Bringing Pets to Vietnam

Vietnam is generally pet-friendly to import — no quarantine for cats and dogs from most countries, provided you complete the rabies vaccination and titer schedule on time. The process is straightforward but front-loaded: plan 3–6 months ahead of departure.

Rules current as of 2026-05-17. Confirm with the Vietnamese Department of Animal Health and your home-country agriculture authority before booking flights.

What's allowed

• Cats and dogs are routinely allowed.
• Birds — case-by-case, often refused.
• Reptiles, ferrets, rabbits — case-by-case; CITES restrictions for some species.
• Banned: certain dog breeds (Pit Bull, Bull Terrier mix, some others — list updated periodically).

The rabies schedule (the long-lead step)

For dogs and cats from most countries:

1. Microchip — ISO 11784/11785 compatible. Implant first.
2. Rabies vaccination — at least 30 days before the rabies titer blood draw.
3. Rabies titer test (FAVN or RFFIT) — drawn at minimum 30 days after vaccination, sent to an OIE-approved lab. Result must be ≥0.5 IU/ml.
4. Wait period — different countries have different waits between titer result and entry. Vietnam currently has no formal waiting period after a clean titer, but most airlines require evidence the titer was drawn at least 30 days before flight.
5. Routine vaccinations must be current — DHPP for dogs, FVRCP for cats.
6. Veterinary health certificate — issued within 10 days of travel by a USDA / DEFRA / equivalent accredited vet, signed and stamped.
7. Government endorsement — health certificate endorsed by the home-country agriculture authority (USDA APHIS in the US, APHA in the UK, etc.) within 10 days of travel.

The titer test is the single longest-lead item — total time from microchip to ready-to-fly: at least 3 months, often 4–6 months.

Documents to carry

Vietnam import permit

You must obtain an import permit from the Department of Animal Health before arrival:

• Apply via your shipping/relocation agency or directly via the Sub-Department of Animal Health (Chi cục Thú y) at your arrival airport.
• Documents: pet's vaccination record, rabies titer, microchip info, your visa/TRC, declaration of intended residence.
• Issued in 5–10 business days.
• Valid 30 days from issue — time the application carefully.

Airlines that accept pets to Vietnam

• Cargo (most common): KLM-Air France, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Qatar Airways.
• Vietnam Airlines accepts pets in cargo on direct flights.
• In-cabin (small pets in carriers under 8kg) — limited to specific airlines and routes; check before booking.

Crate requirements: IATA-compliant (size, ventilation, secure latches, leak-proof, food/water bowls). Crate suppliers in HCMC and Hanoi exist for owners arriving without one.

Costs

On arrival

Your pet clears at the airport's cargo terminal. The Vietnamese veterinary inspector checks documents and conducts a brief physical inspection. Process typically takes 1–3 hours from aircraft arrival. No quarantine for compliant pets.

Pet life in Vietnam

• Vets: Multiple international-standard clinics in HCMC (Animal Doctors International, Saigon Pet Clinic) and Hanoi (Animal Care Hanoi, Hanoi Pet Hospital). Costs ~30–60% of Western prices.
• Dog food: International brands (Royal Canin, Hill's, Pro Plan) available; pricier than home country. Local kibble cheaper but quality varies.
• Parks: HCMC's Tao Đàn and 23/9 parks allow dogs on leash. Hanoi's Cầu Giấy Park and West Lake paths are dog-friendly. Many apartment complexes have pet rules.
• Heat: Vietnam's summer is hard on dogs, especially flat-faced breeds. AC apartments and walking at dawn/dusk are mandatory.
• Dengue / heartworm: Mosquitoes are constant. Monthly heartworm prevention essential.
• Boarding: International pet hotels in HCMC and Hanoi for trips away.

Repatriation considerations

If you'll leave Vietnam later, you need to plan the reverse journey — UK pet import requires its own pre-arrival paperwork window, US re-entry has CDC-specific rules (especially for dogs since 2024). Start planning at least 3 months before departure. See repatriation.

