers
Read the clinic’s license first. Check that the clinic name matches the name on the sign and on your receipts. Check that the address is the address where you are sitting. A license for one address does not cover a branch somewhere else.
Look at what the license says the clinic may do. The scope is written on the paper. A clinic that is licensed for general dental examination may not be licensed for every kind of surgery. If your treatment is larger, ask whether it falls inside that scope.
Then read the dentist’s certificate. Check that the name matches the dentist you meet. Check the field of practice written on it. Ask whether the dentist holds the certificate in this field. Take your time. You are allowed to read slowly.
Where to check if you are unsure
If a paper looks wrong, or you simply want a second opinion, you can ask the local health authority. In Vietnam this is the Department of Health of the province or city where the clinic sits. Staff there can tell you whether a clinic is licensed to operate.
Keep the clinic’s full name, its address and the name of the dentist ready before you call or visit. Those three facts make the question easy to answer.
Do not rely on an advertisement alone. A banner, a website, or a friend’s word is not a license. The paper is the proof.
A short checklist before your first visit
Write these questions on your phone and take them with you.
Can I see the clinic’s operating license? Does the address and name match this clinic? Can I see my dentist’s practicing certificate? Does the field on it match my treatment? Is the treatment I need within the clinic’s licensed scope? May I keep a copy of the papers for my file?
Ask the same questions at a new clinic, even if a relative recommends it. It takes five minutes and costs nothing. It also tells you something about how the clinic treats its patients, because open clinics answer plainly.
A note on what this guide does not cover
A license shows that a clinic and a dentist meet the legal requirement to practice. It does not tell you how good a particular treatment will be, and it does not set prices. Compare clinics on cost, on the dentist’s experience, and on how clearly they explain your options.
This page is a plain guide to paperwork. For a ruling on your own case, ask the dentist or the clinic manager to show the papers.