Three members of the same family died following a downpour-prompted landslide in the south-central Vietnamese province of Khanh Hoa, home to the beach resort city of Nha Trang, in the early hours of Sunday.
Two landslides occurred in Khanh Thanh Nam Village in Suoi Cat Commune, Cam Lam District, when a mass of earth and rock came rushing down the mountainside on early Sunday, burying a newly-built house and its next-door neighbor.
The owner of the first house had sensed some unusual sounds just before the disaster took place and managed to timely ask his wife and children to flee to safety, whereas the next-door house with all three members inside were buried in earth and rubble.
When neighbors were rushing to rescue the three victims from their collapsed house, another huge batch of earth continued to fall down from the same mountain, according to Suoi Cat police.
The rescuers were quick enough to run away but the three family members under the rubble continued to be buried.
The victims were all female, one of them an 11-month-old. Their bodies were plucked from the mud later on Sunday, police said.
Suoi Cat is some 26km southwest of Nha Trang.
Khanh Thanh Nam has faced no landslides for several decades, and Sunday’s disaster struck even though no intrusive construction had been done in the village, according to Le Duc Vinh, chairman of the Khanh Hoa administration.
This is the second time a deadly landslide has hit the province in just over a month, following the one that killed 18 in Nha Trang in late November.
Sixteen Vietnamese and three Taiwanese were allegedly running a telecommunication scam, Taiwan’s Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said Friday. The Taiwan News reported Saturday that of the 16 Vietnamese, 14 were runaway immigrant workers while two were fake tourists.
A Wednesday raid on two locations in Taiping and Shalu districts in Taichung City, suspected to be the base of the scam, found computers, mobile phones and victims’ information, among other evidence, the CIB said. The evidence has been seized.
According to the bureau, the ring, which targeted people in Vietnam, had swindled approximately $490,700 from 200 victims over the past three months. The Vietnamese scammers, who masqueraded as government officials, made Internet calls to random people in Vietnam and tricked them into giving up their money, which would be collected by accomplices residing in Vietnam.
This is the first cross-border fraud case involving runaway Vietnamese workers in Taiwan, the CIB said.
Earlier this week, news of 152 Vietnamese tourists suddenly going ‘missing’ in Taiwan made global headlines. Seventeen have been found and a hunt is on for others, who reportedly used a tourism facilitating program to gain entry to Taiwan and work there illegally.
In recent years, Taiwan has emerged as a promising destination for Vietnamese workers looking for jobs overseas. As of 2017, there were around 164,000 Vietnamese working under official contracts in Taiwan, accounting for nearly 30 percent of the country’s overseas workforce, according to official statistics.
High and low-altitude fireworks displays will be held from midnight on New Year’s Eve in the center of Saigon.
Head to the following locations to watch dazzling fireworks displays from midnight of January 1, to welcome 2019.
Over the Saigon River, at Thu Thiem Tunnel that links Districts 1 and District 2. You can find this place on Google map at: https://goo.gl/maps/axh2hzLoRdr
According to a report by VNExpress, the Saigon’s Authorities have approved a plan for another six for Tet, on the Lunar New Year’s Eve with high-altitude fireworks near the tunnel under the Saigon River in District 2 and low-altitude displays at Dam Sen Cultural Park (District 11), Cu Chi Tunnels (Cu Chi district), Sac Forest Square (Can Gio district), Lang Le – Bau Co Historic Site (Binh Chanh district), and Nga Ba Giong (a memorial area for heroic martyrs in Hoc Mon district).
In Hanoi, the authorities have decided to spare firework displays for New Year’s Eve, reserving them for Tet. With the Gregorian New Year just a month away from the week-long Tet Lunar New Year holiday, which starts February 2, the Hanoi administration has decided that the fireworks display will be reserved for the latter, which is Vietnam’s biggest and most important holiday. VNExpress International reports.
Iraq coach Srecko Katanec is confident that his players are fully committed and will give their everything in the upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2019 in the United Arab Emirates.
The coach also opened up on his group stage opponents and believes Vietnam and Yemen will be their biggest threats. The Slovenian was appointed at the helm of affairs four months ago and has since built up the squad to come into the tournament as one of the favorites. Fox Sport Asia reports.
