What is a Pet Passport?
A Vietnam pet passport is a collection of documents that are required for dogs and cats entering Vietnam from other countries. This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for resident pets. Your pet’s passport will include proof of rabies vaccination and international export health certificate. Details of all Vietnam pet import requirements can be found in the steps below.
Animals Eligible for These Regulations
Unless otherwise stated, the regulations below apply to domestic dogs and cats including service and assistance dogs and cats. These regulations do not include the import of wolf hybrids, Savannah and Bengal cats, unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree.
Pets in Vietnam
In Vietnam, pets are an important part of many households, with a growing culture of pet ownership influenced by both traditional practices and modern trends. Dogs are very popular in Vietnam, both as companions and for security. Cats are also widely kept as pets, valued for their companionship and their role in controlling pests.
Veterinary services are available, especially in larger cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. Pet ownership regulations include mandatory vaccinations, particularly for dogs, to prevent diseases like rabies; however, Vietnam is classified by the World Organization of Animal Health as a country with a high risk of rabies. Economic challenges can limit access to veterinary care and pet supplies for some pet owners, impacting the overall well-being of pets.
Stray dogs and cats are a significant issue in some areas, so pet owners should protect their pets from contagious diseases prior to import.
Flights to Vietnam
Major commercial airlines offering services to pets that fly to Tan Son Nhat International Airport include the following: Aeroflot, Air Asia, Air China, Air France, Air India, All Nippon Airways, Asiana, Cambodia Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Arilines, Emirates, Eva Air, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, Turkmenistan Airlines and Vietnam Airlines.
Flights to Vietnam should be direct or transit through a rabies-controlled country or another EU Member State if possible*. *Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply.
Find a Licensed Veterinarian
Before beginning any pet export procedure, make sure your veterinarian is approved by the governing veterinarian authority in your pet’s country of origin. The agency of the government that is responsible for the movement of live animals should either license or employ your veterinarian.
Quarantine for Pets Entering Vietnam
Quarantine will not be imposed on your pet if the following regulations are met. Pets not meeting import regulations will be quarantined, returned to the origin country or euthanized. All costs are the responsibility of the importer.
Vietnam Pet Import Requirements
All steps required to import a pet dog or cat to Vietnam must be completed in the country of origin. Complete steps 1-6 in the order given.
Step 1: Pet Microchip
Having your pet identified with a microchip is important when traveling internationally for several reasons. First, a microchip will tie your pet to its documentation when entering a foreign country. Second, if, for any reason, your pet is separated from you during travel, the chances of reuniting with your pet significantly increase if you register your information in a microchip database. Third, most countries require that pets be microchipped and compliant microchips may be difficult to find should your pet ever leave Vietnam.
Although not referenced in Vietnam pet import requirements, your pet should be identified with a 15-digit pet microchip which is compliant with International Standards Organization standard 11784 or Annex A of ISO standard 11785 prior to entering Vietnam. All documentation must reflect the microchip number. If your pet’s microchip is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, importers can provide a microchip scanner that will read their pet’s microchip.
Your veterinarian, a veterinary hospital or trained nurse should implant the microchip. Documentation should be provided as to the manufacturer of the microchip and registration instructions.
If your pet does not have a registered microchip, make sure your pets are wearing tags that identify them and have contact information for the owner.
Step 2: Vaccinations
All cats and dogs over 3 months of age must be vaccinated for rabies between 30 days and 12 months prior to entering Vietnam. Vietnam does not recognize the 3-year rabies vaccine. The administering veterinarian should record vaccination information, sign and stamp one of the following documents depending on veterinary practices in the country of origin:
- a rabies certificate
- a government-issued vaccination booklet or
- an EU Pet Passport
Other Vaccinations
Dogs should be vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus. Cats should be vaccinated against viral rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia and leukemia.
Veterinarians must record vaccinations on the international health certificate (step 5) at intervals required by veterinary health procedures of the origination country.
