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Can You Bring Your Pet to Vietnam?
Yes — both dogs and cats are allowed into Vietnam. I've moved internationally three times with Cooper, my 28kg Golden Retriever, and Vietnam's process is manageable if you plan ahead. The key is understanding the documentation requirements, vaccination timelines, and quarantine rules. This guide walks you through everything you need to know.
Vietnam has specific breed restrictions that apply to dogs: Pit Bulls, Tosa, and Dogo Argentino are banned. If you have one of these breeds, unfortunately, you cannot import your pet. For cats and other dog breeds, you're clear to proceed.
Your Preparation Timeline
6 Months Before Departure
Schedule a pre-travel vet consultation to review Vietnam's requirements and confirm your pet's health status. This is also when you'll discuss microchipping (if not already done) and vaccination schedules. I always book this early because good vets fill up quickly, especially when you need specific services like titer testing.
5–6 Months Before Departure
Apply for your import permit from Vietnamese authorities. The standard lead time is 30 days, but I recommend applying at the 5–6 month mark to avoid delays. Contact the Department of Animal Health (DAH) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) — their official website is at cucthuy.gov.vn. Note: Vietnam does not require a permit for 2 or fewer pets, but confirm this with the authority before assuming you're exempt.
4–5 Months Before Departure
Get your pet microchipped if they don't have one already. Vietnam requires an ISO 11784/11785 standard microchip. This must be done before any rabies vaccination, so timing matters. Your vet will record the microchip number — you'll need this for all subsequent documents.
4 Months Before Departure
Administer the first rabies vaccination (if your pet is at least 12 weeks old). Your pet must wait 21 days after this vaccination before the titer test can be performed. Mark your calendar — this is a hard deadline.
3 Months Before Departure
Schedule the rabies titer test at an approved laboratory. The test must be done at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination. Your vet can recommend an approved lab in your country. The titer must show a minimum level of 0.5 IU/ml. For dogs, there's no waiting period after the test result comes back — you can proceed immediately. For cats, we're still verifying the exact waiting period — check with your vet.
Administer tapeworm treatment (for dogs, praziquantel is the standard drug). This must be documented by your vet and given between 24–120 hours before arrival in Vietnam. I schedule this for 48 hours before departure to be safe.
2 Months Before Departure
Ensure your rabies booster is current. Vietnam requires a booster, and the vaccine must not be older than 12 months at the time of travel. If your pet's previous rabies vaccination is approaching 12 months old, schedule a booster now.
Obtain a health certificate from an accredited veterinarian. This certificate is valid for only 10 days, so time this carefully — don't get it too early. It must be endorsed by your country's government veterinary authority (e.g., USDA APHIS if you're in the United States, APHA if in the United Kingdom, CFIA if in Canada). The original certificate is required — copies won't work.
1 Month Before Departure
Confirm your import permit approval and gather all documents. You should have: microchip records, rabies vaccination certificate, titer test results, health certificate (obtained within the last 10 days), and tapeworm treatment documentation.
Book your flight through one of Vietnam's approved ports of entry: Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City) or Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi). Your pet will undergo veterinary inspection at the port of entry, so allow extra time in your arrival schedule.
1–2 Weeks Before Departure
Arrange quarantine accommodation if needed. Vietnam requires quarantine in an approved facility for 30 days. However, if all your documentation is in perfect order, quarantine can be waived entirely (reduced to 0 days). This is one of the best-case scenarios — I've seen it happen when everything is submitted correctly. Confirm the waiver status with Vietnamese authorities before arrival.
Obtain the health certificate (remember, it's only valid for 10 days). Schedule this appointment for 5–7 days before your departure date. Your vet will need to see your pet in person, review all vaccination records, and confirm the microchip is readable.
24–48 Hours Before Departure
Administer tapeworm treatment (if not already done). For dogs, this must be given 24–120 hours before arrival. Document this with your vet — you'll need proof at the port.
Pack your pet's documents in a folder you can access easily at the airport. Keep originals separate from copies.
Key Requirements at a Glance
Microchipping
Required for both dogs and cats. Standard: ISO 11784/11785. Must be done before any rabies vaccination.
