My Experience & Costs Flying My Cat from South Korea to Vietnam (Vietnam Airlines)

I just finished flying my cat home safely from South Korea to Vietnam, so I wanted to share the full details for anyone getting ready to do the same 🐾
Thankfully, she’s still healthy and eating normally after the flight.

Below is everything I actually did, step by step — from preparing the paperwork in South Korea to picking up my cat at the airport in Vietnam.

1️⃣ Rabies Vaccination Before the Flight

• Vaccinate at least 30 days before the flight
• Cost: about ₩40,000
• No microchip required if the cat isn’t returning to South Korea

After the vaccination, I emailed Vietnam Airlines to register my cat for the flight, including:

• My cat’s weight
• Crate size
• Rabies vaccination date
• My flight ticket

2️⃣ Vaccination & Health Certificate (예방접종 및 건강증명서)

• Get it done right before the flight
• Must be issued by the same clinic that gave the rabies shot
• I tried another clinic, but they told me to go back to the one that vaccinated her first
• Cost: free

3️⃣ Animal Quarantine Certificate (동물검역)

• Apply 1–2 days before the flight
• I did mine at Gimpo Airport
• Book an appointment in advance

Bring with you:

• Health certificate
• Rabies vaccination certificate
• The cat herself

Cost: ₩10,000 (2 copies)

4️⃣ Check-In at the Korean Airport

• Check in as normal
• Staff will point you to where you pay the pet transport fee
• The cat travels as checked cargo
• Transport cost: ₩295,000

5️⃣ Picking Up the Cat at the Vietnamese Airport

• After landing, the cat is brought out to the same checked-baggage area
• She came out fast — right after clearing immigration, head straight to the baggage carousel and she’ll already be there

6️⃣ Veterinary Quarantine at the Vietnamese Airport

• Bring the cat to the animal quarantine office (right next to the baggage service counter)
• Staff will check:
  • Quarantine certificate
  • Rabies vaccination certificate
• Fill in the required information
• Receive the clearance certificate

Cost: 2,000,000 VND

✨ Wrap-Up

And that’s it — I safely completed the trip bringing my cat home from South Korea to Vietnam 🐱✈️
Wishing everyone about to fly home with their pet a smooth trip — and a healthy pet on the other end!