“I don’t talk about chances because football is a very strange game. It has been just four months since I have been with them. But what I know is that they are a very happy group and they are fully committed,” he said in an interview with AFC’s official website.
When quizzed who would be the most difficult opponents for Iraq, who have been drawn alongside Iran, Yemen and Vietnam in one of the hardest groups in the tournament, he named the latter two sides as ‘difficult matches’.
“Look, these days every match is difficult. Why? Because you can have a bad day and lose what on paper should have been an easy match. That is why I respect all teams. For me, as a coach, the more difficult matches are against Yemen and Vietnam. They are also here to show they belong. They will fight. We will fight. Nothing is easy.”
He was then asked what does he think of Iraq’s chances in the continental showpiece, he said, “Many people and even journalists ask me if Iraq will win the Cup. All I can say is that I am here to do my best. About the results?
“Well, it depends on a lot of things. Also luck is very important. You never know how some young players will react to certain situations. It’s a game of pressure. Sometimes players from the bench prove more important than players who start the game.”
The first privately owned airport in Vietnam opened on Sunday, underscoring efforts by the debt-strapped government to tap private sources to fund key infrastructure projects.
Van Don International Airport, which is located in the northeastern coastal province of Quang Ninh and is about 120 km from the border with China.
The 290-hectare facility is capable of accommodating large commercial jets, including Boeing 777s and Airbus A350s.
Total investment is about $300 million, facility of the airport is wholly owned by Sun Group, a Danang-based company that specializes in tourism-, leisure- and entertainment-focused properties and projects. Sun Group is Vietnam’s biggest cable-car operator, with facilities at many popular tourist destinations. Sun Group is said to have raised all of the $300 million in funding costs by itself.
Sun Group was founded by its chairman, Le Viet Lam, who studied in Russia before investing in a company called Technocom in Ukraine with Pham Nhat Vuong, chairman of Vingroup, Vietnam’s largest private company.
Van Don airport was constructed with assistance from Netherlands Airport Consultants, one of the world’s leading airport consultancies and engineering companies. The airport is operated based on the build, operate and transfer model, and the investment costs are expected to be recouped in 45 years.
“Except for the costs needed to clear the land, all of the capital came from Sun Group, with the lending provided by the Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade,” according a source at Sun Group.
The project was delayed by a year after the initial investors, including Korea Airports Corp., pulled out in 2015 after it was decided that the facility would mainly focus on domestic flights.
Sun Group, which already operates tourism facilities in Quang Ninh Province, stepped in as the new investor, and the project began in earnest in March 2016.
It was subsequently decided that Van Don would be an international airport, in line with the government’s plan to have 13 international and 15 domestic airports by 2023. There are currently 21 airports across Vietnam.
“The airport serves as a model for how private investment, rather than state-owned entities, can be used to develop infrastructure,” Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Vietnam said in a speech at the opening ceremony.
Vietnam plans to invest at least $3 billion to build six new airports following Van Don in the next five years. The government will also upgrade existing airports.
To fund all of that, the government hopes to attract investment from local and foreign players, in addition to using money from the Airports Corporation of Vietnam, the state-owned airport operator.
“With the government suffering from funding shortfalls, Hanoi is exploring the use of private funds to press ahead with key infrastructure projects,” said Vo Tri Thanh, former vice president of the Central Institute for Economic Management. Hanoi’s deficit swelled to $9 billion in 2018, and the figure is projected to be the same for 2019.
Vietnamese Transport Minister Nguyen Van The said that the private-sector investment model used for Van Don airport would be used to help develop the country’s infrastructure going forward as a way to reduce public debt and public spending.
Vietnam’s public debt equaled roughly 63% of the country’s gross domestic product in 2018.
Sun Group has been busy. On the same day that the airport opened, the company officially launched two other major infrastructure projects in Quang Ninh Province: the Ha Long-Van Don expressway and Ha Long International Cruise Port. The projects, worth a total of 13.1 trillion dong ($563 million), are expected to connect Vietnam’s tourism and economic hubs in the north to other parts of the country — as well as to other countries — by land, sea and air.
Vietnam has condemned the terrorist attack that killed four people, including three Vietnamese tourists, and injured many more in Cairo on Friday, according to Vietnam News.
