Domestic pet travel in Vietnam works with two airlines that publish a pet service: Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet. Every domestic flight needs three things: a valid rabies vaccination, a domestic animal health certificate, and a pet booking made separately from your ticket. Most refusals come from the breed, the weight or a missing booking, so check those before you buy anything.
Quick Summary
- Which airlines take pets? Vietnam Airlines (cabin and checked baggage) and Vietjet (cabin only). Bamboo Airways still lists a pet policy but runs very few flights.
- How heavy can my pet be? Up to 6 kg in the cabin on Vietnam Airlines, 7 kg on Vietjet, and 32 kg as checked baggage on Vietnam Airlines, crate included.
- What paperwork do I need? A vaccination booklet showing a rabies shot from the last 12 months, plus a domestic animal health certificate.
- How do I book? Call the airline: Vietnam Airlines on 1900 1100, Vietjet on 1900 1886. Vietnam Airlines needs at least 24 hours’ notice.
- What does it cost? Vietnam Airlines charges 5,000,000 VND in the cabin and 1,000,000–2,000,000 VND as checked baggage. Vietjet charges 4,000,000 VND per cabin crate. All fees are before VAT.
Can Your Pet Take Domestic Flights? Check These First
Four conditions stop a trip before it starts. Check them before you book your own ticket.
- Breed: Vietnam Airlines refuses 34 dog breeds and 4 cat breeds, in the cabin and as checked baggage. The list includes the Pug, French Bulldog, Shih Tzu, Boxer, Pit Bull, Rottweiler and Persian cat. Vietjet can refuse flat-faced breeds at check-in. The full lists are in our guide to breeds restricted on domestic airlines.
- Age: both airlines take dogs and cats from 10 weeks old.
- Weight: above the checked-baggage limit, Vietnam Airlines carries the pet only as Manifest Cargo. Vietjet takes nothing over 7 kg.
- Airline: Vietnam Airlines’ rules apply only to flights it operates. Pacific Airlines, Vietravel Airlines and Sun PhuQuoc Airways publish no pet policy, so do not plan a pet trip around them.
Cabin or Checked Baggage: Which Airline Fits Your Pet?
The weight of your pet with its carrier decides the method. The method then decides the airline. The figures below come from the Vietnam Airlines pet travel page and the Vietjet Sky Pet page.
| Requirement | Vietnam Airlines | Vietjet (Sky Pet) |
|---|---|---|
| In the cabin | Up to 6 kg with carrier | Up to 7 kg with carrier |
| Carrier size in the cabin | 35 × 30 × 20 cm | 35 × 30 × 20 cm |
| Checked baggage | Up to 32 kg with crate | Not offered |
| Over 32 kg | Manifest Cargo | Not offered |
| Pets per flight | Up to 9 as checked baggage | Up to 3 cabin crates, 1 per passenger |
| Book ahead | At least 24 hours | Before departure, by hotline |
| Hotline | 1900 1100 | 1900 1886 |
Bamboo Airways still publishes a pet page: up to 10 kg in the cabin, and checked baggage only at the airport without confirmation in advance. As of October 2026, Bamboo runs very few domestic flights and its hotline is hard to reach. It may no longer carry pets in practice, so confirm directly with the airline before you plan around it.
Step by Step: From Vaccination to Arrival
A domestic trip has four steps. Start the first one at least 30 days ahead if your pet needs a new rabies shot.
Step 1 (30 days before, if needed): Check the rabies vaccination
Who does it: you and your vet.
The vaccination booklet must show a rabies shot given within the last 12 months, with the clinic’s stamp. A booster given while the old shot is still valid needs no wait. A first shot, or a shot given after the old one expired, should be given at least 30 days before the flight so the vaccine has time to work. This 30-day buffer is the standard Daisy Pet applies.
Step 2 (at least 24 hours before): Book the pet with the airline
Who does it: you, after buying your own ticket.
The pet booking is separate from your ticket. Call Vietnam Airlines on 1900 1100 or Vietjet on 1900 1886 with your booking reference. Give the breed, the weight with the carrier, and the carrier’s size. Weigh your pet inside its carrier before you call. Each flight takes only a few pets, so book as soon as your own ticket is confirmed.
Step 3 (1–2 working days before): Get the domestic animal health certificate
Who does it: the provincial veterinary authority in the province you leave.
