Moving to Vietnam with pets
Many expats bring their dogs and cats to Vietnam, and the import rules are simpler than in many countries. There is no mandatory quarantine and no rabies antibody test for entry, as long as your paperwork is correct. The harder parts are the flight, the timing of the documents and pet-friendly housing.
No quarantine, if the paperwork is right
Pets arriving with complete and valid documents are checked by animal health officers at the airport and released to you, usually within a few hours. Up to two pets per person travelling with you can usually enter with a simple declaration.
If documents are missing or invalid, or the animal appears unwell, it can be held for testing or isolation at your cost.
The documents your pet needs
- An ISO 11784/11785-compliant microchip: implanted before or on the same day as the rabies vaccination, with the number matching on every document.
- A valid rabies vaccination: given at least 30 days before arrival and within the last 12 months, after the microchip.
- An official health certificate: issued by a vet in your country of departure, endorsed by the government veterinary authority and dated within about 10 days of arrival.
- An import declaration: submitted to the regional animal health office a few days before you land, or presented on arrival.
- An IATA-compliant travel crate: for pets in the hold or as cargo, large enough to stand, turn around and lie down comfortably.
When to start
Start planning at least two to three months before your move. A pet that needs a new rabies vaccination needs more time, and in practice, puppies and kittens should be at least four months old. If your pet's rabies vaccination is older than 12 months, ask your vet about a booster. The health certificate is the final step, issued in the days just before you fly.
Health certificate endorsement by country
| Leaving from | Completed by | Endorsed by |
|---|---|---|
| United States | USDA-accredited veterinarian | USDA APHIS |
| Canada | Licensed veterinarian | Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) |
| United Kingdom | Official Veterinarian (Export Health Certificate) | Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) |
Vietnam Airlines does not accept dogs on its US routes, and some airlines only carry pets from the UK as cargo. Check the pet rules for every airline and transit airport on your route.
How your pet can travel
- In-cabin: some airlines allow small pets under the seat. Vietnam Airlines, for example, allows a pet and carrier of up to 6 kg in total on many routes.
- Checked baggage: larger pets travel in the pressurised hold on your flight. On Vietnam Airlines, pet and crate can weigh up to 32 kg together on many routes.
- Cargo: required for larger animals, some routes and pets travelling without their owner. It may need an import permit in advance.
- Pet relocation company: handles paperwork, flights, customs clearance and delivery. It costs more but takes the risk out of complicated routes.
Vietnam has no national breed ban, but many airlines refuse or restrict snub-nosed breeds in the hold, such as bulldogs, pugs and Persian cats. Southern Vietnam is hot all year, so avoid flights that land in the middle of the day.
Arrival and settling in
Submit your import declaration to the regional animal health office at your arrival airport, ideally a few days before you land. The main arrival airports for pets are Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Noi Bai (Hanoi) and Da Nang. After immigration, the officer scans the microchip and checks your documents. If everything is in order, you receive a Vietnamese quarantine certificate.
Many apartment buildings restrict pets, so get permission in writing in your lease. Keep rabies vaccinations up to date every year, and use year-round parasite and heartworm prevention. If you may take your pet to the EU or the UK later, it will need a rabies antibody test followed by a three-month wait, so plan ahead.
How XploreVietnam can help
For the full detail, read our pet relocation guide. Then use Navigator, our free planning portal, to build your pre-arrival checklist. If your route or pet is not covered here, check with us.