by It's almost always only served at specialty restaurants which are somewhat common in the North. They have signs out the front advertising "thịt chó" (thịt == meat and chó == dog).
For the Vietnamese it's largely a northern thing, presumably a Chinese influence. In the central region and the south thịt chó is much less common, though I was told Catholics in the south eat thịt chó at Christmas. My guide told me "Basically dog is Catholic turkey."
When enquiring about what breed was preferred on the dinner table, I was told that the Vietnamese have three classes of dog. Those kept as pets, those used as working dogs largely for security and those raised specially for meat. From what I could gather the Vietnamese are more discerning about the sort of dogs on which they chow (sorry
) down than the Chinese or the Koreans. I have no firsthand knowledge about the husbandry and slaughter conditions of dogs raised for meat but it's Vietnam so I imagine the lot of a meat dog is not a happy one. Whether meat dogs suffer the same excruciating fate as those in China and Korea, I cannot say for certain but I would not be surprised.
But then, as with so much of the Mysterious Far East, the plight of animals used for food is not high on the Index of Concern.
Dog meat is not eaten every day. It's viewed as a delicacy and (as with many food things in the East) is considered medicinal. Dog meat is usually served in a stew or soup with vegetables and wheat noodles and is thought to increase "warm energy" or some such. It considered especially efficacious for invalids, the infirm and older folk.
As a delicacy -- it's also a status symbol. Being able to eat and treat others to a meal of thịt chó can say a fair bit about your standing. You have money and the like. It shows respect for social superiors. This is important in Vietnam.
So what does thịt chó taste like? I must say I wasn't that keen on it. The meat itself is quite dense in texture. It has peculiar flavour, not unpleasant but not something I'd eat again in a hurry. The soup/stew it was served in was quite strongly flavoured -- which is unusual in traditional Vietnamese cuisine, where fresh and light flavours are generally preferred.
, who's origin is unknown, and supposedly share characteristics with Norway Forest Cats. 
). We talk funny, most people say. I'll vouch for that. Well the Francophones in northern Maine, and some UKian-descendants as well, farm potatoes. Perhaps most famously, we log logs. Or maybe the title of most well-known trait goes to fishing for "lobstuhz". I almost forgot blueberries, I think we lead the nation with that too. We have lots of moose, I mean shitloads. Literally too, because they shit loads. That's a lotta crap. 