Under Circular 01/2026/TT-BNNMT, any dog or cat leaving its home province needs a domestic animal health certificate. It is issued by the Sub-Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health. You can apply online through the National Public Service Portal, by post, by email or in person. The office reviews the application within one working day and sets a time for the check. A vet examines the pet and checks the vaccination booklet. For a vaccinated pet, the certificate is issued within one working day of the check. An online application gets an electronic certificate. The certificate is valid for the actual length of the trip, not a fixed number of days.
Step 4 (travel day): Check in and collect your pet
Who does it: you, with the airline’s check-in staff.
Bring the vaccination booklet, the health certificate and your pet booking. A cabin pet stays in its carrier under the seat in front of you. A checked-baggage pet is checked in at the passenger check-in counter, where everyone drops off suitcases, not at a cargo counter. Use a hard-sided crate that meets IATA standards, with water and an absorbent pad inside. On arrival, collect the crate at the baggage belt or the oversized-baggage area, not at a cargo terminal.
Do not sedate your pet. Sedatives lower blood pressure and weaken temperature control while cabin pressure changes.
Why Can a Pet Be Refused on Domestic Flights?
A confirmed booking is not a guarantee. Staff at the counter check the breed, the weight and the documents again. Vietnam Airlines can refuse a pet in very hot or very cold weather, or ask for a certificate that the pet is used to the conditions. The captain makes the final call on safety. The common causes and how to avoid them are in our guide to refusals on departure day.
How Much Do Domestic Flights Cost for a Pet?
The airline fee is paid to the airline and is separate from your own ticket. All amounts below are before VAT.
- Vietnam Airlines, cabin: 5,000,000 VND.
- Vietnam Airlines, checked baggage: 1,000,000 VND up to 9 kg, 1,500,000 VND for 9–16 kg, 2,000,000 VND for 16–32 kg.
- Vietjet, cabin: 4,000,000 VND per crate. Sky Pet is not available in Business class.
On top of the airline fee, budget for the crate, the vet visit and the health certificate. The zone pricing and international fees are in our Vietnam Airlines pet fee breakdown.
What If No Airline Will Take Your Pet?
A refused breed or a pet over the weight limits still travels, but by road. A car with working air-conditioning is the safest road option. Most interprovincial buses put pets in the luggage hold, which is rarely air-conditioned. Some limousine van operators let a small pet ride in the passenger cabin in a carrier, so ask the operator before you buy the ticket. A road trip out of the home province still needs the domestic animal health certificate. How a door-to-door move by car works is covered on our page on domestic pet transport in Vietnam.
A Recent Domestic Flight: Phu Quoc to Ho Chi Minh City
In May 2026 we prepared a Poodle for Vietnam Airlines flight VN1826 from Phu Quoc to Ho Chi Minh City. The flight was a direct Airbus A321 service of 1 hour 10 minutes. The Poodle flew in the cabin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my pet need a microchip to fly within Vietnam?
No. Vietnamese rules for domestic animal movement do not require a microchip for dogs or cats. A microchip is still useful if the pet is lost, and it is required for most international trips. See our guide to the pet microchip for international travel.
How long is the domestic animal health certificate valid?
It is valid for the actual length of the trip written on it, under Circular 01/2026/TT-BNNMT. It does not expire after a fixed 10 or 15 days.
Do I need a rabies titer test for a domestic flight?
No. A rabies titer test and an import permit are only needed for some international destinations. A domestic flight needs only the rabies vaccination in the booklet and the domestic animal health certificate.
Does my pet need a health certificate if we travel by car?
Yes. The domestic animal health certificate is needed for any move out of the home province, whether by car, bus, train or plane. It is not a rule for flights only.
Can my pet fly with Pacific Airlines or Vietravel Airlines?
Neither airline publishes a pet policy. Vietnam Airlines’ pet rules apply only to flights it operates itself, so check who operates your flight before you book.
Last updated 17 Oct 2026
Compiled by our specialists from the regulations in force on the date above, for reference only. Rules may change after this date. Please verify with the competent authorities or contact us for the most accurate information.
Official sources cited in this guide
- Vietnam Airlines pet travel pagevietnamairlines.com
- Vietjet Sky Pet pagevietjetair.com
- Circular 01/2026/TT-BNNMTdatafiles.chinhphu.vn
