Touby Lyfoung was the son of Ly Xia Foung, a very well respected man among the Hmong community of Laos, and the grandson-in-law of Lo Bliayao, one of the first Hmong to gain leadership position in the Laotian government. Coming from a rich and well known family, Touby was able to attend schools in the lowlands of Laos and sent to study in Vietnam as well.
Touby Lyfoung's background is characterized by his lineage: he comes from a prominent Hmong family with strong ties to Laotian leadership, having been educated in both Laos and Vietnam.