The Vietnamese website identified one of the victims as as 46-year-old Nguyễn Thúy Quỳnh who was travelling with her husband Lê Đức Minh. He suffered injuries to his hand, the website quoted Thanh Niên newspaper.
Meanwhile Lê Thị Thu Hằng, a spokeperson of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is calling on the Egyptian government to act fast and find and punish those responsible for the terror attack.
The Egyptian government said it has been communicating with the Vietnamese embassy in Egypt to keep it updated with all the needed information about the attack. The tourist bus drove away of the police forces that were supposed to secure its path, according to Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Friday.
The scene of an attack on a tourist bus in Giza province, Egypt, on Dec. 28, 2018.
President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi is closely following all of Marioteya bus terrorist attack updates along with the ministers and security bodies. Top prosecutor ordered investigations into the attack, and a police hunt was launched to arrest the perpetrators.
For its part, Vietnam has called on all governments and their people “to stand united in the fight against terrorism in an uncompromising way to build a peaceful life and to ensure safe travel for people around the world,” according to the Vietnamese website.
Hằng added that Vietnam appreciates the efforts of the Government and the people of Egypt in supporting the treatment and protection of Vietnamese citizens attacked in this incident.
Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc had sent his deepest condolences to the families of the victims.
The Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately implement necessary measures to protect Vietnamese citizens in Egypt.
Berjaya Land Bhd (BLand) plans to exit from its Vietnam-based international five-star hotel business in a move to monetise yet another asset in the country.
The company, which is controlled by tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan, told the stock exchange yesterday that TPC Development Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berjaya Leisure (Cayman) Ltd, would be disposing its entire 75% stake in its joint-venture TPC Nghi Tam Village Ltd (TPC Village) for 1.24 trillion Vietnam dong.
Berjaya Leisure is wholly-owned by BLand.
The 75% stake in TPC Village would be acquired by Hanoi Hotel Tourism Development Ltd Liability Company. Meanwhile, the remaining 25% would continue to be owned by Thang Long GTC Joint Stock Company.
For context, TPC Village is the operator of the five-star Intercontinental Hanoi West Lake Hotel, which commenced operations in 2007.
According to BLand, the cost of investment in TPC Village was 686.88 billion Vietnam Dong. The stake disposal would result in an estimated gain of about RM192.33mil.
The cash proceeds from the equity interest sale would be utilised for BLand’s working capital.
“The proposed disposal represents an opportunity for the BLand Group to divest its investment in TPC Village.
“In conjunction with the proposed disposal, all amounts owing by TPC Village to TPC Development totalling US$71.63mil would also be fully settled by TPC Village,” stated the company.
BLand added that the proposed disposal was not subject to the approval of its shareholders.
Vietnam is quickly becoming an extremely popular destination for expats to move to, and here’s top reasons listed out by Expat Woman as to why…
When it comes to moving abroad, expats seek the perfect work-life balance when considering where to live. They seek job security, a good salary and the unique opportunities to experience a culture so different from their own.
According to a recent survey, Vietnam’s popularity as a favourite expatriate destination has soared in comparison to previous rankings, and there’s no surprise.
In 2018, Vietnam has been named among the top 10 destinations for expats in the world.
Which is an impressive jump!
So why has Vietnam rapidly increased in popularity for expats to move to, live in and work?
There’s cheap(er) living costs than what you may be used to
If you’re moving here from a Western country or even from places like Japan and South Korea, you will be pleased to discover that the cost of living in Vietnam is extremely cheap in comparison. For instance when you look at the prices in U.S. Dollars, beers can be as cheap as 50 cents, a meal under $1, a taxi around $3 and the monthly rent for a reasonable apartment could cost you as little as $100! A far cry from the rental prices of places like Dubai and Singapore.
The country is rich in interesting culture and history
After all, a desirable part of embarking on an expatriate adventure is the opportunity to witness and experience a culture entirely different to you own. And this is true of Vietnam… The country is filled with its rich culture, delicious food, awe-inspiring art and fascinating people, which all makes living here very interesting on a daily basis. Not only that, but the country’s landscape is rich and the weather is great all year round.
Expats enjoy food and beverage in Vietnam
There’s plenty of opportunity to work
When it comes to working here, yes, you must fully understand the country’s processes and cultural values. For instance, companies here function in a defined hierarchical manner, with the most respect given to the eldest. And more often than not, decisions are made at the top.
