Close-up of a brown dog with expressive eyes and a mottled nose, looking directly at the camera outdoors.

Ending the dog meat trade Vietnam

A cruel trade hidden in plain sight

Every year, up to a million dogs in Vietnam are trafficked, transported in inhumane conditions, and killed for their meat.

Animals Asia is committed to ending this trade for good.

The situation

The consumption of dogs is legal in Vietnam, though the majority of dog meat is consumed in the north. To supply the trade, dogs are sourced or stolen from the central and southern highlands, packed tightly into cages and driven over 1,200 km to slaughterhouses.

Many die on the journey. Many others arrive dehydrated, sick, or severely injured. All face a terrifying death.

As there are no laws against the consumption of dog meat, Animals Asia is working within existing rabies and animal health laws to disrupt the trade and push for change.

Several dogs packed in a metal cage on the back of a motorbike, being transported on a rural road.
Two dogs crowded inside a small metal cage placed on a weighing scale, in a market or street setting.
Transport truck carrying multiple cages filled with dogs on a sunny day, driving along a highway.
Dogs confined in a metal cage beneath a karaoke sign on a city street, surrounded by urban structures and trees.

Our solution

Vietnam’s rabies quarantine laws require all transported dogs to be registered, vaccinated against rabies, and pass through quarantine checkpoints. These laws are designed to protect public health — but they are routinely ignored by dog meat traders.

We highlight these violations and their public health risks to central and provincial authorities, providing evidence and supporting law enforcement efforts. By drawing attention to illegal activity and pushing for accountability, we’re making the dog meat trade more dangerous and less profitable for those involved.

We investigate every stage of the supply chain — from where dogs are sourced, to how they’re transported, to how traders avoid checkpoints and quarantine procedures. This intelligence not only informs our advocacy but strengthens our partnerships with officials and stakeholders.

We’re also lobbying the Hanoi government to introduce a five-year moratorium on the commercial dog meat trade, creating momentum for long-term legislative reform.

Community engagement

To affect long-term change in laws, traditions, and attitudes, we must also change hearts and minds. Our approach is rooted in empathy — helping communities see dogs not as commodities, but as sentient beings who feel joy, fear, and pain. That’s why we go into schools and community spaces: to build emotional connections and inspire compassionate behaviour that leads to lasting societal change.

We’re reaching people through education, compassion, and collaboration. Our dog welfare school programs in Hanoi teach children about safety around dogs, responsible pet ownership, and empathy. Public events like ‘Dog Day’ celebrate the bond between people and dogs and raise awareness around the cruelty of the dog meat trade.

Four dogs standing on a dirt path surrounded by green plants and banana trees, panting and alert.
Black and white dog looking up lovingly at a person in a blue jacket, being gently held.
School children in red jackets interacting with educational emotion boards during an outdoor activity.
Group of people posing with several dogs in an outdoor shelter area, all smiling and relaxed.

Supporting shelters and rescue work

Many rescued dogs have nowhere safe to go — and that’s where our support for shelters becomes crucial. We’re helping shelters across Vietnam increase their capacity, raise their standards of care, and build sustainable, humane operations that offer animals a real second chance.

In Quang Binh, we’re working closely with local partners to expand their shelter’s capacity to care for up to 300 dogs. This includes funding renovations, providing veterinary supplies, and supporting daily operations. 

Since 2013, we’ve partnered with the YDV shelter network to elevate care standards nationwide. We offer training in animal health and welfare, guidance on rehoming and adoption programmes, and emergency assistance when shelters face sudden surges in intake.

Together, we’re building a safety net for Vietnam’s most vulnerable dogs — and giving them the love and care they deserve.

Small brown dog with a wheelchair harness, happily playing on green grass in an outdoor setting.
Child in a green costume gives water to a black and white dog from a bowl during an outdoor event.
Two people in white coats administering a vaccine to a small brown dog with other dogs nearby.
Light brown and white dog looking back, panting with tongue out, surrounded by other dogs.

From rescue to reform

Animals Asia played a key role in ending the cross-border Thailand-Vietnam dog trade in 2016. Now, we’re driving national change — collecting data, building legal frameworks, and forming alliances with the veterinary, education, and public health sectors.

Our vision is clear: a Vietnam where no dog is stolen, trafficked, or killed for food. With your help, that future is within reach.