Conditions for booking services

Conditions for transporting pets in the passenger cabin

Pet type: Dogs and cats aged 10 weeks or older. Vietnam Airlines does not accept pet birds in the passenger cabin; instead, please register for pet transportation as checked baggage.

Health: Pets carried into the passenger cabin must be in good health, not sick, fully vaccinated, not emit an unpleasant odor, and not affect passengers or their possessions.

Weight: Each transport cage holds one pet, and the overall weight of the pet and kennel cannot exceed 6kg. If the pet and container weigh more than 6kg, passengers need to register to transport the pet as checked baggage.

Quantity: On each flight, the maximum number of pets transported in the passenger cabin of each service class is as follows:

  • A business class cabin on A321 aircraft: maximum 01 pet (business class cabins on A350 and B787 aircraft are not applicable);
  • A premium economy class cabin: maximum 02 pets;
  • An economy class cabin: maximum 02 pets.

Notes:

  • During the flight, the pets in the cabin should be kept in the transport cage and placed on the flight floor in front of the passenger seat.
  • If passengers seated in the row next to the emergency exit are not allowed to transport pets in the passenger cabin, please book the pet transportation service as checked baggage or cargo.

Conditions for transporting pets in checked baggage

Pet type: Dogs, cats aged 10 weeks or older and ornamental birds.

Health: Pets transported as checked baggage must be in good health, not sick, fully vaccinated, not emit an unpleasant odor, and not affect passengers or their possessions.

Weight: The total weight of the pet and the cage must not exceed 32kg. If the pet and cage weigh more than 32kg, passengers need to register to transport the pet as cargo.

Quantity: Each flight is allowed to transport a maximum of 09 pets as checked baggage, each passenger is allowed to transport a maximum of 03 pets, and each container is allowed to accommodate 01 pet except for the following cases:

  • 02 pets are allowed to be in one kennel if they have lived together and the total weight of 02 pets must not exceed 14kg;
  • Pets under 6 months of age are allowed to be in one kennel with their mother;
  • Two birds are allowed to be in one birdcage wrapped with a piece of fabric.

Pets cannot be transported

  • Pregnant pets are not accepted for transportation;
  • Some dog and cat breeds are extremely sensitive to temperature, humidity, light, pressure, and sound and are vulnerable when flying. To maintain the safety of aircraft and passengers' pets, Vietnam Airlines does not accept the transportation of dog and cat breeds listed below;
  • To maintain safety, Vietnam Airlines has the right to require a Certificate of Adaptation from passengers or refuse to carry pets if the weather is excessively hot or cold;
  • The captain can refuse to transport the pets or move them to the cargo if they endanger passengers or flight crew. Passengers will be advised of this decision in advance and assume full responsibility for the pet's injury, illness, or death during transportation.

Special cases: Service dogs for reduced mobility passengers

Reduced mobility passengers are allowed to bring service dogs on board without paying an additional service fee. Advanced reservation for service dogs is required.

Service dogs need to wear a muzzle, lead or similar device throughout the flight. Service dogs must be trained to perform work or tasks for disabled owners, as well as to behave appropriately in public and obey their owners' commands. In addition, service dogs must have all of their "required documents" ready before to the flight. A service dog must sit in front of its owner-passenger.

Conditions for the containers

The containers for your pet either by checked baggage or on the cabin should meet the following requirements:

  • Have enough space for the pets to move around, stand up, sit, and lie down comfortably;
  • Made of fiberglass, metal, rigid plastics, weld metal mesh, solid wood or plywood. Wooden containers are only accepted for transporting cats (not applicable for transporting dogs);
  • The whole of one end of the container must be open, covered with bars which are securely fixed to the container;
  • The door must form the whole of one end, be securely locked for safety journey. Passengers can use additional plastic seals to tie them to the door;
  • The floor must be solid and leak-proof;
  • Any wheels must be removed or folded prior to the flight;
  • The interior of the container must be smooth with no sharp edges or protuberances;
  • Water and food containers are securely attached to the kennels.

In addition to the above requirements, the containers are required to meet the following size and weight standards:

  • The containers for transporting pets in passenger cabin: Dimensions in 3 dimensions (width, length, height) do not exceed 35cm x 30cm x 20cm. The total weight of the pet and container must not exceed 6kg;
  • The containers for transporting pets as checked baggage: The total weight of the pet and the carrier must not exceed 32kg.