Rabies Vaccination
Required. Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old. After the first vaccination, wait 21 days before the titer test. The vaccine must not be older than 12 months at travel. A booster is required.
Rabies Titer Test
Required for both dogs and cats. Must be performed at an approved laboratory, at least 30 days after rabies vaccination. Minimum antibody level: 0.5 IU/ml. For dogs, no waiting period after the test.
Tapeworm Treatment (Dogs)
Required. Use praziquantel (standard drug). Must be documented by your vet and administered 24–120 hours before arrival. I always aim for the 48-hour window to avoid last-minute stress.
Tapeworm Treatment (Cats)
Required. We're still verifying the specific drug and timing requirements — check with your vet or Vietnam's DAH.
Health Certificate
Required. Issued by an accredited veterinarian and endorsed by your country's government veterinary authority. Valid for only 10 days. Original document required.
Import Permit
Required (unless you have 2 or fewer pets — verify with Vietnamese authorities). Lead time: 30 days. Issued by Vietnamese authorities (DAH/MARD).
Quarantine
Standard duration: 30 days in an approved facility. Can be waived (0 days) if all documentation is complete and correct. Confirm waiver eligibility with authorities before arrival.
Approved Ports of Entry
Your pet must arrive through one of these airports:
- Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City)
- Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi)
Veterinary inspection is required at the port of entry.
Documents Checklist
- Microchip record (ISO 11784/11785 standard)
- Rabies vaccination certificate (original)
- Rabies booster vaccination certificate (original)
- Rabies titer test results from approved laboratory (original)
- Health certificate from accredited vet (original, endorsed by government authority)
- Import permit from Vietnamese authorities (original)
- Tapeworm treatment documentation signed by vet (original)
- Proof of pet ownership (passport, adoption papers, or registration)
- Airline pet travel documentation
- Copies of all documents (for your records)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping the microchip before vaccination. Microchip must come first — it's a hard requirement.
- Getting the health certificate too early. It's only valid for 10 days. I've seen people get it 3 weeks early and have to redo it.
- Missing the 30-day gap between rabies vaccination and titer test. This is non-negotiable. Plan your calendar carefully.
- Forgetting tapeworm treatment timing. It must be 24–120 hours before arrival — not before you leave home, but before you land in Vietnam.
- Assuming you don't need a permit for 2 pets. Verify this exemption directly with DAH/MARD before relying on it.
- Arriving at an unapproved airport. Only Tan Son Nhat and Noi Bai are approved. Flying into a regional airport won't work.
- Not confirming quarantine waiver status. Just because your documents are complete doesn't automatically mean quarantine is waived — get written confirmation.
Breed Restrictions
Vietnam bans the following dog breeds:
- Pit Bull
- Tosa
- Dogo Argentino
If your dog is one of these breeds, you cannot import them into Vietnam. Cats have no breed restrictions.
Service Animals & Military Travel
Vietnam recognizes service animals. However, emotional support animals (ESAs) are not recognized under Vietnam's import rules. Service animals do not receive a quarantine exemption, so standard quarantine rules still apply. Military personnel traveling with pets should verify current regulations with their command, as we're still confirming whether military travel modifies import rules.
Final Tips from My Experience
When I brought Cooper to Vietnam, the single biggest time-saver was contacting DAH/MARD early and getting everything in writing. Don't rely on email alone — follow up with a phone call if possible. Vietnamese bureaucracy moves on its own timeline, and a 30-day lead time can easily stretch to 6–8 weeks if there are questions about your documents.
Also, book your quarantine facility in advance, even if you're hoping for a waiver. If the waiver doesn't come through, you'll need a backup plan immediately upon arrival. I've seen expats scramble to find last-minute quarantine space, and it's stressful.
Finally, keep digital copies of everything in cloud storage. Airport security, customs, and veterinary inspectors all want to see originals, but having backups saved online means you're never one lost envelope away from disaster.
Ready to move forward? Get your free personalized travel plan from Pawgo — it'll generate a custom timeline based on your pet's current vaccination status and your travel date.
Note: This guide is based on data auto-verified from official Vietnamese government sources (DAH/MARD). Requirements can change, so always confirm current regulations with Vietnamese authorities before finalizing your travel plans.
Auto-generated from verified government data · Last updated: April 23, 2026