Somewhat pet-friendly
Good to know
Good to Know
- Hanoi is in the middle of a genuine generational shift on pets — many younger residents treat dogs and cats purely as companions and the city has a growing pet-cafe and pet-services scene, but dog meat consumption still exists in parts of northern Vietnam, which can be jarring for newcomers.
- If you bring a dog, keep it leashed/supervised rather than left outside alone, as dog theft (sometimes linked to the meat trade) is a recognized problem as pet ownership has grown.
- Get your pet's microchip implanted before the rabies vaccination — Vietnamese entry paperwork is checked in a specific sequence, and doing it out of order can invalidate your documents.
- Vietnam does not accept the EU Pet Passport as a standalone document, so plan to assemble a separate health certificate, rabies certificate, and microchip paperwork rather than relying on it alone.
- Notify Noi Bai Airport's Animal Quarantine Station in advance of your flight with your pet — this simple step can save you a long wait on arrival.
- If bringing more than two pets, budget extra time to secure an import permit from Vietnam's Department of Animal Health before you travel.
- There's no regulated price list for vet care in Vietnam, so it's worth getting a quote before treatment — the same X-ray or procedure can cost 2-3x more at one Hanoi clinic than another.
- Most English-speaking, expat-oriented vet clinics cluster around Tay Ho (West Lake), which is also one of Hanoi's main nomad/expat neighborhoods.
- Hanoi doesn't have official off-leash dog parks — dog cafés (which typically charge a small entry fee that includes a drink) are the main formal 'dog-friendly space' in the city.
- Even at clinics that advertise English support, it can help to bring a translation app or a Vietnamese-speaking friend, since fluency varies by staff member.
- Hanoi is landlocked, so there are no beach options to include for this category.
Trusted Vets
Gaia Hanoi Pet Clinic
- Address
- No. 38, Lane 1/F361, An Duong, Yen Phu, Tay Ho, Hanoi
- Notes
- Opened in 2012 by a husband-and-wife veterinarian team after years of veterinary research and practice abroad, positioned as a highly qualified, well-equipped clinic for pet owners.
ASVELIS Veterinary Hospital (International Laboratory & Veterinary Services)
- Address
- 158 Nghi Tam Road, Tay Ho District, Hanoi
- Notes
- A small-animal veterinary clinic and laboratory services centre with a consultative group of senior experts and full-time/part-time veterinary doctors; described as a well-respected name in Hanoi favored by both locals and expats.
Happy Pet Clinic
- Address
- 103B, Lane 12, Dang Thai Mai, Tay Ho, Hanoi
- Notes
- Team has worked together for 6-7 years in the veterinary field; staff speak English, French and Vietnamese, and the clinic is open 7 days a week including for emergencies.
Hanvet Pet Hospital
- Address
- 108 Nguyen Luong Bang, Dong Da, Hanoi
- Notes
- Offers outpatient examinations and treatments, sterilization, rabies vaccination, and nutritional counseling with an experienced veterinary team.
Dog Friendly Spaces
Cafes
K's Café
- Address
- 25, 81 Alley, Lang Ha, Dong Da District, Hanoi
- Entry Price
- ₫37,500
Typical entry/drink price range is VND 25,000–50,000
- Description
- Hanoi's first dedicated dog café, housing close to 100 dogs across multiple floors sorted roughly by size, from huskies and corgis down to small breeds like pugs and poodles.
Cela Paw Premium
- Address
- 1 Luong Yen, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi
- Entry Price
- ₫60,000
Entry fee includes one drink
- Description
- Combines a pet café, spa, and hotel services for cats and dogs in a spacious, modern, upscale setting.
Luffy
- Address
- 2 Ngoc Khanh, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
- Entry Price
- ₫30,000
Typical price range is VND 20,000–40,000
- Description
- A pet complex rather than just a café, offering a dog- and cat-friendly hangout space alongside a pet spa and an on-site veterinary clinic.
Meow Coffee
- Address
- 4/84 Ngo 106 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Cau Giay District, Hanoi
- Description
- A spacious, well-decorated café with both cats and dogs; floors are covered in soft carpet so pets and guests can interact comfortably on the ground.
Dog Xray
- Description
- X-ray scan for a dog (price varies by clinic/district)
Range
VND
VND
Cast Small Dog
- Description
- Cast for a dog under 5kg (higher for larger dogs)
Range
VND
VND
Splint Or Screw Surgery
- Description
- Splint or screw intervention for a fracture
Range
VND
VND
Acceptance And Travel Requirements
Social Acceptance
- Local Ownership Rate
- Survey data indicates Hanoi shows pet ownership interest at slightly lower rates than Ho Chi Minh City, around 18-19% of residents, with dogs the most commonly kept pet followed by cats.
