Vietnam is calling, and it is worth every ounce of prep. Here is the thing that grabbed my attention first: this destination runs a required quarantine on arrival, so this is not a grab-the-leash-and-go country. Nala has opinions about layovers, but even she respects a border that means business. Sort the paperwork, respect the process, and the reward is a wildly rewarding adventure on the other side.

Bringing a pet to Vietnam requires three documents in the right order: a microchip, a rabies vaccine within the destination's wait window, and a government-endorsed health certificate. The table below lays out exactly what's required, what's not, and where each rule comes from.

How Vietnam handles your pet

Each fact comes straight from the operator’s published policy. Tap the to read the exact wording; the opens the source page.

Health & documents

Microchip · Required Yesverified 2026-09-07
Quarantine · Typenone_if_compliantverified 2026-09-07
Quarantine · Required Yesverified 2026-09-07
Quarantine · Pre-approval required Noverified 2026-09-07
Quarantine · Approved facility required Noverified 2026-09-07
Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Required Noverified 2026-09-07
Import permit · Required Noverified 2026-09-07
Health certificate · Required Yesverified 2026-09-07
Health certificate · Government endorsed Yesverified 2026-09-07
Rabies vaccination · Required Yesverified 2026-09-07
Rabies vaccination · Waiting period after vaccination30 daysverified 2026-09-07
Rabies vaccination · Max vaccine age at travel12 monthsverified 2026-09-07
Tapeworm treatment · Required Noverified 2026-09-07

Other rules

Pets accepted Acceptedverified 2026-09-07

Timing chain

Day -90 microchip implant · Day -30 rabies vaccine deadline · Day 0 arrive at customs

The import permit takes 5 working days to issue once a valid quarantine dossier lands with the authorities. Submit the full application at least a week ahead of any planned departure, and confirm the dossier is complete before it goes in. An incomplete file resets the clock, so a padded buffer keeps the 5-day window from becoming the reason a flight slips.
Vietnam rewards the traveler who plans hard and shows up ready. Quarantine, permit, health certificate: three moving pieces, all doable when you map them in the right order. Sam and I never wing a border this involved, and neither should you. Build your personalized plan with Pawgo's plan-builder, feed it your exact dates and route, and turn a stack of requirements into one clear, adventure-ready checklist.
Get YOUR personalized plan for Vietnam →

Glossary

ISO chip
ISO 11784/11785 — the universal microchip standard.
FAVN
Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization — a rabies serology test required by rabies-free destinations.
Brachycephalic
Snub-nosed breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Persians, Himalayans) with restricted airline acceptance due to heat-stress risk.
AVIH
Animal Vehicle In Hold — IATA's term for cargo pet shipment, with fees that vary by carrier and route.