Bringing your pet to Vietnam involves more than meeting the paperwork requirements. Once you land, you’ll also need to know where to go, what checks to expect, and how the arrival process works.
This guide walks you through your pet’s pre-flight requirements, airline rules, and the arrival procedures at Vietnam airports.
What Your Pet Needs Before You Fly
Vietnam’s pet entry rules exist to keep rabies out, not to make life hard for pet owners. Meet these requirements and clearance is usually fast. If you’re departing from the US, APHIS’s Vietnam pet travel page is a useful cross-check before you fly.
| Document | Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Microchip | Before departure | ISO 11784/11785 compliant, 15-digit. Not legally mandatory, but most airlines and export vets require one. |
| Rabies vaccination | 30 days to 12 months before arrival | This window is set by law. Falling outside it is the most common reason pets get held for extra checks. |
| Health certificate | Issued 7 to 10 days before departure | From a licensed vet in the export country. Carry a translated copy if it isn’t already in English or Vietnamese. |
| Quarantine registration | Submit before you fly | Filed with Vietnam’s Department of Animal Health, usually via the National Single Window Portal. Approval typically takes about 5 working days. |
| Entry permit | Only required for 3+ pets per owner | One passport holder can bring up to 2 pets without this extra permit, under Vietnam’s Circular 25/2016. |
Airline Rules for Flying With a Pet
Two airlines carry pets to Vietnam with any consistency: Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet. Both need advance booking, and both cap how many pets fly per flight.
| Airline | Cabin allowed | Carrier limit | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam Airlines | Yes, dogs & cats 10+ weeks old | 35 × 30 × 20 cm, 6 kg total max | Varies by route | Also carries pets as checked baggage up to 32 kg. Dogs aren’t accepted on US-Vietnam routes. |
| Vietjet | Yes, dogs & cats 10+ weeks old | 35 × 30 × 20 cm, 7 kg total max | ~4,000,000 VND per cage | Not offered in Business class. Cabin service is mainly domestic; confirm before booking an international route. |
Pro tip: Book at least 24 hours ahead. Cabin space for pets is limited per flight, and exact caps vary by airline and class.
Carriers must let your pet stand, turn around, and lie down. Undersized carriers get turned away at check-in, not at the gate.
See Vietnam Airlines’ official pet travel policy for the current fees and route restrictions before you book.
What Happens to Your Pet at the Airport
Your pet doesn’t go through the same line you do. Here’s the actual sequence.
- Clear your own passport and immigration control first, the same as any traveler.
- Head to the special or oversized baggage claim area to collect your pet. Cabin pets are already with you.
- Report to the airport’s Animal Quarantine Station with your pet and its documents: health certificate, vaccination record, and passport.
- A quarantine officer verifies the microchip, checks the paperwork, and gives your pet a clinical health check.
- If everything is in order, the officer issues a veterinary certificate and your pet is cleared to leave with you.
Note: Clearance is usually complete within 1 to 2 hours when your paperwork is in order. Incomplete documents or signs of illness can mean a hold, and in rare cases, a formal quarantine of up to 45 days.
Airport Differences
- Tan Son Nhat (SGN) and Noi Bai (HAN) each run a dedicated Animal Quarantine Station inside the international terminal.
- Da Nang (DAD) has no separate station. Pet checks happen as part of the standard import inspection.
- At all three, file your quarantine registration with Vietnam’s Department of Animal Health before you fly, and notify the station of your flight details when you can. It shortens the wait on the other side.
This is also where a Fast Track meet-and-greet service can help. By reducing your wait at immigration, you can reach the pet collection and quarantine area sooner, giving you more time to focus on collecting your pet and completing the required procedures.
Common Questions
Is quarantine required?
Not for well-prepared pets. If your microchip, vaccination, and health certificate all check out, Vietnam doesn’t impose routine quarantine. If paperwork is incomplete or your pet shows signs of illness, officers can order a formal quarantine that runs up to 45 days.
Is a rabies titer test required?
No. Vietnam doesn’t require one. It’s worth getting anyway if your pet is transiting through a country that does.
What’s the minimum age for a puppy or kitten?
10 weeks old to fly, under most airline policies. In practice, most pets are closer to 3 months by the time the 30-day rabies window is satisfied.
Can I bring more than one pet?
Yes. Up to 2 pets per owner without a permit. A third pet needs an entry permit from Vietnam’s Department of Animal Health.
Before You Land
Getting your pet’s paperwork right takes weeks of planning. Getting through the airport with it takes minutes, if you know where you’re going.
Most delays don’t come from bad documents. That’s usually where the passenger side of the trip gets harder than the pet side. With Fast Track Vietnam, an agent meets you before immigration, handles your passport and paperwork queue, and gets you to baggage claim faster, so you can focus on your pet instead of the terminal.