The country’s economy is in the process of liberalization, and is steadily sustaining impressive growth and so there’s lots of job opportunities that may prove attractive for expats moving here.
Foreigner Working in Vietnam
Especially if you are English-speaking, there are plenty of English language teaching positions available for you to pursue to help make some extra cash. Not only that, but there’s lots of job opportunities available that vary from role to role… Like being an extra in a movie or advert production!
Expat communities are frequent
There’s a whole community of expats living in this country, and in each main city. Especially places like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, it’s very easy to find other expats to network with, connect with and become new friends. Remember to use websites like ours, with our friendly forum, to get started connecting with fellow expats in your area! Our best advice would be to practice sport and join an existing team, or search for an expat club or society that takes your interest.
It’s relatively easy to set up your life here
Everybody is very accommodating, and people in Vietnam are happy to provide you with services and resources (for a fee, of course). There’s plenty of choice for apartments and transport, like motorbikes, that you can rent or buy relatively quickly.
Setting up services like your banking and healthcare should be a smooth process, and there’s various international schools available to choose from and private healthcare is of good quality.
There’s lots of opportunity to travel further
The country of Vietnam is located perfectly if you want to travel for a holiday… As a gateway to both Southeast Asia and larger countries, like China, Japan and South Korea, there’s plenty of places you can explore to feed your wanderlust.
Last year Vietnam received a record number of 13 million foreign tourists.
According to the latest report by the National Traffic Safety Committee and local police, within December 29, 2018, the first day of this holiday, about 42 traffic accidents were reported nationwide, killing 27 people and injuring about 15 people.
Major causes for road traffic accidents included driving in the wrong lane, speeding, bad driving and drink driving. There was no accidents regarding railway and waterways.
According to a report on Dan Tri newspaper, The National Traffic Safety Committee also said that police stopped over 6.582 traffic violations, collecting fines of over VND6 billion.
Vietnam Government recently urged ministries and agencies to speed up and complete legal documents which were expected to help tackle existing traffic problems.
For example, the transport ministry was asked to complete the draft of the Governmental decision on conditions for transport businesses. The Ministry of Justice was asked to review laws and make recommendations to the Government if it was necessary to increase fines for traffic violations.
Japan leads foreign investors in Vietnam in 2018 with 8.59 billion USD, making up 24 percent of the nation’s total FDI.
The Republic of Korea and Singapore were the runner-ups with 7.2 billion USD and 5 billion USD, making up 24.2 percent and 14.2 percent of the country’s total FDI, respectively. VNA reports.
Vietnam attracted 35.46 billion USD in total foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2018, equivalent to 98.8 percent of the previous year’s figure.
According to a report by the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, by December 20, FDI commitment for 3,046 newly-licensed projects reached nearly 18 billion USD, equivalent to 84.5 percent of the same period last year.
After a yearly decline of nearly 10 percent in FDI added to operating projects totaled at 7.59 billion USD, the capital pledged for stake acquisitions rose by 60 percent year on year to 9.89 billion USD, the report said.
As per the data, foreign-invested enterprises gained a trade surplus of 32.8 billion USD this year as they exported 175.5 billion USD worth of goods, up 13 percent while their imports hit 142.7 billion USD, up 12 percent.
The manufacturing and processing sector garnered the most interest from foreign investors in the period, accounting for 16.58 billion USD, or 47 percent of the registered capital.
The real estate sector ranked second with 6.6 billion USD, or 18.5 percent and the retail sector came third with 3.67 billion USD, or 10.3 percent.
The capital city of Hanoi lured the lion share of FDI with 7.5 billion USD or 21.2 percent of the total capital pledged for the country. It was followed by the southern economic hub of HCM City with 5.9 billion USD or 17 percent, and the northern port city of Hai Phong with 3.1 billion USD, or 8.7 percent.
In a wider scope, there were more than 27,350 valid foreign-invested projects in Vietnam so far with a total registered capital of 340 billion USD. Over half of the FDI has been disbursed thus far, according to the above-mentioned report.
The Republic of Korea was the leading source of FDI with 62.5 billion USD and Japan came next with 57 billion USD. Several others included Singapore, Taiwan (China), British Virgin Islands and Hong Kong (China).
