Interesting views of many international newspapers on dog eating in Vietnam

Hanoi's suggestion to stop eating dog meat has raised the opinion of the world's major newspapers such as The Guardian, BBC or Reuters on the problem of eating dog meat in Vietnam. Recently, when the draft ban on dog meat consumption in Hanoi was discussed and considered, the major foreign newspapers simultaneously reported on the event - reflecting the right perspective and attention of many Western countries about consuming dog meat in Vietnam.

The Guardian reports on eating dog meat in Vietnam

According to The Guardian in September 2013, Kate Hodal's "How Eating Dog Became Big Business in Vietnam" asserted that every year hundreds of thousands of dogs were stolen from Thailand, then fled through Hanoi to end their lives in the restaurants there. The demand for dog meat is so high that supplies have become professional and cruel in the form of black market operations.

The article also confirms that eating dog meat in Vietnam has become a habit that has been sustained over generations, Vietnamese people eat dog meat because of the fact that this food is beneficial to health. In fact, it is cheap and provides plenty of protein for the body. At the same time, the supply of dog meat does not guarantee the transparency that facilitates stealing and is more serious and dangerous when dog thieves are caught and assaulted by the dog owner.

The Reuters 2013: "Dogs in Vietnam - Not just dinner anymore"

In 2013, Reuters also reported on the dog-eating habits of the Vietnamese in the article "Dogs in Vietnam - Not Just Dinner Anymore"
Accordingly, from the year 2013, some Hanoians have begun to have innovative thinking about eating dog meat. Nguyen Bao Sinh, owner of a pet resort, said that Vietnamese people are no longer obsessed with food issues and that they have a higher standard of living. Consequently, eating dog meat is considered a "brutal" act.

The newspaper also reflects on a local vendor in Cao Xa, a dog meat supply center in the outskirts of Hanoi. The owner of the vendor told Reuters that his village used to have a supply of 2 tons of dog meat per day for restaurants. Dog meat is still popular in Vietnam - whether fried, skewered, or grilled - largely because of the belief that eating it brings good luck.

The interview of Reuters also mentioned a student who ate dog meat for the wish of luck before his university entrance exam - five years have passed, and no one knows whether he has passed the exam or not.

"More and more people in Vietnam are slowly protesting against eating dog meat, but it is still a deeply rooted habit among Vietnamese people," the BBC reported

The BBC reported on September 12: "Vietnam's Capital Hanoi Urges Residents to Stop Eating Dog and Cat Meat" with the sapo line: "The capital of Vietnam - Hanoi - is proposing to people stop eating dog meat because of its bad effect to the image of the city as well as the risks to people’s health”

The newspaper also cites some comments of Vietnamese online users, in which the remark is: "Dog meat should not be completely banned, it should be put under a higher-rate tax or only be allowed trafficking in some certain areas"

The BBC also reported that there are still over 1000 restaurants in Hanoi selling dog meat and cat meat. The Hanoi government's proposal calls for people to stop eating cats, which is less common in Vietnam but still exists. In fact, cats and dogs in Vietnam have been brutally killed; there are about 490,000 dogs and cats in Hanoi and most of them are pets.

Asia Times: "In Vietnam, dogs are not treated as human best friends"

The fact that eating dog meat is deeply rooted in the Vietnamese way of life is disappearing with strong condemnation from animal lovers. In a survey of dog meat sales, 95% of the respondents supported the ban.

However, the founder of Vietnam Animal Cruelty, Leopold Vincent, said that even with a ban on the consumption of dog meat, it is difficult to stop the action. He said that Vietnamese people still "own" domestic animals such as cats and dogs rather than treat them as close family friends.