Honest take

Bringing a pet to Vietnam is genuinely doable and worth it for many. The 3–6 month planning window is the main constraint — start the microchip and rabies vaccination cycle as soon as you know you're moving. Pet relocation agencies (PetRelocation.com, Pets Worldwide, etc.) are expensive but worth it for first-timers; they handle paperwork that's painful to do yourself.

The dogs and cats already in Vietnam mostly thrive — climate adjustment aside.

Summary

Bringing a pet to Vietnam is legally permitted and increasingly common among expat families, provided you complete a rigorous rabies vaccination and titer-testing schedule 3–6 months in advance. This page guides pet owners through the microchip, vaccination, serological testing, and Vietnamese import-permit steps — and prepares you for the financial and logistical realities of transporting a cat or dog internationally to Southeast Asia.

Process at a glance

1. Microchip immediately — ISO-standard chip, implanted at your vet. This is Step 1 and cannot be reordered.
2. Rabies vaccination — given 30+ days after the microchip. Document the date and vaccine batch.
3. Rabies titer blood draw — scheduled 30+ days after vaccination; send to an OIE-approved lab (FAVN or RFFIT test, ≥0.5 IU/ml required).
4. Routine vaccinations — DHPP (dogs) or FVRCP (cats) must be current. Obtain health certificate from your vet within 10 days of travel.
5. Government endorsement — have your home-country agriculture authority (USDA APHIS, APHA, etc.) stamp the health certificate within 10 days of departure.
6. Vietnam import permit — apply to the Sub-Department of Animal Health 2–3 weeks before arrival. Allow 5–10 business days.
7. Book airline & crate — arrange IATA-compliant transport (cargo or in-cabin, depending on pet size and airline). Allow 6–8 weeks for logistics.
8. Arrive & clear customs — Vietnamese vet inspector checks documents at cargo terminal; clears in 1–3 hours. No quarantine for compliant pets.

Cost breakdown

The headline cost driver is intercontinental airfreight; relocation agencies absorb the paperwork complexity and reduce stress. If you're moving a high-value breeding animal or multiple pets, agency fees often pay for themselves in reduced delays and rejected-shipment remediation.

Common pitfalls

• Timing the titer test too soon — drawing blood fewer than 30 days after vaccination invalidates the result; you must repeat the entire cycle. Plan backwards from your flight date.
• Confusing rabies titer with routine vax records — airlines and Vietnamese customs require the OIE lab report, not just your vet's note. Keep titer result and home-country agricultural endorsement separate.
• Expired health certificate — issued outside the 10-day window before departure? Rejected at checkin. Build in a 2-week buffer.
• Wrong IATA crate — non-compliant or damaged crates are refused. Buy new, or rent from an established pet-relocation supplier; DIY modifications void airline acceptance.
• Missing Vietnam import permit — applied after arrival or for the wrong entry date? Your pet is held pending a new permit; re-apply 2–3 weeks before you arrive.
• Underestimating heat & humidity stress — transporting a long-haired or flat-faced breed to Vietnam's tropical climate without conditioning (exercise, grooming, climate acclimation post-arrival) leads to heat stress. Plan AC housing and vet checkup within 48 hours of arrival.

Official resources

• Vietnamese Department of Animal Health (Cục Thú y) — national import policies and permit application procedures.
• USDA APHIS Pet Import Preparation — US-citizen checklist and authorized vet locator.
• DEFRA Pet Travel Scheme & Equivalent (UK) — UK health certificate and government endorsement rules.
• OIE-Approved Rabies Titer Laboratories — find an accredited lab near you for FAVN/RFFIT testing.

Verify before acting. Rules change. Confirm with a qualified Vietnamese adviser (your embassy's relocation coordinator or a USDA-accredited vet in your home country) before relying on any specific detail. Pet import rules are subject to seasonal updates and trade-agreement revisions.