During his long career, which began under French colonial rule and extended to the communist takeover in 1975, he supported the Royal Lao Government (RLG) and American involvement in the Secret War.

Being one of the few Hmong people educated in the French colonial school system, Touby Lyfoung was elected as head (tasseng) of the Nong Het sub-district in Xiangkhoang Province in 1939.

Cut-off from their most abundant supply of opium in Afghanistan (due to conflicts associated with World War II), the French looked with favor upon Lyfoung for helping to improve the output of Laos[citation needed].

He escaped and moved to the mountains where he helped to lead guerrilla attacks against the occupiers with a Hmong militia that included the young future general, Vang Pao.

[2] Following, World War II, the French colonialists appointed Lyfoung district head (chaomuong), giving Hmong people direct representation at the national level for the first time.