Native Dogs of Vietnam: Discover all 4 Unique Breeds

1) Phu Quoc Ridgeback
Lets start with the most famous Vietnamese dog breed – the Phu Quoc Ridgeback. Originating from Phu Quoc Island, this breed is famous for its distinctive ridge of hair running along its back, growing in the opposite direction to the rest of the coat. Known for their agility and intelligence, Phu Quoc Ridgebacks were historically used for hunting and guarding.
There are only three ridgeback breeds in the world. The Vietnamese, Thai and Rhodesian Ridgeback. The Vietnamse Ridgeback is the smallest of these three breeds, with height between 48-55 cm (19-22 in) and weight typically around 18 kg (40 lbs).
As i mentioned, the Phu Quoc Ridgeback comes from an island. And they are well equiped for living on the island, or swimming in the sea, because they have well developed webbed feet, which allows them to be excellent swimmers.

2) Hmong Bobtail Dog
Next, we have the Hmong dog, named after the Hmong ethnic group in northern Vietnam. These dogs are known for their loyalty, strength, and keen senses. Hmong dogs have a sturdy build and a distinctive curly tail. They are often used for herding livestock and as guard dogs due to their protective nature.
As you can probably tell from their name, the Hmong Bobtail Dog is very often born tailless. These dogs tails are not docked, it is natural for them to have very short tails.

3) Bắc Hà
You might heard about the Vietnamese Ridgeback and possibly even about the Hmong bobtail dog before, but the next two dogs i will show you are extremely rare and virtually unknonw outside Vietnam.
The Bac Ha dog, hailing from the Bac Ha district in the northwest, is another remarkable breed. These dogs are known for their thick, dense coat, which protects them from the harsh climate of the highlands. Bac Ha dogs are intelligent and have a calm demeanor, making them excellent companions and watchdogs.

​4) Lài dog
Last but not least, there is the Lai dog. These dogs are also known as Indochina Dingo and their history dates back well over 5,000 years, when they were first bred as hunting dogs in mountainous areas of the Indochinese peninsula, including northern Vietnam.
Unfortunatelly, this landrace dog is today critically endangered with only a few hundred remaining.
The Lài dog is an intelligent, quick-witted and loyal dog that will aggressively protect their owners. They have excellent drive and stamina. Historically, the Lài dog was used a hunting dog, either by catching and retrieving small game or luring animals to the hunter.
All these four breeds showcase the diversity and rich heritage of Vietnam's canine companions. Whether you're drawn to the agile Phu Quoc Ridgeback, the loyal Hmong, the calm Bac Ha, or the versatile Lai dog, each of these dogs has a unique charm.