In order to introduce biodiversity in Vietnam and contribute to raising public awareness in the conservation of valuable native dog breeds, the Ministry of Information and Communications, Vietnam Post Corporation has just issued a set of postage stamps “Dogs”. 4 designs include Bac Ha dog, Song Ma dog, H’Mong bobtail dog and Phu Quoc dog, in which the Phu Quoc dog stamp set costs 15,000 VND, the remaining stamp sets cost 4,000 VND.
Currently, Vietnam has four native dog breeds with beauty and many good qualities, considered the "Four Great National Dogs". Native dogs are understood to be dogs born locally, they are descendants of a dog population formed in an area during the domestication process. Native dogs are often found around human settlements, they are raised to serve as housekeepers, hunters. The common characteristics of these dog breeds are agility, bravery, intelligence and loyalty.
The Phu Quoc Dog stamp set designed by artist Nguyen Du (Vietnam Post Corporation) will be available on the postal network from October 11, 2024 to June 30, 2026.
This breed is mainly distributed in Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang Province. Currently, they are present in most provinces across the country but are rare in the northern mountainous provinces and the Central Highlands. Phu Quoc dogs live in coastal areas, with foot structures suitable for moving on sand, plains and the ability to dig burrows. They are raised by humans to serve as housekeepers and fish hunters. The stamp background depicts a scene of Phu Quoc beach, Kien Giang.
The Phu Quoc Ridgeback Dog is a breed of dog endemic to Vietnam, having appeared a long time ago on Phu Quoc Island. This breed of dog has a special phenotype that is rare in the world: a strip of hair growing in reverse along the spine called a ridge.