It’s the cruelty that Vietnam doesn’t want – and yet plans continue to include the slaughter of pigs in northern Vietnam’s Nem Thuong Festival in February.

Last year, Vietnam’s Prime Minister and the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism added their voices to the festival’s opposition, joining Animals Asia and its supporters in saying this cruelty has no place in modern Vietnam.

A poll taken in January 2015 found that 79 per cent of the Vietnamese public opposed the pig slaughters in the festival. But still the festival proceeded.

They have been joined internationally by the 12,000 people who have signed our petition, asking for the cruelty to stop.

The pressure put on the organisers by Animals Asia, animal lovers and politicians has seen some changes taking place – previously the pig executions were carried out in public, with villagers dipping bank notes in the pigs’ blood for good luck. That has changed, but the parading of the frightened pigs will continue – and their deaths will be no less harrowing even if they happen in private.

This year, the festival will be held on February 13, 2016 – and unless it is changed, two more pigs will be executed in the name of tradition.

Hoang Tuan Anh, the head of the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism has said:

“In a country rich in tradition and culture, we cannot have the image of a pig being brought to a village centre for hundreds of people to witness its head being cut off and its blood pouring out – this is not suitable within a peaceful and hospitable country like Vietnam.”

Nguyen Tam Thanh, an Animal Welfare Officer for Animals Asia in Vietnam, said:

“During the time we have opposed the cruelest portions of the festival, we have seen both government and the vast majority of Vietnamese support our position. But it’s the local authorities that are standing firm and refusing to end this tradition.

“Because of this, in the past year we’ve concentrated on working with local people from the province to highlight the harm caused by festivals like this. This cruelty doesn’t just affect the animals that suffer – it also affects the people who watch it, especially children.

“The Prime Minister has said that Vietnam should put an end to its violent and superstitious festivals. We haven’t given up on stopping it this year – and whatever the outcome it won’t end there.”

Tuan Bendixsen, Vietnam Director of Animals Asia, said:

“Our petition drew wide popular support last year, and attracted powerful allies like the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism. Most people in Vietnam agree with us – traditions and history should not be celebrated with violence and cruelty.

“It’s not enough for the animals that are condemned to die in this festival to not be slaughtered in public. We are not saying ‘end the festival’ – just ‘end the cruelty’. We want to break the link between celebration and animal cruelty once and for all.”

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