A Vietnam court on Friday (Dec 28) ordered ride-hailing app Grab to pay a cab company more than US$200,000 for losses incurred due to competition – a judgment blasted by the firm as “a giant step backwards” for the country’s tech community.
The Singapore-based app, which launched in Vietnam in 2013, has been embroiled in a lawsuit with Vinasun, a major taxi provider in the south of the country, since May 2017.
According to a report by AFP, Vinasun blamed profit losses amounting to US$1.8 million on Grab’s entry into the market.
A court in Ho Chi Minh City ruled on Friday that Grab must compensate Vinasun US$206,000 in damages for “having seriously violated the law on transport business”, a court clerk told AFP.
A local news outlet, which serves as a mouthpiece for the city’s department of justice, said Grab’s “activities caused losses to Vinasun”.
But since there was a lack of concrete evidence to prove that Grab was the sole reason for the Vietnamese company’s losses, the judge said there were no grounds to demand the full US$1.8 million compensation.
Grab is South-east Asia’s most dominant ride-share company, operating across eight countries in a fast-growing sector with increasing competition.
The judgment sets a “bad precedent”, said Grab’s Vietnam head Jerry Lim, allowing traditional companies to sue its competitors “instead of constantly innovating through technology to remain relevant” in the country’s vibrant tech industry.
“This is a defeat and giant step backwards for Vietnam’s hard-working entrepreneurs and tech talents,” he said in a statement.
“It is unfortunate that Vinasun’s anti-competitive tactics as a reaction to their declining business profits have somehow prevailed.”
He added the company was “intrigued” by the verdict, given the lack of “direct causal relationship” between Vinasun’s losses and Grab’s business activities.
Grab will be filing an appeal to seek a reversal of the court’s decision, and is also preparing to launch a defamation lawsuit against Vinasun “if there is no retraction of the baseless allegations made”.
Grab’s ambitious ascent has not been without issues. Earlier this year, the Competition and Consumer Commission in Singapore fined Grab and fellow ride-hailing app Uber a total of US$9.5 million for merging – a move it said substantially reduced competition in Singapore.
The region’s ride-hailing market is expected to be worth US$20 billion by 2025, according to research by Google and Singapore investment vehicle Temasek.
Phu Nhuan Jewelry (PNJ), the Vietnam’s largest jewelry retailers have launched a pro-LGBTI ad campaign.
A same-sex couple feature in a video for the ‘True Love’ campaign for PNJ, in collaboration with advertising agency, Mirum Vietnam. Gaystarnews.com reports.
In a video for the campaign, opens with the text ‘Based on true stories’, and showcases couples wearing wedding and engagement rings.
Around two-thirds of the way through, it shows a male couple setting up a tent on a camping trip.
They then stop to look at a rainbow before holding hands in front of a campfire.
The video also includes a range of body-shapes and sizes, and ends with the line ‘The true beauty of love’.
Comments below the video in Vietnamese are overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the inclusion of a same-sex couple.
Cultural stigmas remain
Though often criticized for the woeful records of human rights and free speech, Vietnam is widely considered one of the more progressive countries in Southeast Asia with regards to LGBTI rights.
There are no laws forbidding homosexuality, and the government passed a landmark law in 2015 which legally recognizes trans people.
However, there remain numerous socio-cultural obstacles facing the country’s LGBTI community.
Many people in Vietnam still consider LGBTI rights as a social stigma or as ‘western values’.
This remains particularly in Vietnam’s rural areas, which are more conservative areas.
There are also few anti-discrimination laws in Vietnam to protect LGBTI people in the workplace.
Egyptian police killed 40 “terrorists” in separate raids early on Saturday, a day after a roadside bomb near the Giza pyramids killed three Vietnamese tourists and their guide, the interior ministry of Egypt said.
Two raids in the Giza governorate killed 30 “terrorists”, while the remaining 10 were killed in the restive North Sinai, the ministry said in a statement.
It said authorities acted after receiving information the suspects were preparing a series of attacks against state and tourist institutions and churches.
“Information was received by the national security that a group of terrorists were planning to carry out a series of aggressive attacks targeting state institutions, particularly economic ones, as well as tourism, armed forces, police and Christian places of worship,” the statement said.
