Who issues the rules
Vietnam regulates pet imports through the Department of Animal Health (DAH) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). The customer-facing offices are the animal quarantine stations attached to the international airports of arrival, principally Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City) and Noi Bai (Hanoi) [1] [2].
Species
Dogs and cats are routinely imported under the standard procedure. Vietnam itself is classified as high-risk for canine rabies by external authorities such as the US CDC, which affects onward travel out of Vietnam [3].
Microchip
Your pet needs an ISO 11784/11785 compliant 15-digit microchip, implanted before the rabies vaccination so the vaccination record ties unambiguously to the animal [4] [5].
Rabies vaccination
The animal must be vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days before arrival and not more than 12 months before arrival (or the period stated by the manufacturer for multi-year vaccines, provided the certificate is explicit). Puppies and kittens must be at least 3 months old, and the 30-day wait must elapse before travel, so 4 months is the practical minimum age at boarding [4] [5].
Rabies antibody titer
Vietnam does not require a FAVN or RFFIT titer for entry. As with other rabies-endemic destinations, owners planning onward travel from Vietnam to rabies-free countries (Australia, UK, EU member states) should still arrange a titer through a WOAH-listed laboratory, drawn at least 30 days after the rabies shot and showing at least 0.5 IU/ml [4].
Other vaccinations
For dogs: distemper, infectious hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza and leptospirosis (DHPPi+L). For cats: feline panleukopenia, viral rhinotracheitis and calicivirus (FVRCP). Keep vaccinations current, with the last dose at least 14 days before travel [5].
Paperwork
The exact bundle:
1. International health certificate. A licensed veterinarian in the origin country must complete the export health certificate within 7 days of departure. A government veterinarian (USDA APHIS endorsement in the US, the EU TRACES INTRA export certificate from your member-state competent authority, DEFRA for UK) must then endorse it [5] [4]. 2. Import permit. For one or two pets travelling with their owner, you do not need an advance import permit. For three or more animals, an import permit from DAH is mandatory and takes around one week, valid 10 days from issuance, so timing must be tight against the flight [4]. 3. Pre-notify the destination airport's quarantine station by email at least 2 to 3 working days before arrival, providing the flight number, AWB number (if cargo) and the certificate [2].
Quarantine
The authorities do not impose routine quarantine if paperwork is complete and the animal is clinically healthy. On arrival at Tan Son Nhat or Noi Bai, the owner clears immigration, then presents the original health certificate to the animal quarantine officer at the cargo terminal (manifested cargo) or at the oversize-baggage office (accompanied baggage). Inspection is usually completed within an hour. The authorities may detain animals with missing paperwork or signs of illness at the owner's cost [4] [2].
Banned or restricted breeds
Vietnam does not publish a national banned-breeds list at the import level. The same airline-side IATA CR82 reinforced-container rule applies to fighting breeds (American Pit Bull Terrier and its variants, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Tosa Inu, Perro de Presa Canario, Cane Corso). Some airlines will not carry these to South-East Asia at all. Brachycephalic breed embargoes apply during the hot season [6].
Approved arrival airports
For international live-animal arrivals, the practical entry points are Tan Son Nhat (SGN, Ho Chi Minh City) and Noi Bai (HAN, Hanoi). Da Nang (DAD) and Cam Ranh (CXR) can accept pets but with fewer cargo agents and less experienced quarantine officers, so most relocators use SGN or HAN [5].
Estimated cost in EUR
Indicative all-in budget for one medium dog (15 to 25 kg) flown from western Europe in cargo, including IATA crate, EU government endorsement, optional FAVN titer for onward travel, airline cargo fee, origin broker, and arrival handling: roughly 1,800 to 3,200 EUR. One cat in-cabin or as accompanied baggage on a permissive airline: 500 to 1,000 EUR. Vietnam does not charge a permit fee for one or two pets, so the airline and broker are the dominant cost lines [5] [6].
Timing
8 weeks of preparation is the realistic minimum: vet visit and document review, confirm microchip and rabies timing, schedule the 7-day-window health certificate, allow 2 to 5 working days for government endorsement, and the 2 to 3-day pre-notification to the Vietnamese quarantine station. If a FAVN titer is being done for onward travel, allow 12 to 16 weeks for the 30-day post-vaccination wait plus lab turnaround [4] [5].