Airlines for Pets from Vietnam to Japan (2026): Vietnam Airlines, ANA and JAL Compared

Pets can fly with you from Vietnam to Japan on Vietnam Airlines, All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL). Japan’s quarantine rules are the same whether your pet flies in the cabin, as checked baggage or as cargo. The airline decides which of these it offers.

Short Answer: Which Airline Should Fly Your Pet to Japan?

• Does Japan require cargo? No. The Animal Quarantine Service FAQ says the procedure is not affected by the way of transport.
• Which airline allows the cabin? Only Vietnam Airlines, for a small pet within its cabin weight limit.
• Can my pet fly as checked baggage? Yes, on all three airlines. You collect it at baggage claim in Japan.
• When is cargo needed? When your pet flies without you, or is too heavy for checked baggage.
• What does it cost? USD 200 to 400 on Vietnam Airlines, and JPY 25,000 (USD 250) on ANA or JAL.

The airline is only one part of the move. The full plan, from microchip to arrival, is in our pet shipping timeline from Vietnam to Japan.

Vietnam Airlines, ANA and JAL Side by Side for Japan

Fees and limits come from each airline’s own pages, checked in October 2026. Each airline’s rules apply on flights it operates. On a codeshare flight, the operating airline’s rules apply.

Vietnam Airlines: The Only Cabin Option to Japan

Vietnam Airlines connects Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City with Tokyo, Osaka (Kansai), Nagoya and Fukuoka. In July 2025 it ran over 120 flights a week on these routes (VOV).

• Cabin (PETC): dogs and cats from 10 weeks old. The pet and carrier together must weigh 6 kg or less. The carrier must fit 35 x 30 x 20 cm and stays on the floor in front of your seat.
• Checked baggage (AVIH): dogs, cats and ornamental birds. The pet and crate together must weigh 32 kg or less.
• Breeds: the airline refuses a long list of breeds on every flight, including Persian, Himalayan, Exotic and Burmese cats. Check our Vietnam Airlines breed list before you book.
• Fees: the cabin costs USD 400 (cabin fee page). Checked baggage costs USD 200 up to 9 kg, USD 250 up to 16 kg and USD 300 up to 32 kg (checked fee page). VAT is added.
• Weather: the airline may refuse pets in very hot or cold weather.

Book through a Vietnam Airlines office at least 24 hours before departure. Seats next to emergency exits cannot take a pet in the cabin. Full conditions are on the Vietnam Airlines pet page.

ANA: Checked Baggage on Daily Non-Stop Flights to Tokyo

ANA’s timetable lists daily non-stop flights from Hanoi to Narita, and from Ho Chi Minh City to Narita and Haneda (ANA timetable).

• Cabin: not available, except for qualified assistance dogs.
• Checked baggage: the pet must be at least 4 months old. The crate’s length, width and height may total 292 cm at most, and the crate with the pet may weigh 45 kg at most.
• Breeds: ANA does not check in 13 snub-nosed dog breeds from May 1 to October 31. They include Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Pugs, Shih Tzus and Boxers. ANA lists no cat breeds.
• Summer crates: in the same summer period, ANA refuses covered crates and crates placed inside another crate.
• Water: attach a nozzle-type water bottle. ANA does not accept bowl-type dispensers.
• Fee: charged per crate, on top of your free baggage allowance.

For a flight 4 days or more away, book by sending a message to ANA on LINE. For a closer date, call ANA. You also sign a consent form. Details are on the ANA pet page.

JAL: Checked Baggage with a Year-Round Bulldog Ban

JAL serves both Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi and Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Check the day you need on JAL’s timetable.

• Cabin: JAL’s international pet service carries pets in the hold only.
• Checked baggage: dogs and cats from 8 weeks old. Pregnant pets are refused. Space in the hold depends on the aircraft, so JAL confirms it a few days after you ask.
• Breeds: JAL never accepts Bulldogs or French Bulldogs. From May to October, JAL asks owners of puppies, older dogs and snub-nosed breeds to avoid daytime flights.
• Crate: your own crate must meet IATA standards. Each checked piece may weigh up to 45 kg, and pieces over 203 cm in total size may be refused.
• Fee: charged per crate, the Asia rate on the JAL pet charge page.

Arrive at least 120 minutes before departure and bring a signed letter of consent. You check in your pet at the same counter as your own bags. Details are on the JAL pet page.

When Does Your Pet Need to Fly to Japan as Cargo?

Cargo is the right method in two cases. Your pet flies without you, or the pet and crate are over the checked baggage limit. A cargo agent books the space under an air waybill and takes the pet to the cargo terminal.

In Japan, a cargo pet is inspected in the cargo area instead of baggage claim. The inspection rules are the same. Customs clearance is a separate step, often handled by a customs broker. Our guide to cabin, checked baggage and cargo compares the three methods.

How to Choose an Airline for Your Pet to Japan

• Small cat or dog that fits the cabin limit: choose Vietnam Airlines if you want the pet in the cabin.
• Persian, Himalayan, Exotic or Burmese cat: Vietnam Airlines refuses these cats, so choose ANA or JAL as checked baggage.
• Snub-nosed dog: JAL never takes Bulldogs or French Bulldogs. ANA takes its 13 listed breeds only from November to April.
• Heavier dog: ANA takes up to 45 kg as checked baggage. JAL decides by aircraft. Above the limit, the dog flies as cargo.
• Flying from Da Nang: Vietnam Airlines is the only one of the three that flies non-stop.

What Happens After Landing in Japan

A pet that flies with you comes out at baggage claim. Take it to the Animal Quarantine Service counter there, before customs. If the documents are correct, the pet leaves with you within hours. What Daisy Pet arranges on this route is on our pet relocation page for Japan, and costs are in our cost guide for Japan.

FAQ: Flying a Pet from Vietnam to Japan

Does Japan require pets from Vietnam to fly as cargo?

No. Japan’s Animal Quarantine Service applies the same rules to pets in the cabin, as checked baggage or as cargo. The airline decides which methods it offers.

Which airline lets my cat fly in the cabin to Japan?

Only Vietnam Airlines, and only if the cat and its carrier weigh 6 kg or less. ANA and JAL carry pets as checked baggage, not in the cabin.

How much does it cost to fly a pet to Japan as checked baggage?

ANA and JAL charge JPY 25,000 (USD 250) per crate between Vietnam and Japan. Vietnam Airlines charges USD 200 to 300 by weight, before VAT.

Can a French Bulldog or other snub-nosed dog fly to Japan?

It is difficult. JAL never accepts Bulldogs or French Bulldogs. ANA does not check in 13 snub-nosed breeds between May 1 and October 31. Vietnam Airlines refuses many snub-nosed breeds all year.

When does a pet have to travel as cargo?

When it flies without you, or when the pet and crate are over the airline’s checked baggage limit. A cargo agent books the space and handles the paperwork.

Is a transit flight a problem for Japan?

Not if your pet stays in the airport. If you and the pet enter the transit country, Japan also needs a health certificate from that country.