Once a thriving center for horse racing and breeding, Duc Hoa in Tay Ninh Province has seen its industry sharply decline since the closure of Vietnam’s racecourses in 2011. At its peak, the area housed over 1,700 racehorses and supported ten active breeding families, but now fewer than 100 horses remain with only a handful of breeders continuing the tradition out of passion. Duc Hoa’s horses, originally pure Vietnamese breeds later crossbred with European and American stock, were once celebrated for their endurance and strength, regularly competing at prominent racecourses.

Despite the downturn, some breeders still find value in well-bred horses, especially for tourism and leisure, with young horses fetching high prices. The community’s hope for revival has been sparked by plans for a new racecourse, which many believe could restore Duc Hoa’s horse-breeding heritage and improve local livelihoods. Breeders like Tran Thanh Hung and Ha Van No continue to care for their remaining horses, preserving a fading cultural legacy while awaiting the industry’s potential resurgence.