A: The door must have a centralized locking mechanism that locks at the top and at the bottom of the door;
B: The door hinges must extend beyond the horizontal extrusions located above and below the door by 1.6 cm;
C: The 2 halves of the container must be fastened together by bolts. All other lateral closing mechanisms are strictly prohibited. Another locking mechanism may be used in conjunction with bolts.

Book the pet transport service

Service booking instructions

Passengers should contact a Vietnam Airlines branch to book the service at least 24 hours before the expected departure time.

Service charge

The pet transport service charge is based on the total weight of one transport cage and a pet animal, excluding value-added tax. Regulations and charges for transporting pets apply only to flights operated by Vietnam Airlines.

See detailed pet transport charges as checked baggage, pet transport charges in the passenger cabin or look up pet transport charges by specific itinerary.

Planning for travel

Documents required

Passengers need to prepare the necessary documents before checking in at the airport, including: An exit quarantine certificate or certificate of departure country/region, entry certificate or quarantine certificate of destination country/region, medical certificate, passport, etc. All documents should be valid.

Immigration rules for pets

Taking pets on board depends on the legal and quarantine systems of each country/region. For a more comprehensive flight experience, please familiarize yourself with the government regulations of both the departure and arrival countries.

Australian government regulations: Pets are not accepted in the passenger cabin or as checked baggage. Please visit the Australian government website for more detailed information.

United Kingdom government regulations

  • For flights to the United Kingdom: Animals are only accepted as cargo.
  • For flights departing from the United Kingdom: Animals are only allowed to be transported as checked baggage or cargo. Please visit the United Kingdom government website for more detailed information.

United States government regulations

Passengers traveling to the US from Vietnam with pets (dogs) should note the following entry requirements.

  • For dogs previously vaccinated against rabies in the US, please note the following requirements:
    • The CDC Dog Import Form receipt;
    • A Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination form or a USDA-endorsed export health certificate;
    • Dogs must appear healthy upon arrival;
    • Dogs must be at least 6 months old at time of entry or return to the U.S;
    • Dogs must have a microchip that can be detected with a universal scanner to identify them. The microchip must be implanted before getting the rabies vaccine, or else the vaccine will be invalid. The microchip number must be included on all required forms and supporting documents.

    • For more detailed information, please refer to the entry regulations for dogs vaccinated against rabies in the United States.

  • For dogs vaccinated against rabies in other foreign countries:
    • The CDC Dog Import Form receipt;
    • A Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form;
    • If not included on the form above, passengers will also need a valid rabies serology titer report from a CDC-approved laboratory;
    • Dogs must have a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility. If passengers do not have a valid rabies serology titer, this must include a 28-day quarantine reservation;
    • Dogs must appear healthy upon arrival;
    • Dogs must be at least 6 months old at time of entry or return to the U.S;
    • Dogs must have a microchip that can be detected with a universal scanner to identify them. The microchip must be implanted before getting the rabies vaccine, or else the vaccine will be invalid. The microchip number must be included on all required forms and supporting documents.
  • For more detailed information, please refer to the entry regulations for dogs vaccinated against rabies in other countries.

Pets (dogs) that have not been vaccinated against rabies will not be accepted for transportation.

Passengers can refer to the immigration regulations for pets of the governments of Japan, South Korea and other countries.

Check the pet’s status

  • Before the departure date, pets must obtain a quarantine certificate and a health certificate, among other things. Refer to the “Required document”.
  • One or two days before the departure date, passengers are advised to check their pets on a frequent basis to verify that they are in good health for the flight. If the pet is traveling by air for the first time, passengers should consult a veterinarian to determine appropriate options.
  • On the departure date, passengers should:
    • Feed their pets at least 4 to 6 hours before the departure time. Please prepare water for the pets that is not over 2/3 of the tank's capacity if the total flight time is more than 12 hours.
    • Pets should not emit unpleasant odors that bother other passengers.

Counter check-in

Passengers with pets should be at the airport early to make sure having enough time to check in before the flight. Vietnam Airlines recommends passengers arrive at the airport at least two hours before their scheduled departure time.

Passengers will be instructed by Vietnam Airlines staff to sign a "Waiver of Liability" form at the airport, or they can prepare this form ahead of time by downloading the form here, filling out the details, and presenting it at the airport.

Notes: To maintain safety, Vietnam Airlines has the right to require a Certificate of Adaptation from passengers or refuse to carry pets if the weather is excessively hot or cold.

At the arrival airport

Procedures at the arrival airport depend on the regulations of each airport. Passengers transporting pets should examine the destination's information and immigration regulations in order to prepare for the appropriate procedures.