Pet Relocation South Korea to Vietnam: APQA to Arrival

A posting to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City often comes with a short notice period, and the dog or cat is usually the part of the move that cannot be rushed. Korea and Vietnam are only a few hours apart by air, but your pet has to pass through two separate veterinary systems: Korea’s Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) releases the animal, and Vietnam’s Department of Animal Health (DAH) decides whether it can enter.

The two sides do not talk to each other on your behalf. APQA certifies what Vietnam asks for, so the Vietnamese conditions have to be known before your Korean vet writes anything. This guide puts the steps in that order, explains what happens at the APQA office, and flags the one decision many families forget: whether the pet will eventually come back to Korea.

Who does what on the Korea to Vietnam route

Each authority checks a different part of the move, and the airline sits in between as its own gate. Keeping them separate in your head makes it easier to see which question goes to whom.

For the Vietnamese side in more detail, including how the process looks from any origin country, read our pet relocation to Vietnam guide and the Vietnam pet import page.

Vietnam side: what to confirm first

Vietnam’s import conditions for dogs and cats are set by the Department of Animal Health. Export notes that the UK government publishes for its own vets show the kind of conditions Vietnam has set: an import permit from the DAH, and a rabies vaccination given not less than 30 days and not more than 12 months before export, with the vaccine name, batch number and expiry date recorded. Those notes were written for UK exports, so treat them as a guide to the questions to ask, not as the final rule for a pet leaving Korea.

Three questions are worth asking in writing before anything else:

• Is an import permit needed for your pet, and does the answer change with the number of animals? Published guidance is not consistent on this, so get a direct answer.
• Which vaccinations and parasite treatments must appear on the health certificate, and within what time window before the flight?
• Which airport will receive the pet (Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City, Noi Bai in Hanoi, or Da Nang), and what does that office need on arrival?

Vietnam does not ask for a rabies antibody test for most incoming pets, according to the third-party summaries we checked. Confirm this for your case anyway, because the answer affects your timeline more than any other step.

Korea side: the APQA export quarantine certificate

APQA publishes export quarantine conditions by destination country on its website, covering points such as age, vaccinations, microchip and the number of pets allowed. Once you know what Vietnam requires, the Korean process usually runs like this:

1. Health certificate from your vet. Your clinic examines the pet and issues a health certificate that records the vaccination history Vietnam asks for, plus any supporting documents the destination requires.
2. Book an APQA appointment. Reserve a date and an APQA office through the export pet quarantine reservation system on the APQA website.
3. Visit with your pet. APQA staff check the documents and match the microchip number against the paperwork, so the animal has to come with you.
4. Receive the animal quarantine certificate. This is the official Korean document that travels with your pet to Vietnam.

Plan the vet visit so the health certificate is still within Vietnam’s accepted window on the flight date, and leave a margin in case the APQA slot you want is not available. Book the APQA appointment as soon as the flight date is confirmed, then fix the vet visit around that slot.

Planning a return to Korea later

Many Korean families in Vietnam are there on multi-year assignments. If your pet is likely to come back, plan for it now. Korea’s import rules for pets arriving from countries that are not rabies-free have included a rabies antibody test result of at least 0.5 IU/ml, and Vietnam is considered a rabies-risk country. Pets returning to Korea also go through import quarantine at the airport APQA office, with a document check, microchip match and clinical examination. Korean media have reported that skipping this check can lead to a fine of up to 3 million won.

Ask APQA how a test done before departure from Korea is treated on return, and keep the original results with the pet’s file. Our guide to the rabies titer test explains how the test and its timing work in general.

Flights and arrival in Vietnam

Direct flights link Incheon with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, but not every flight accepts pets, and acceptance can differ between cabin, checked baggage and cargo. Ask the airline to confirm the pet booking in writing before you time the vet and APQA steps around it. Snub-nosed breeds and travel in hot months may face extra restrictions.

On arrival, keep the original health certificate, the APQA certificate and any Vietnamese permit in your hand luggage, not in checked bags. The animal health quarantine office at the airport reviews the documents and inspects the pet. Whether any holding period applies depends on the paperwork and the pet’s condition, so leave room in your first-day plans. A rough budget is easier to set once the route is clear; our cost calculator gives a starting estimate.

FAQ: South Korea to Vietnam pet relocation

Can I bring my dog from Korea to Vietnam in the cabin?

Some airlines allow small dogs and cats in the cabin on this route, within weight and carrier limits. Policies differ by airline and aircraft, so confirm the booking type before you start the paperwork.

How early should I start?

For most pets that are already microchipped and vaccinated, starting four to eight weeks before the flight gives room for the Vietnamese confirmation, the vet visit and the APQA appointment. Start earlier if the pet needs a new rabies vaccination, which usually has to be given some weeks before travel, or if you want a rabies antibody test for a future return to Korea.

Does my pet need quarantine in Vietnam?

Pets are inspected on arrival. Whether a holding period applies depends on the documents and the pet’s condition, and the rules can change, so confirm with the Department of Animal Health or our team before you travel.

Can I move two pets at once?

Yes, but each animal needs its own records, its own APQA certificate check and its own airline acceptance. Ask Vietnam whether the number of animals changes the permit requirement.

For the bigger picture of moving to Vietnam, see our Vietnam relocation page. When you are ready to map your route, contact Pet Travel Asia with your target month, your pet’s details and the records you already have. We will check the current requirements on both sides and coordinate the move with our partner network in Vietnam.