Pet Transport Vietnam to USA: The 2026 CDC High-Risk Country Guide

For most people moving a dog from Vietnam to the USA, the titre test pathway is the preferred option over the 28-day US quarantine. The titre test measures the level of rabies antibodies in your dog’s blood, confirming that the vaccination has produced an adequate immune response.

The sequence is: valid rabies vaccination, wait at least 30 days, blood draw by a Vietnamese vet, sample sent to a USDA-recognised laboratory, result received showing 0.5 IU/mL or above, then wait at least 28 days after the blood draw date before entering the USA. The total minimum timeline from rabies vaccination to US entry is roughly 58 days (30 days post-vaccination to blood draw, plus 28 days for the titre test result to be old enough). In practice, allow more time to account for laboratory processing and scheduling.

Not all laboratories are recognised by the USDA for this purpose. Confirm with the CDC and USDA APHIS that the laboratory you plan to use is on the approved list before submitting any samples. Using an unrecognised laboratory means the result will not be accepted.

A reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility at your US destination airport is also required, even if your titre test result is valid. The facility provides the official point of check-in for arriving animals from high-risk countries.

The CDC high-risk rules apply to dogs only. Cats moving from Vietnam to the USA have no federal vaccination requirements, no titre test requirement, and no quarantine. A health certificate from a Vietnamese vet is recommended for air travel and may be required by the airline, but cats do not need CDC clearance for US entry.

For dogs, the alternative to the titre test is a 28-day quarantine at a CDC-registered facility on arrival in the USA. This removes the need to complete the titre test process before travel, but the cost is significant (typically USD 1,500 to USD 4,000 depending on the facility and dog size) and the dog spends 28 days away from the owner after arrival. The titre test pathway is usually more practical for people who have sufficient planning time.

Not every US airport has a CDC-registered animal care facility. Before booking your flight, confirm that your intended US destination airport is on the CDC’s approved list at cdc.gov/importation. Vietnam Airlines direct from Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) to Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) is convenient because both airports qualify. Korean Air via Seoul connects to multiple US cities, some of which also qualify.