Binh started his business in 2001. Many restaurants were open and busy. The best time was between 2010 and 2015 with many venues.

Five years ago, business started to decline. New customers stopped coming and regular clients decreased.

One by one, restaurants closed. In 2024, only three remained and by 2025, Binh was the last one. He decided to quit after the authorities asked him to change his business.

Binh's regular customers were sad, but he decided to change. He went to Ha Tinh Province to learn how to cook goat meat and then changed his menu.

Binh's change reflects a trend in Ho Chi Minh City. Many dog meat stalls closed on Pham Van Hai Street and near the Ong Ta Intersection.

Alley 189 Cong Quynh Street, Ben Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, on July 30.

Fifteen years ago, vendors sold roasted and boiled dog meat. Now, retail shops and offices have replaced them.

A similar change happened on Pham Van Bach, Bach Dang, and Tan Son streets. The area had many dog meat eateries, but now only two remain.

Nguyen Thi Thu, 55, remembered how vibrant the neighborhood was before 2020. The eateries were full, but now they are empty.

Many former dog meat vendors now sell goat meat, roasted calf, or office lunches.

Changing habits are happening.

A decade ago, dog meat was a staple at drinking sessions for Minh Tuan, 40.

Tuan adopted a pet dog in 2018 and started viewing it as a friend. He did not want to eat dog meat anymore.

Tuan's daughter learned about animal care and protection at school and was disappointed that her father used to eat dog meat. He decided to give it up.

A 2021 survey showed that young people under 24 recorded the lowest consumption rates of dog meat.

In Ho Chi Minh City, 88% of respondents said they would refuse to eat dog meat.

Most survey participants opposed the dog and cat meat trade and said it is not part of Vietnamese culture.

Elizabeth Homfray, founder of Laws for Paws, has seen the dog meat trade shrink in Ho Chi Minh City. She thinks it is because diners themselves are changing.

More families now keep dogs as pets, changing social attitudes. Homfray emphasizes that most dogs in slaughterhouses are stolen pets.

Laws for Paws visited 59 schools to teach students about responsible pet care. They want to help families realize that eating dog meat sustains pet theft.

Dr Nguyen Thanh Phong says dog meat was not part of traditional southern cuisine. It was introduced through migration in the early 20th century.

The shrinking number of eateries reflects a drop in demand. People have more food options now.

Global integration is also playing a role.

More foreigners are visiting and living in Vietnam, and Vietnamese people are traveling abroad. This exposes them to different perspectives on animal welfare.

Adopting pets for companionship has gained popularity, especially among younger generations.

But Phong says the disappearance of dog meat streets does not mean the trade has vanished entirely. Some vendors may have relocated or switched to selling raw dog meat.

The disappearance of dog meat streets indicates that dog meat is exiting the city's mainstream food culture. It marks a change in how society perceives and treats companion animals.