Police acting upon this information carried out simultaneous raids in the Giza governorate and in North Sinai, killing a total of 40 “terrorists”, it said.
In Giza itself two raids were carried out, the first killing 14 suspects and the second 16 suspects, while the rest were in the North Sinai capital El-Arish.
Police also found a large number of weapons and ammunition as well as bomb-making materials, the statement said.
Early on Friday evening, a roadside bomb blast hit a tourist bus travelling near the Giza pyramids killing three Vietnamese holidaymakers and their Egyptian tour guide, officials said.
A statement by the public prosecutor’s office said 11 other tourists from Vietnam and an Egyptian bus driver were wounded when the bomb exploded.
The improvised explosive device was placed near a wall along Mariyutiya Street in Al-Haram district near the Giza pyramids plateau, it said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
Egypt’s vital tourism industry has been struggling to recover from terror attacks and domestic instability that have hit the country in recent years.
Jihadists linked to the Islamic State group have claimed responsibility for previous attacks, including against Egypt’s Coptic Christian minority who make up about 10 percent of the country’s population.
The Egyptian military launched a large-scale operation dubbed “Sinai 2018” in February to rid the Sinai Peninsula of IS jihadists after an attack on a mosque in the north of the peninsula killed more than 300 people.
Since the start of the campaign, 450 jihadists were presumed to have been killed “in the north and the centre of Sinai by (soldiers) and police,” army spokesman Tamer al-Rifai told AFP.
According to army figures, around 30 soldiers have been killed in the operation.
Vietnam at the Asian Cup, which takes place in the United Arab Emirates from Jan 5 to Feb 1:
FIFA world ranking: 100
Ranking in Asia: 17
Previous Asian Cups: 1
Best performance: Quarter-finals (2007)
2015: Did not qualify
Nickname: Golden Dragons
Coach: Park Hang-seo
Regular captain: Que Ngoc Hai
Player to watch: Nguyen Quang Hai
Recent form:
Dec 2 Philippines 1-2 Vietnam Bacolod
Dec 6 Vietnam 2-1 Philippines Hanoi
Dec 11 Malaysia 2-2 Vietnam Kuala Lumpur
Dec 15 Vietnam 1-0 Malaysia Hanoi
Dec 25 Vietnam 1-1 North Korea Hanoi
Fixtures:
Group D
Jan 8 Iraq v Vietnam Abu Dhabi
Jan 12 Vietnam v Iran Abu Dhabi
Jan 16 Vietnam v Yemen Al Ain
South Korean Park has transformed expectations in Vietnam by taking the under-23 side to the final of the Asian Cup in January and the semi-finals of the Asian Games tournament in August.
The senior team capped that, and triggered more wild celebrations around the country, when they beat Malaysia over two legs to win the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Championship in December.
Having been drawn in a tough group, they will do well to match their single appearance in the quarter-finals as co-hosts in 2007 but some in Vietnam are starting to believe Park and his players can do anything.
Compiled by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by John O’Brien on Reuters
Six men in Vietnam were busted this week for killing and eating an endangered monkey — and livestreaming the gruesome event on Facebook, according to a report.
The suspects, ranging in age from 35 to 59, used a phone to film themselves eating the live leaf-eating langur monkey — one of the most endangered primate species in the world — on Nov. 17, AFP reported.
They were finally identified and arrested Thursday, according to the report.
“It took time for us to figure out the suspects involved,” a police officer in central Ha Tinh province told the outlet.
They’ve been accused of violating regulations protecting “endangered and precious animals,” and copped to the offense, according to a statement posted on the Ha Tinh provincial police’s website.
One of the men purchased the langur — a species found only in northern Vietnam — from a hunter for $49, the statement said.
The trafficking and consumption of rare, endangered species is not uncommon in Vietnam, where many believe they possess healing and medicinal qualities and they are sold on the black market.
Those who purchase the animals rarely broadcast the killing and eating of the creatures, which are protected by the country’s conservation laws.
Other endangered species, including the Red River giant soft-shell turtle, the mountainous Saola antelope and the snub-nosed Tonkin monkey, have made their home in Vietnam — and critics argue that conservation protection laws are not effectively enforced, according to the report.
Poaching of endangered animals goes largely unchecked, both in Vietnam and China, the critics say.
