Pet Transport USA to Vietnam: The 2026 MARD Import Guide

Taking your dog or cat from United States to Vietnam comes down to good timing and the right paperwork. Plan on roughly 4-8 weeks; the checklist is clear and the timing is …

4-8 wks

Preparation needed

None

Quarantine on arrival

Medium

Route complexity

Managed

Full door to door

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Lead time needed

4-8 weeks

Quarantine

None

Route complexity

Medium

Airlines

4 carriers on this route

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In short: Preparing to move a pet from United States to Vietnam typically takes around 4-8 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.

Regulations checked June 2026

Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team

Step by step

The import process, in full

Start of planning.

Confirm microchip is ISO-compliant and recorded.

Responsible: Your vet

At least 30 days before your travel date, ideally longer.

Ensure rabies vaccination is current and was administered at least 30 days before travel.

Responsible: Your vet

At least 4-6 weeks before travel.

Apply for Vietnam MARD import permit through the Vietnamese embassy or consulate in the USA. Allow several weeks.

Responsible: You or your agent

Close to travel date, within the validity window.

Book USDA-accredited vet for health certificate.

Responsible: USDA-accredited vet

Immediately after vet appointment.

USDA APHIS endorses the certificate. Allow two to five business days.

Responsible: USDA APHIS

After USDA endorsement.

Arrange a Vietnamese translation of the health certificate if required by MARD for your specific permit.

Responsible: You or your agent

Several weeks before travel.

Book cargo space with Vietnam Airlines, Korean Air Cargo, or Cathay Pacific.

Responsible: You

Travel day.

Travel to Vietnam. Veterinary inspection on arrival at Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) or Hanoi (HAN).

Responsible: You and airline

Checklist

What your pet needs

Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.

Microchip

ISO 11784/11785 microchip required and must be recorded on the health certificate. Source: Vietnam Department of Animal Health (DAH), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

Rabies vaccination

Required. Must be current and valid at time of arrival in Vietnam. Administered at least 30 days before arrival. Source: Vietnam DAH/MARD.

Rabies titre test

Not routinely required for personal pets from the USA entering Vietnam.

Quarantine

No routine quarantine for dogs and cats from the USA with correct documentation. A veterinary inspection is conducted on arrival.

Import permit

An import permit from Vietnam's Department of Animal Health (MARD) is required before travel. Apply through the nearest Vietnamese embassy or consulate in the USA, or through MARD directly. Allow several weeks for processing. Source: Vietnam MARD.

Health certificate

Official health certificate issued by a USDA-accredited vet and endorsed by USDA APHIS. Must confirm microchip, rabies vaccination, freedom from disease, and fitness to travel. An unofficial Vietnamese translation may also be required.

Export permit

No formal US export permit required. The USDA-endorsed health certificate is the export document.

Health certificate

USDA-accredited vet issues the health certificate and USDA APHIS endorses it. Vietnam's Department of Animal Health (under MARD, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) requires the endorsed certificate before travel. Source: USDA APHIS, aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel.

We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your United States to Vietnam move gets missed.

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Airlines

Carriers on this route

Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. Confirm the operating carrier's current policy for every flight segment.

Vietnam Airlines

Vietnam Airlines operates from Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) to Hanoi (HAN) and Ho Chi Minh City (SGN). Vietnam Airlines Cargo accepts pets as manifested cargo. As Vietnam's national carrier, Vietnam Airlines has experience coordinating with MARD on arrival. No cabin pets on transatlantic routes. Brachycephalic breed restrictions apply.

Cargo Only

United Airlines

United Cargo connects from US gateways via Tokyo (NRT) or Hong Kong (HKG) to Vietnam. Confirm the complete routing accepts pet cargo before booking.

Cargo Only

Korean Air Cargo

Via Seoul Incheon (ICN) to Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. Korean Air Cargo has established procedures for pet transport and connects well from multiple US cities. Good option for midwest and eastern US gateways.

