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Lenses in Hanoi: what they cost and how to choose
Start with what you need
Distance only, or reading only
Single-vision lenses carry one prescription across the whole lens. This is the quickest and least expensive route, and stocked lenses are usually cut the same day.
Distance and reading in one pair
Progressive lenses combine several viewing distances with no visible line. The fitting measurements have to be exact and most people need a few days to adjust.
Lenses that darken outdoors
Photochromic lenses darken in UV light outside and clear again indoors. One pair covers the whole day.
Prescription sunglasses
Tinted prescription lenses stay dark and do not fade indoors. Better suited to long hours outside or daytime driving.
A strong prescription
Higher-index lenses are thinner at the same prescription. Frame shape also changes how much thickness you actually see at the edge.
Keeping your own frame
New lenses in an existing frame is usually possible. The frame is checked first, and you are told if it has gone brittle and may crack during re-fitting.
All five at a glance
| Lens type | Suits | Worth knowing | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single vision | One viewing distance | Quickest, least expensive | Usually same day |
| Progressive | Distance through to reading | Needs individual fitting, a few days to adjust | About 24 hours |
| Photochromic | In and out all day | Darkness varies with UV and weather | Depends on the lens |
| Prescription tint | Strong sun, daytime driving | Several tint levels to choose from | Depends on the lens |
| High index | Strong prescriptions | Thinner and lighter at the same prescription | Depends on the lens |
Which index to choose
Index is the number that tells you how thin a lens is at a given prescription. Higher means thinner and lighter, and the difference becomes easier to see as the prescription gets stronger. The usual guidance in store:
| Your prescription | Index usually chosen |
|---|---|
| Under 3 dioptres | 1.60 |
| 3 to 5 dioptres | 1.67 |
| Above 5, or a rimless frame | 1.74 |
That is a starting point, not a rule. A smaller frame hides thickness better than a large one, so a strong prescription in a small frame can sit fine on a lower index.
Photochromic lens prices
Per pair, lenses only, frame not included. Every line below takes cylinder from 0.00 to 2.00. Prices are in Vietnamese đồng — your phone's currency converter will give you today's figure.
| Brand | Index | Price per pair | Takes up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blick | 1.56 | 350,000₫ | 5.00 |
| Chemi | 1.56 | 828,000₫ | 5.00 |
| Nikki | 1.61 | 980,000₫ | 6.50 |
| Elements | 1.56 | 1,180,000₫ | 5.00 |
| Elements | 1.61 | 1,780,000₫ | 10.00 |
| Essilor Classic | 1.56 | 2,080,000₫ | 6.00 |
| Elements | 1.67 | 2,480,000₫ | 12.00 |
| Essilor | 1.60 | 3,180,000₫ | 6.00 |
| ZEISS | 1.56 | 3,688,000₫ | 4.00 |
| ZEISS | 1.60 | 5,888,000₫ | 6.00 |
| Essilor Airwear | 1.59 | 6,180,000₫ | 6.00 |
| Essilor | 1.67 | 7,980,000₫ | 10.00 |
The three brands customers pick most often are Elements, Essilor and ZEISS.
Progressive lens prices, everyday range
Below is Essilor Essentials Everyday Plus, the progressive range most customers here choose. Per pair, frame not included.
| Index | Lens | Price per pair |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | Clear | 2,080,000₫ |
| 1.56 | Clear | 2,280,000₫ |
| 1.5 | BlueUV Capture | 2,280,000₫ |
| 1.56 | BlueUV Capture | 2,480,000₫ |
| 1.56 | Sun X, smoke photochromic | 3,580,000₫ |
| 1.6 | Clear | 3,880,000₫ |
| 1.6 | BlueUV Capture | 4,080,000₫ |
| 1.5 | Transitions Gen S | 4,460,000₫ |
| 1.67 | Clear | 5,180,000₫ |
| 1.67 | BlueUV Capture | 5,380,000₫ |
If you want a wider field of view
Above the everyday range sit three Varilux tiers, which differ in field of view and how smoothly the lens moves from distance to near. The figures below are Essilor's own published claims, not measurements made in store:
- Varilux Liberty 3.0: Essilor states a field of view 65% wider than a standard progressive. From 4,480,000₫ a pair.