- Overview
- Vietnam is undergoing a significant cultural shift in its attitudes toward animals, with pet ownership growing rapidly, particularly in cities, while a complex legal framework, patchy enforcement, and deeply rooted traditions mean the experience of owning or caring for an animal here can feel very different from elsewhere. In 2025, Vietnam's pet care industry is booming, with over 12 million cats and dogs now part of Vietnamese households, and pets are increasingly seen not just as animals but as family members, driving demand for premium food, grooming services, veterinary care, and smart pet gadgets. This cultural change is particularly strong among millennials and Gen Z in major cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
- Everyday Pet Friendliness
- Nomads should expect a genuine mix: many locals (especially younger, urban residents) are warm toward pets and Hanoi has a growing scene of pet cafes and pet-related businesses, but public infrastructure like pet-friendly parks, off-leash areas, or universal pet-welcome policies in restaurants/shops is still developing rather than standardized, and rules can vary a lot by individual venue.
- The Dog And Cat Meat Issue
- Expats should be aware that the cultural acceptance of dog meat in Vietnam means dog meat consumption is still practiced in certain areas, particularly in northern Vietnam, which can be confronting for newcomers. Hanoi has issued directives aimed at phasing out the trade, ordering a ban on dog meat by 2021 partly over rabies concerns, though enforcement has been inconsistent and the trade continues in some areas, notably declining as long-running 'dog meat streets' in the city (such as the once-famous Nhat Tan Street) have closed down in recent years. Attitudes differ significantly between generations and between urban and rural areas, with younger city dwellers generally less accepting of the practice, and many residents now openly describe dogs and cats as companions rather than food.
- Practical Implications For Pet Owners
- As pet ownership has grown while demand for dog meat persists in some pockets, dog theft has been reported as a persistent social problem in Vietnam, which is a practical safety consideration for dog owners (e.g., keeping dogs leashed/supervised rather than left outside unattended). On the positive side, a vibrant, increasingly organized community of pet lovers, cat/dog cafes, rescue groups, and social-media pet communities is active in Hanoi, and pet-friendly cafes and services are expanding as part of the broader 'pet humanization' trend in Vietnamese cities.
EU And Local Pet Travel Requirements
- Microchip
- Microchipping is not strictly mandated under Vietnamese law, but it is strongly recommended and often required by airlines and the exporting country. A 15-digit microchip compliant with ISO standard 11784 or Annex A of ISO standard 11785 is recommended, implanted before the rabies vaccination is given, since all subsequent documentation should reference the microchip number.
- Quarantine
- Vietnam does not routinely quarantine pets that arrive with complete, correct paperwork (valid vaccinations, microchip details matching documents, and an in-date health certificate); clearance with quarantine officers at the airport is often completed within 1-2 hours in such cases. Pets with missing paperwork, mismatched microchip records, or signs of illness may be held in quarantine, which authorities say can last up to 45 days depending on disease risk, so complete documentation is important.
- Exotic Pets
- Birds, reptiles, rodents, rabbits, and other exotic pets fall under separate, generally stricter regulations and may need additional documentation beyond what applies to dogs and cats.
- Arrival Procedure
- Travelers should notify the Animal Quarantine Station at the arrival airport (Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport for this city) ahead of arrival with pet and flight details, as failing to do so can cause delays, especially outside normal quarantine office hours. On arrival, quarantine officers verify the pet's identity (including microchip), review the document dossier, and conduct a clinical health check before releasing the pet to the owner.
- Breed Restrictions
- Vietnam does not currently have a published banned-breed list, though brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds and hybrid animals (e.g., wolf-dog crosses) may face extra scrutiny, additional airline restrictions, or in the case of certain hybrids, CITES-related clearance.
- Health Certificate
- An official veterinary/export health certificate is required, issued by a licensed (government-accredited) veterinarian in the country of origin, typically within about 7 days of travel, confirming the pet's health and vaccination status; the microchip number must appear on this certificate. Documents should be translated into English or Vietnamese for inspection by Vietnamese authorities.
- Other Vaccinations
- Core vaccines such as DHPPi/DHPPiL for dogs and FVRCP for cats are recommended by vets and sometimes requested by airlines, but are not mandatory for Vietnamese entry.
- Rabies Vaccination
- Dogs and cats over 3 months of age must be vaccinated for rabies, with the vaccination administered more than 30 days and less than 12 months before entry into Vietnam. The vaccination should be dated on or after the day the microchip was implanted. Vietnam accepts both 1-year and 3-year rabies vaccines as long as timing requirements are met, and does not require a rabies titer (blood) test for entry from any country.
- Import Permit And Quantity Limits
- Under Article 10 of Circular No. 25/2016/TT-BNNPTNT, a foreign national entering Vietnam may bring up to two animals for personal household-pet purposes, provided they are not from a country/territory affected by diseases listed as prohibited under Government Decree 35/2016/ND-CP. For one or two personal pets, a separate import permit is generally not required, though bringing three or more pets triggers a requirement for an import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development via the Department of Animal Health.
- EU Pet Passport Note
- Vietnam does not participate in any international pet passport scheme such as the EU Pet Travel Scheme, so documentation must be assembled independently before departure rather than relying on an EU pet passport alone (though an EU pet passport with current rabies vaccination will generally be accepted as proof of vaccination).
Note On Pricing
Vietnam has no government-set fee schedule for private veterinary clinics, so identical procedures can cost very different amounts depending on the clinic's facilities and location; Hanoi currently has roughly 140 licensed private veterinary clinics.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
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Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.