Vietnam aims to develop H’Mong cattle into national specialty inspired by S.Korea’s Hanwoo brand

The Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment said it is directing relevant units to work with South Korean partners to develop the H’Mong cattle breed into a premium beef product.

The announcement was made at a national conference on livestock science, technology, and veterinary medicine held by the ministry in Hanoi on Saturday.

Pham Kim Dang, deputy head of the department, accentuated traceability systems and national brand building, particularly for high-potential livestock such as H’Mong cattle.

He said the department is coordinating with KOICA to position H’Mong cattle as a specialty product comparable to South Korea’s Hanwoo beef.

Vietnamese scientists have also successfully studied and received transferred reproductive technologies to improve breeding and expand the H’Mong cattle population, according to the department.

With technical support and genetic resources from South Korea, Vietnam’s livestock sector is expected to shorten the branding process and enhance the value of the indigenous H’Mong cattle breed, experts said.

At a separate workshop in December 2025 organized by the department and KOICA to assess breeding conditions and genetic resource development for H’Mong cattle, Kim Soo Ki, director of the KOICA–Vietnam National University of Agriculture project, shared South Korea’s experience in building the Hanwoo brand, according to Nong Nghiep va Moi Truong (Agriculture and Environment) newspaper.

He noted that South Korea took around 50 years to transform Hanwoo from a small-scale native breed into a high-value beef product.

However, he said Vietnam may not need to follow the same lengthy pathway, given its current technological capabilities and accumulated experience.

Kim added that if appropriate technical solutions are implemented in a coordinated manner, Vietnam could see significant improvements in H’Mong cattle quality within about five years.

Domestic and international experts described the initiative as a rare opportunity to unlock the potential of one of Vietnam’s most valuable indigenous cattle breeds and strengthen its competitiveness in global markets.

The H’Mong cattle breed was introduced to Vietnam more than 300 years ago by Mong ethnic communities during their migration, Nong Nghiep va Moi Truong reported.

Its distribution is closely linked to Mong settlements, meaning the breed is found wherever Mong communities reside.

Also known as highland yellow cattle, H’Mong cattle are a rare indigenous breed prized for their strong adaptability and resilience to cold weather.

They are often referred to as ‘mountain climbers’ in northern mountainous areas such as Cao Bang Province and the former Ha Giang Province, which was merged into Tuyen Quang Province under a national administrative restructuring that took effect on July 1, 2025.

Adult H’Mong bulls weigh an average of 450-500 kilograms, with some reaching more than 700 kilograms, making them significantly larger than many other local cattle breeds.

Adult cows typically weigh between 250 and 280 kilograms.