- Varilux Comfort Max: Essilor states a field of view extended by up to 46%, aimed at all-day comfort across postures. From 6,780,000₫.
- Varilux Physio 3.0: Essilor states a transition 78% smoother. From 11,780,000₫.
A Fit suffix means extra personalised fitting measurements are taken, at a higher price. Coating upgrades such as Crizal Prevencia, Sapphire and Drive, or Style Mirrors, are ordered from an overseas lab and quoted separately.
What about plain single-vision lenses
The more useful answer is the price of the finished pair: a complete pair of single-vision glasses, frame and lenses together, runs from 850,000₫ to 3,500,000₫. That is one all-in figure, not a lens price with a frame added afterwards. Where you land depends on the frame you pick, the index and the coating.
For one concrete comparison: Essilor blue-light filtering lenses are 1,298,000₫ a pair, lenses only.
You are given the full price before anything is cut. Nothing gets added afterwards.
Coatings: which earn their money
Anti-reflective is the one worth having. It cuts reflections off the lens surface, so screens and night driving are less glaring, and people looking at you see your eyes instead of two bright patches.
Scratch and water resistance extends the life of the lens, which matters if you clean your glasses on your shirt.
Blue-light filtering deserves a straight answer. A 2023 systematic review from Cochrane found no evidence that this filter reduces eye strain, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology puts screen-related strain down mainly to blinking less while concentrating. The real benefit left is the glare reduction from the anti-reflective coating that comes with it. It is not a medical measure and does not prevent eye disease.
How long it takes
| Lens | Time |
|---|---|
| Single vision, lens in stock | Usually finished the same day |
| Standard progressive | About 24 hours |
| Essilor and ZEISS progressive | 3 to 4 days, cut at a lab |
| Unusual prescriptions or ordered lenses | Confirmed after the prescription is checked |
If you are flying out soon, say the date at the start. The staff will then only suggest lenses that can be finished in time, instead of taking the order and hoping.
Common questions
- Progressive lenses, or two separate pairs?
- Progressives put distance and near in one pair with no visible line, but they need exact fitting and a few days to get used to. Two pairs cost less and need no adjustment, but you swap glasses every time the distance changes. People who move around and work at several distances usually get on better with progressives.
- Can photochromic lenses replace sunglasses?
- For most of daily life, yes. But they darken in response to UV, and a car windscreen filters much of the UV out, so inside a car they often stay lighter than you expect. Anyone who drives a lot in daylight is still better off with a separate prescription tint.
- Do glasses reduce short-sightedness?
- No. Glasses are a vision aid: they let you see clearly while you wear them, and they do not change the prescription itself. Anyone telling you otherwise is worth questioning.
- How often should I have my eyes tested?
- Adults, usually every 6 to 12 months, sooner if things look blurrier, if you find yourself squinting, or if reading gives you a headache. At Manh Long Optical re-testing is free for life, including when you buy nothing.
- Should I bring my old prescription?
- Bring it if you have it, it is a good starting point. If not, no problem, the eye test is free and the measurements are taken from scratch. A prescription older than 12 months is re-tested rather than copied, because eyes change.
- Can I pay by card?
- Yes. Cash, credit and debit cards are all accepted.
Sources
- Cochrane Library (2023) — Blue-light filtering spectacle lenses for visual performance, sleep, and macular health in adults. Systematic review of blue-light filtering lenses.
- American Academy of Ophthalmology — Are Blue Light-Blocking Glasses Worth It? Why screen-related eye strain comes mainly from blinking less.
- Transitions Optical — How Photochromic Lenses Work. The manufacturer's own description of how UV triggers the tint.
Not sure which to pick
Bring the glasses you wear now, or your most recent prescription, and come in. The eye test costs nothing whether you buy or not, and the staff ask how you spend your day before suggesting anything.
Manh Long Optical — 147A Le Duan, Cua Nam ward, Hanoi
Open daily 8:00 – 21:30
WhatsApp · +84 777 986 999 · Zalo · Directions