A moon bear is held in an iron cage in Tien Giang Province before
activists came to rescue in June 2018. Photo courtesy of Animals Asia. 

Vietnam has been rated one of the two worst-performing countries in Asia along with Myanmar in terms of policies and laws to protect animals. 

An index created by international animal welfare charity World Animal Protection ranks 50 countries and territories around the world from A (being the best) to G based on their animal welfare policies and legislation.

It considers 10 indicators grouped into four goals that address key animal welfare issues found around the world: recognition of animal sentience and prohibition of animal suffering, presence of animal welfare legislation, establishment of supportive government bodies, and support for international animal welfare standards.

Vietnam attained an ‘F’ along with countries such as Myanmar, Egypt, Morocco, and Belarus.

Among 13 Asian countries in the index, Vietnam and Myanmar ranked far behind India and Malaysia (C), Thailand and the Philippines (D) and China, Indonesia and Japan (E).

It said Vietnam failed to protect farming, draught and recreation animals with the government’s commitment to animal protection still being poor.

"Animal welfare legislation in Vietnam is characterized by a prioritization of human health and consumption. This has resulted in limited protections for animals in the country."

Though some species are purportedly protected and cruel practices such as bear bile farming are banned, the report said these problems are ongoing.

Vietnam banned commercial bear bile extraction in 2005, but more than a decade later it remains a problem.

The country is home to the Asian black bear and sun bear, both listed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

The extraction of bile from living bears is illegal in parts of Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, where it has been used for long as a remedy in traditional Chinese medicine.

"While livestock are protected from ‘ill-treatment’ there are no details as to what ill-treatment constitutes and there are no supplementary guidelines or regulations to govern the care, rearing, transport, and slaughter of different species."

The government is strongly urged to amend the Law on Animal Health (2015) and the Law on Animal Husbandry (2018) to ensure that clear and stringent animal welfare protections are included and there are stricter measures to combat animal trafficking

Vietnam has banned the trade in rhino horns, ivory and pangolin scales, but not effectively prevented their trafficking and consumption.

Ivory products and rhino horns are prized in the country for decorative purposes or use in traditional medicine. Many believe rhino horn could cure cancer and pangolin scales could be used to treat asthma and migraine and stimulate milk production in breast-feeding women.

Weak law enforcement in Vietnam has allowed a black market to flourish, making the country a major transit point for elephant tusks, rhino horns and pangolin scales en route mainly to China.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to "soon" draft a directive to ban these activities and submit it to the government no later than April 1.

It follows a call by 14 conservation organizations on the government to "identify and close markets and other locations where illegal wildlife is on sale" to prevent Covid-19. Vietnam has so far recorded 76 cases.

Sweden, the U.K. and Austria are rated the highest in the index with adequate policies and laws to protect animals. They scored a 'B', with no countries in the reporting getting 'A'.