Step 3: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test
A rabies titer test, also known as a rabies antibody test or rabies serology test, is a blood test that measures the level of rabies antibodies in your pet’s blood. The test will assess the effectiveness of a rabies vaccination or determine your pet’s immune response to the rabies virus. When required, a licensed veterinarian will administer the test more than 30 days after the most current rabies vaccination.
Vietnam does not require a rabies titer test for cats and dogs entering from any country. However, all pets originating in countries classified as having a high risk of rabies should always travel with a rabies titer test. In addition, the World Organization of Animal Health classifies Vietnam as a high-rabies risk country. As such, if your pet will be returning to the country of origin, this test may be required.
Note that rabies titer test results or veterinary exemption letters are no substitution for proof of rabies vaccination.
Step 4: Parasite Treatments
According to all preventative measures to ensure public health and the safety of your pet, treatments for internal and external parasites should be administered prior to entering Vietnam.
The treatment of pets for internal parasites, especially Echinococcus multilocularis, as well as external parasites (fleas and ticks) should be discussed with your veterinarian who will administer according to disease status of the origination country. These treatments are recommended to be administered 5-7 days prior to import.
The administering veterinarian can record these treatments on the health certificate or issue you a record of treatment.
Step 5: Health Certificate
All countries worldwide require an original health certificate (sometimes known as a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection) for live animals entering their country. The certificate should include the following information:
- details of your pet and
- vaccinations and treatments and
- veterinary attestations regarding symptoms of contagious diseases at the time of export.
Further, your veterinarian must certify that your pet is healthy enough to travel and is not from a region that is subject to rabies restrictions. The health certificate must properly identify your pet. Your veterinarian will include additional details and treatments on the certificate depending on the country of origin.
A licensed veterinarian in the origination country must complete the health certificate within 7 days of entry.
A government veterinarian must either issue the certificate or endorse the certificate after issuance by a licensed veterinarian. This official represents the agency in the origination country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.
Step 6: Import Permit
The import of dogs and cats numbering 2 or less with their owners do not require an import permit.
Other Information
Breeds Banned from Import to Vietnam
Vietnam does not publish a list of banned breeds. Pet owners are always responsible for their pet’s behavior.
Entering Vietnam by Air
Pets must enter Vietnam by air via Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, Cam Ranh International Airport, Cam Nghĩa in Cam Ranh and Da Nang International Airport in Da Nang. Pets can enter in the cabin, as checked baggage or air cargo according to airline pet policies.
Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant?
Importers will need to provide advance notice to veterinary officials at the airport so they will be available to inspect your pet and its passport documentation upon landing. This is especially important if your pet will be arriving outside of normal business hours.
Flights should be direct if the duration of the flight does not violate animal welfare laws. Layovers should be short and not involve a change in airline companies. If your pet’s itinerary involves a layover in the European Union, then additional requirements will apply.
All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the entry airport. A government veterinarian will provide further examination if your dog or cat is not in apparent good health when entering Vietnam. All costs associated with further inspections or treatments will be borne by the importer.
Whenever your pet travels to a foreign country like Vietnam, it is always advisable to carry some form of identification indicating ownership of your pet.
Importing Other Pet Animals to Vietnam
Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to requirements of rabies vaccination but may have to meet other requirements and should have a health certificate to enter Vietnam. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) prohibits the trade of some species of animals, including pets. This is crucial if you have a pet that isn’t a dog or cat, and it’s crucial if it’s a turtle or a parrot. If this is the case, importers will have to submit additional permit applications. The agency that issues these permits is responsible for the protection of wildlife in your country.
Over 180 countries participate in and enforce CITES regulations.
Related: Search the CITES database or Search the Species+ database
Related: Read more about CITES
Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to Vietnam?
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Current Information
To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given country may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to make arrangements to put your pet into quarantine at your expense, return your pet to the country of origin, or euthanize your pet. To avoid these consequences, we suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Vietnam pet import requirements.
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