Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from Vietnam to Ireland
For families bringing someone home to Ireland. Send the details any time and we will take it from there.
Key facts
Repatriation from Vietnam to Ireland: what to expect
All documentation is in Vietnamese and requires certified English translation.
- Key document: Giay chung tu (death certificate, in Vietnamese) and certified English translation
- Documentation takes 7-14 days. Vietnamese documentation requires certified translation.
- Irish Embassy in Hanoi or Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City registers the death.
The process
The repatriation process from Vietnam
Call 113 for police or 115 for ambulance. A licensed physician must certify the death. Unexpected deaths and road accidents trigger police notification. Death registered with the local civil registry (nha nuoc). The giay chung tu is issued in Vietnamese only.
Step by step
Timeline: Vietnam to Ireland
Immediate steps after death
Day of death. Irish Embassy Hanoi: via Dept of Foreign Affairs +353 1 408 2000.
Family or travel insurer
Death registered at local civil registry. Giay chung tu issued.
Certificate in Vietnamese only. Certified English translation required.
Local funeral director and civil registry
Irish Embassy Hanoi or Consulate HCMC notified
Simultaneous with Step 1. Choose correct consulate based on location of death.
Family or repatriation specialist
Embalming and preparation
Embalming required for international repatriation. Available in Hanoi and HCMC.
Licensed local funeral director
All export documentation completed
Allow 7-14 days. Cannot begin until death certificate issued.
Local funeral director and authorities
Air cargo from Hanoi (HAN) or Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) to Dublin (DUB)
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
Irish funeral director takes custody. Coroner notified.
Within 24 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
In Ireland
When the body arrives in Ireland
The Irish funeral director takes custody at the cargo terminal. All Vietnamese documentation must be in certified English translation. The Coroner is involved only where the death abroad was unnatural, and may then order a post-mortem. Straightforward cases proceed to funeral arrangements without delay.
Consular support
Department of Foreign Affairs emergency line: +353 1 408 2000. The Irish Embassy in Hanoi covers the north. The Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City covers the south.
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from Vietnam to Ireland
In a straightforward case, repatriation from Vietnam to Ireland takes 10-14 days. Most cases take 14-21 days. Road accident deaths, where police must complete their investigation, can take 4-8 weeks.
The Irish Embassy in Hanoi covers northern Vietnam. The Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City covers southern Vietnam. Both offices handle repatriation cases.
The core documents are: giay chung tu (Vietnamese death certificate) with certified English translation, embalming certificate, freedom from infection certificate, and passport of the deceased.
The Irish Embassy in Hanoi and Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City can register the death with Irish authorities, provide a list of local funeral directors, and advise on documentation. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Department of Foreign Affairs emergency line: +353 1 408 2000.
The Irish funeral director takes custody at the cargo terminal. All Vietnamese documentation must be in certified English translation. The Coroner is involved only where the death abroad was unnatural, and may then order a post-mortem. Straightforward cases proceed to funeral arrangements without delay.
Yes. Cremation in Vietnam and bringing ashes home to Ireland is an option. You will need the giay chung tu, cremation certificate, and export permit.
We are here to help. Send us the details, any time
If your loved one has died in Vietnam, please do not face this alone. Send us the details and we will explain what happens next and prepare a quote for bringing them home to Ireland.
Reviewed by the Repatriate Service editorial team. Information sourced from official government and embassy guidance and professional repatriation experience. Facts last checked September 2026; page updated .
Sources: Official guidance on a death in Vietnam (gov.uk) · Vietnam repatriation guide · Frequently asked questions