Ho Chi Minh City man faces police action for brutally beating dog used for tourist photos
Police in Xuan Huong - Da Lat Ward of Lam Dong Province, located in Vietnam's Central Highlands, are working to handle a 38-year-old man who allegedly beat his Alaskan Malamute dog at a local square where he brought the animal for tourists to pay to take photos with it.
On Thursday morning, ward police invited T.V.L., a Ho Chi Minh City resident, to their headquarters for questioning after a video showing him repeatedly beating the dog at Lam Vien Square circulated widely on social media the previous day.
In the video, the man can be seen repeatedly striking the dog with a hard object, including around its neck, prompting widespread outrage and calls for authorities to take action against such animal abuse.
At the police station, L. said the Alaskan Malamute was his pet and that he beat it because it failed to follow his commands.
The dog was often taken to Lam Vien Square, near Xuan Huong Lake, a popular destination, where tourists would take photos with it as a way of expressing their love for animals.
T.V.L., a man from Ho Chi Minh City, is pictured with his Alaskan Malamute dog at Lam Vien Square in Lam Dong Province, located in Vietnam's Central Highlands, holding a hard object, possibly a stick, in his left hand that he later used to beat the animal. Photo: P.N.
L. acknowledged that his cruel treatment of the dog was wrong and said he realized the incident had negatively affected the image of Xuan Huong - Da Lat as a civilized and friendly tourist destination.
Ward police are completing a case file to handle the incident in accordance with the law, according to local authorities.
The case has also renewed concerns about the use of dogs for tourist photo services in the ward.
For years, large dogs such as the Alaskan Malamute have been taken to the square by people offering tourists the chance to take photos with them for money.
A police officer in Xuan Huong - Da Lat Ward of Lam Dong Province, located in Vietnam's Central Highlands, works with T.V.L. over his brutal beating of his dog at Lam Vien Square, September 3, 2026. Photo: Pham Ngan
The informal service has been operated by people from other places who came to the area to make a living.
In August 2024, several videos showing Alaskan Malamute dogs being abused at the square and at the place where they were kept circulated widely, sparking public outrage.
Police subsequently intervened and worked with people involved in the case, including the owner of a dog photo service.
Following the incident, authorities banned people from bringing pets to the square to offer photo services for money, according to news site Dan Tri.
Vinh Tho – M.V. – Pham Ngan / Tuoi Tre News