Cargo Only

Cathay Pacific Cargo

Via Hong Kong (HKG) to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) or Hanoi (HAN). Cathay Pacific Cargo has a strong Asia network. Note that AFCD transit rules apply at HKG. Seasonal restrictions; confirm before booking.

Cargo Only

Costs

What this route typically costs

USDA-accredited vet examination and health certificate: USD 100 to USD 300

USDA APHIS endorsement: USD 38

Vietnamese translation of health certificate: USD 50 to USD 150 if required

Vietnam MARD import permit: varies, typically low fee

International pet cargo (USA to Vietnam): USD 800 to USD 2,300

IATA-compliant crate: USD 80 to USD 350 if needed

Total typical range: USD 1,070 to USD 3,150

Critical points

Vietnam's import permit from MARD must be obtained before travel. This takes several weeks. Starting at least six weeks before your travel date is sensible.

Vietnam has two main international cargo airports: Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat Airport, SGN) and Hanoi (Noi Bai Airport, HAN). Confirm which airport your cargo booking routes to and ensure the MARD permit specifies the correct entry point.

Vietnam's climate is tropical. Ho Chi Minh City is hot year-round (28-35 degrees Celsius). Brachycephalic breeds face airline restrictions on heat-affected routes. Hanoi has cooler winters, but summer temperatures can still exceed 35 degrees.

Note: Vietnam is classified as a HIGH-RISK country by the US CDC for dogs travelling FROM Vietnam TO the USA. This affects the reverse route (Vietnam to USA), not this direction. Moving from the USA to Vietnam does not trigger any CDC requirements.

Vietnam entry requirements at a glance

Getting a pet into Vietnam is a middle of the road process. The rules are well defined, so most of the work is simply staying on schedule.

Getting the details right

Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.

Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.

Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.

Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.

FAQ

Common questions

Yes. Vietnam’s Department of Animal Health (under MARD, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) requires an import permit before a dog or cat can enter Vietnam. Apply through the Vietnamese embassy or consulate in the USA. Allow several weeks for processing. Travelling without a permit will likely result in your pet being held on arrival.

No titre test is routinely required for personal pets from the USA entering Vietnam. You need a current rabies vaccination (given at least 30 days before arrival), an ISO-compliant microchip, and a USDA-endorsed health certificate. The MARD import permit is also required.

Vietnam Airlines operates from Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) to Hanoi (HAN) and Ho Chi Minh City (SGN). Korean Air Cargo connects via Seoul Incheon (ICN) from many US cities. Cathay Pacific Cargo routes via Hong Kong (HKG). All carry pets as manifested cargo. No cabin pets on long-haul international routes.

No routine quarantine applies to dogs and cats from the USA with correct documentation. A veterinary inspection is conducted at the MARD border post on arrival at the cargo facility. Pets with complete, correct paperwork are released after inspection.

No. The CDC high-risk classification for Vietnam applies to dogs travelling FROM Vietnam TO the USA, not the other direction. Moving from the USA to Vietnam follows Vietnam’s import rules (MARD), not the CDC rules. The CDC classification only comes into play if you later want to bring your pet back from Vietnam to the USA.

Allow six to eight weeks from starting preparations to travel day. The main tasks are ensuring vaccinations are current (rabies must be given at least 30 days before travel), applying for the MARD import permit (several weeks processing time), and getting the USDA-endorsed health certificate done in the correct validity window. Starting early gives you time to resolve any issues with the permit.

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Airline guides

Vietnam Airlines
United Airlines
Korean Air Cargo
Cathay Pacific Cargo

Breed guides

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Pet Transport USA to Vietnam: The 2026 MARD Import Guide

The import process, in full

What your pet needs

Carriers on this route

What this route typically costs

Critical points

Vietnam entry requirements at a glance

Getting the details right

Common questions

Move your pet

Airline guides

Breed guides

Get a free pet transport quote