Cremation gives families more choices about where a loved one finally rests. Ashes can stay in Orange County, go to a temple, be carried home to Vietnam, or be shared between family members on different continents. Moving them is also far simpler and less costly than shipping a casket.
It still takes some planning. Airport security, airlines, the postal service and the destination country each have rules, and a mistake can mean an urn is turned away at the gate. This guide explains how to carry ashes on a flight, how to ship them, and what to bring.
Carrying ashes on a plane
Most families choose to carry the urn themselves, so their loved one is never out of their care. According to the TSA (opens in a new tab):
- Cremated remains are allowed in carry-on bags. They are allowed in checked bags too, but some airlines do not permit that, so check with yours.
- The urn must go through the X-ray machine. If officers cannot see inside it, it will not be allowed through.
- TSA officers will not open an urn, even if you ask them to.
That means the container matters. Urns made of stone, ceramic, bronze or other metals often cannot be X-rayed clearly. A temporary urn made of plastic or wood passes screening easily, and the ashes can be moved into a permanent urn once you arrive.
Carry the urn in your hand luggage, and call your airline before you fly. International airlines set their own rules, and some ask you to declare the urn at check-in.
Shipping ashes by mail
If no one can travel, ashes can be mailed. The U.S. Postal Service is the only major parcel carrier that accepts cremated remains; FedEx and UPS do not ship them. USPS has strict rules, which changed in March 2025:
- Ashes must go by Priority Mail Express, or Priority Mail Express International to another country.
- They must be sent in the official USPS Cremated Remains box. Your own packaging is no longer accepted.
- For international mail, the ashes must be inside a sealed, sift-proof funeral urn, and the customs form must say "Cremated Remains."
- Attach the cremation certificate to the package, or keep it where it is easy to reach.
Not every country accepts cremated remains by mail. USPS lists each country’s rules in its International Mail Manual (opens in a new tab), and its listing for Vietnam does not currently prohibit them. Even so, Vietnam’s own entry permit and health checks, explained below, still apply to a mailed urn. For Vietnam, most families find it simpler to carry the ashes or have a funeral home arrange the shipment.
Documents to bring
U.S. airport security does not require documents for ashes, but you should always travel with:
- A certified copy of the death certificate
- The certificate of cremation from the crematory
- The permit for disposition issued by the county
- Any permit the destination country requires
Keep the originals in your carry-on, with copies in your checked bag and on your phone.
Taking ashes to Vietnam
Vietnam requires a permit to bring cremated remains into the country, issued by its consulate or embassy in the United States. For ashes, the Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco (opens in a new tab) asks for:
- The consulate’s application form for ashes
- Written permission from the local People’s Committee in the place where the ashes will rest. A relative in Vietnam requests this and mails it to you.
- Copies of the death certificate and the certificate of cremation
- A copy of your loved one’s passport or green card
- The county or state health department’s permit to transport the ashes
- A statement from the health department that the death was not caused by an infectious or contagious disease
- A prepaid, trackable return envelope
The consulate says it processes a complete application by the next working day. The step that usually takes longest is the People’s Committee letter, so ask your family in Vietnam to start on it right away.
When you land, Vietnam requires the urn to pass a health quarantine check at the airport before you leave. Have the consulate’s permit and your copies of the death and cremation certificates ready. The check is usually quick, and there is an inspection fee, which each province sets.
We can help with the paperwork
We can help prepare the consulate application and the health department documents, so the main thing your family needs to arrange from Vietnam is the People’s Committee letter.
Dividing the ashes
Some families divide the ashes, so part can stay at a temple here and part can go home to Vietnam, or so that children in different countries each have a place to remember. Ask the crematory for a separate, sealed container for each portion, and make sure each travels with its own copies of the documents.
For Catholic families, note that the Church’s guidance asks that ashes be kept together in a sacred place, such as a cemetery or columbarium, rather than divided, scattered or kept at home. Our guide to Vietnamese funeral traditions says more about faith and cremation.
Scattering ashes in California
If some of the ashes will stay here, California allows scattering in places where no local rule forbids it, with written permission from the property owner. At sea, federal rules require ashes to be scattered at least three nautical miles from land and reported to the EPA within 30 days, and California asks for a statement to be filed with the county. We are happy to explain the options.
How we help
Heaven’s Gate provides cremation, with every price set out in our General Price List (opens in a new tab), and we deliver ashes to your hometown, your state, or your country. Whether you plan to carry your loved one home yourself or need us to arrange everything, call us at (714) 892-8494. We can explain every step in Vietnamese or English.
If your family prefers a full burial in Vietnam instead, read how to bring a loved one home to Vietnam.