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Pet Transport USA to Vietnam: The 2026 MARD Import Guide

Vietnam is a growing destination for American expats, and the process for bringing a dog or cat from the USA is manageable. The main requirements are a MARD import permit (obtained …

4-8 wks
Preparation needed
None
Quarantine on arrival
Medium
Route complexity
Managed
Full door to door
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What's required
MicrochipISO 11784/11785 microchip required and …
Rabies vaccinationRequired. Must be current and valid at …
Rabies titre testNot routinely required for personal pets …
QuarantineNo routine quarantine for dogs and cats …
Import permitAn import permit from Vietnam's …
Health certificateOfficial health certificate issued by a …
Related routes
Pet Transport Vietnam to USA→Pet Transport USA to Thailand→Pet Transport USA to Philippines→
Step by step

The import process, in full

1
Start of planning.
Confirm microchip is ISO-compliant and recorded.

Responsible: Your vet

2
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

3
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

4
Close to travel date, within the validity window.
Book USDA-accredited vet for health certificate.

Responsible: USDA-accredited vet

5
Immediately after vet appointment.
USDA APHIS endorses the certificate. Allow two to five business days.

Responsible: USDA APHIS

6
After USDA endorsement.
Arrange a Vietnamese translation of the health certificate if required by MARD for your specific permit.

Responsible: You or your agent

7
Several weeks before travel.
Book cargo space with Vietnam Airlines, Korean Air Cargo, or Cathay Pacific.

Responsible: You

8
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.
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Airlines

Carriers on this route

Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. We know every carrier policy for this corridor.

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.

The MARD import permit: apply early

Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) manages all live animal imports through the Department of Animal Health (DAH). Before your pet can enter Vietnam, you need an import permit from MARD. Apply through the Vietnamese embassy or consulate in the USA, or through MARD’s offices directly.

Processing times vary. Building in six weeks before your travel date is safe. Some applicants report faster turnarounds, but it’s not guaranteed, and a delayed permit means a delayed move.

The permit specifies the entry airport, so make sure you apply for the correct one: Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) or Hanoi (HAN). Vietnam Airlines from Los Angeles and San Francisco is the most direct routing to both cities. Korean Air via Seoul Incheon is a solid alternative from eastern and midwestern US gateways.

Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi: choosing your arrival point

Vietnam’s two main international pet cargo airports are Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN) and Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport (HAN). The practical choice depends on where you’re living in Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s economic hub and has a large expat community. SGN handles significant cargo volumes and MARD inspection facilities are in place. Hanoi is the capital, cooler in winter, and HAN also has established pet cargo procedures.

Climate matters for travel timing. Ho Chi Minh City is hot year-round, with temperatures between 28 and 35 degrees Celsius. Hanoi has four seasons, with cooler winters (15-20 degrees Celsius from December to February) that can actually be better for pet cargo, and hot summers (35+ degrees Celsius in July and August). Airlines adjust heat restrictions for pet cargo based on ground conditions at the destination airport.

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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