Airlines That Fly Pets to China from Vietnam: Vietnam Airlines, Air China, China Southern & China Eastern

Five airlines fly pets to China from Vietnam on direct routes: Vietnam Airlines, Air China, China Southern, China Eastern and Sichuan Airlines. Vietnam Airlines is the only one that carries pets in the cabin. The Chinese airlines carry pets in the hold as checked baggage, up to 32 kg with the crate, and none of them transfer a pet to another airline.

Short Answer: Which Airline Flies Pets to China from Vietnam?

• Small pet, flying with you: Vietnam Airlines, in the cabin up to 6 kg with the carrier.
• Larger pet, flying with you: checked baggage on Vietnam Airlines, Air China, China Southern, China Eastern or Sichuan Airlines.
• Heavy pet, or pet flying without you: manifest cargo.
• Snub-nosed breed: the Chinese airlines refuse Pugs, Bulldogs, Persians and similar breeds.
• Going to Chengdu: only Sichuan Airlines flies there direct from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

China’s own rules on documents and quarantine are in our guide to China pet import requirements.

Cabin, Checked Baggage or Cargo: Which Can Your Pet Use to China?

China’s customs authority, the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), does not require pets to fly as cargo. The airline and the pet’s size decide the travel method.

• Cabin: the pet stays with you in a soft carrier under the seat. Only Vietnam Airlines offers this to China. The pet must be at least 10 weeks old, and pet plus carrier must weigh under 6 kg.
• Checked baggage: the pet flies in the hold on your flight, booked on your ticket. All five airlines accept it, within their weight limit for pet and crate together.
• Manifest cargo: the pet flies on its own air waybill, with or without you on board. This is the only option for a pet too heavy for checked baggage.

The differences are explained in our guide to the three ways pets fly.

How Do the Airlines Compare on Pets to China?

The table uses each airline’s own pet page, read in October 2026.

Vietnam Airlines

Vietnam Airlines flies from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. It charges USD 400 per sector for the cabin. Checked baggage costs USD 200 up to 9 kg, USD 250 from 9 to 16 kg and USD 300 above 16 kg. China is not on its list of routes with pet limits. The airline refuses a list of breeds that includes Pugs, Bulldogs, Chow Chows and Persian cats, shown in our page on breeds Vietnam Airlines will not carry.

China Southern

China Southern carries one pet per cage, in a crate no larger than 90 × 60 × 66 cm. For flights that do not start in the United States or Europe, it charges RMB 1,380 up to 8 kg, RMB 2,100 from 8 to 23 kg and RMB 3,500 above 23 kg. You sign a liability waiver at check-in, at least 120 minutes before departure. Its rules are on the China Southern pet page.

China Eastern

China Eastern carries pets only on direct flights operated by China Eastern or Shanghai Airlines. It refuses soft carriers and crates with plastic doors. If the forecast at any point of the trip is 30°C or higher, or −12°C or lower, the airline may refuse the pet. Its conditions are on the China Eastern small animal page.

Air China

Air China accepts pets only on aircraft with an oxygen-supplied hold. Ask for the pet service when you book, because the airline must approve it. Air China does not transfer pets to other airlines. Its rules are on the Air China small animal page.

Sichuan Airlines

Sichuan Airlines flies direct from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Chengdu Tianfu. It accepts up to 10 pets per flight in the hold. It also refuses fighting breeds and dogs that cope poorly with heat, such as Samoyeds. Confirm the current conditions with the airline before booking.

Which Chinese Airport Should Your Pet Land At?

A pet that meets every rule can land at any Chinese airport. A pet that may need quarantine should land at an airport with a quarantine facility, such as Beijing Capital, Shanghai Pudong, Shanghai Hongqiao or Guangzhou Baiyun.

• Beijing Daxing (PKX): Vietnam Airlines flies there from Ho Chi Minh City. Daxing has no pet quarantine facility.
• Chengdu Tianfu (TFU): no pet quarantine facility.
• Other cities: China Southern, China Eastern and Sichuan Airlines carry pets on direct flights only. A city without a direct flight means a separate booking for each leg, or cargo.

The full list of 10 quarantine ports is in our China pet import FAQ.

Which Breeds Do Airlines Refuse on China Routes?

The airlines refuse snub-nosed dogs and cats because they breathe less easily in the hold. Common examples are Pugs, Bulldogs, Boxers, Shih Tzus, Persians and British Shorthairs. The Chinese airlines also refuse aggressive breeds. China Eastern refuses pets under 6 months old and pregnant pets. Each list ends with “not limited to”, so ask the airline in writing before you pay for vet work.

Can Your Pet Fly to China as Cargo Without You?

Yes. China treats a pet shipped within 6 months after your entry as your separately shipped baggage. You must enter China first and declare the separately shipped baggage in writing, in the red channel. A receiving agent at the arrival airport then clears the pet. The steps after landing are in our guide to pet inspection on arrival in China.

When Should You Choose Each Airline?

• Choose Vietnam Airlines for a small pet in the cabin, or when a Chinese airline refuses your breed but Vietnam Airlines’ list does not include it.
• Choose China Southern for Guangzhou and southern China.
• Choose China Eastern for Shanghai, outside the hottest months.
• Choose Air China for Beijing Capital, if the aircraft has an oxygen-supplied hold.
• Choose Sichuan Airlines for Chengdu.
• Choose cargo for a pet too heavy for checked baggage, or when you fly on a different day.

Airline fees are only one part of the budget. The other costs are in our China pet relocation cost guide.

FAQ: Airlines That Fly Pets to China from Vietnam

Can my pet fly in the cabin from Vietnam to China?

Only on Vietnam Airlines. The pet must be at least 10 weeks old, and pet plus carrier must weigh under 6 kg. Air China, China Southern, China Eastern and Sichuan Airlines carry pets only in the hold.

What is the weight limit for pets as checked baggage to China?

32 kg for pet and crate together, on all five airlines. A heavier pet flies as manifest cargo.

Can my pet take a connecting flight to China?

Rarely. China Southern, China Eastern and Sichuan Airlines carry pets on direct flights only, and Air China does not transfer pets to other airlines. Plan a direct flight or cargo.

Which airline flies pets from Vietnam to Chengdu?

Sichuan Airlines flies direct from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Chengdu Tianfu and carries pets in the hold. Chengdu has no pet quarantine facility, so the pet must meet every Chinese rule.

Do the airlines accept snub-nosed breeds to China?

The Chinese airlines refuse them. Vietnam Airlines refuses some, such as Pugs and Bulldogs, so check its list for your breed.