Southeast Asia
Vietnam
Vietnam is the country at the centre of three of WARN's most urgent appeals: moon-bear bile-farming retirement, the cat meat trade, and pangolin trafficking interdiction.
By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated
In brief
Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country where WARN's planned work focuses on three connected welfare problems: ending the moon-bear bile-farming industry in partnership with the national phase-out, the cat meat trade that handles several million cats per year, and pangolin and big-cat-part trafficking demand reduction.
Key Facts About Vietnam
- Bile farming officially banned since 2005; national phase-out continuing with several hundred bears still on private farms.
- Several million cats slaughtered each year for the cat meat trade, predominantly in the north.
- Major demand-market country for trafficked rhino horn, pangolin scales and tiger bone.
- Vietnam is home to the Indochinese tiger, moon bear, sun bear and slow loris.
- Our planned Vietnam work centres on sanctuary support for retired bile bears and cat-meat-trade rescue.
- Several hundred moon bears may still remain on private bile farms despite the national phase-out.
- Vietnam is a major demand market for rhino horn, pangolin scales and tiger bone.
What is the wildlife situation in Vietnam?
Vietnam is both a wildlife source and a wildlife demand country. The Annamite range hosts a globally significant biodiversity hotspot. Urban demand markets — particularly Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City — drive the consumption end of the regional wildlife trade in pangolins, rhino horn and big-cat bone.
What is WARN preparing to do in Vietnam?
Three connected programmes: (1) a forested moon-bear sanctuary in northern Vietnam to receive bears retired from closing bile farms; (2) support for partner rescues working against the cat meat trade; (3) demand-reduction work on traditional-medicine wildlife products.
Why Vietnam matters
Three of WARN's largest single-species appeals (moon bears, cats, pangolins) all converge in Vietnam. National policy momentum on bile farming and the cat trade gives a real window for rescue capacity to scale up to meet demand.
Moon-bear sanctuary transition
As bile farms close, bears need lifetime forest sanctuary care — they cannot return to the wild after years in cages. WARN's planned northern Vietnam site is designed for veterinary surgery, quarantine and climate-controlled dens.
Cat meat trade in the north
Several million cats are slaughtered annually for the cat meat trade, predominantly in northern provinces. Partner grants fund seizure rescue, quarantine and demand-reduction work.
Threats to Wildlife in Vietnam
Bear-bile farming
Cat and dog meat trade
Traditional-medicine wildlife trade
Wet markets
Habitat fragmentation
What WARN Funds in Vietnam
We are preparing a forested sanctuary site in northern Vietnam with veterinary surgery facilities, climate-controlled dens, and quarantine wings — designed to accept moon bears as the remaining farms close. Supporting partner work funds cat-meat-trade rescue and trafficked-wildlife sanctuary capacity.
Key Species in Vietnam
Vietnam FAQ
Is the cat meat trade legal in Vietnam?
Are bile-farm bears released into the wild?
Is bile farming still legal in Vietnam?
Does WARN run bile-farm raids?
Why is Vietnam outside the original five-country list?
What is the Indochinese tiger status?
Can slow lorises be rehabilitated in Vietnam?
How does Vietnam connect to Cambodia snaring?
Rescue Guides for Vietnam
Focused pages for the specific animal rescue searches connected to Vietnam, from trafficking response to sanctuary and veterinary care.
Malaysia · Wildlife trafficking
Pangolin Rescue in Malaysia
Pangolin rescue in Malaysia focuses on intercepting trafficked Sunda pangolins, stabilising seized animals, and releasing suitable survivors into protected habitat through specialist rehabilitation partners.
Southeast Asia · Companion animal rescue
Dog and Cat Meat Trade in Southeast Asia
The dog and cat meat trade in Southeast Asia moves companion animals through high-stress capture, transport and slaughter routes; rescue depends on enforcement, shelter capacity and demand reduction.
Southeast Asia · Exotic pet trade
Slow Loris Pet Trade Rescue
Slow loris pet trade rescue is difficult because trafficked lorises often arrive with clipped teeth, stress injuries and specialist dietary needs after being taken from the wild for viral exotic pet demand.
Malaysia · Transit routes
Malaysia Wildlife Trafficking
Malaysia wildlife trafficking matters because the country sits on key regional routes for pangolins, birds, reptiles and big-cat parts, making customs detection and live-animal rescue capacity especially important.
Pangolin rescue · Seizure response
What Happens to Seized Pangolins?
Seized pangolins are assessed by specialist teams, stabilised in quiet quarantine, treated for stress or injury, and released only if they are healthy, wild-behaving and have safe habitat available.
Slow loris · Pet trade injury
Rescued Slow Loris Teeth Removed
Slow loris teeth are often cut or pulled by traders to prevent biting; rescued lorises with dental damage need urgent veterinary care and may be unable to return to the wild.
UK donors · International cat welfare
Help Stray Cats Abroad
From the UK, you can help stray cats abroad by funding neutering, vaccination, emergency treatment, community cat care and shelter support in countries where local capacity is limited.
Vietnam · Breaking enforcement
400+ Stolen Cats Rescued in Vietnam Police Raid (June 2026)
In June 2026, police in Tay Ninh Province and Ho Chi Minh City dismantled an alleged cat-theft ring, recovering more than 400 live cats, around 80 dead cats on ice, and arresting nine people; welfare groups later reunited 40+ cats with owners.
Vietnam · Cat rescue
Cat Meat Trade in Vietnam
The cat meat trade in Vietnam captures, transports and slaughters cats through high-stress trade routes; rescue support funds seizure response, quarantine, veterinary care and shelter placement.
UK donors · Dogs and cats abroad
Donate to Help Dogs and Cats Abroad
UK supporters can donate to help dogs and cats abroad by funding partner-led veterinary care, neutering, vaccination, emergency rescue, shelter capacity and humane alternatives to culling or meat-trade suffering.
UK donors · Meat trade intent
Donate to Stop the Dog and Cat Meat Trade
UK supporters can donate to help stop the dog and cat meat trade by funding partner-led seizure rescue, quarantine, rabies-risk veterinary treatment, shelter capacity and demand-reduction work — with Indonesia and Malaysia as WARN's current in-network focus.
Vietnam · Bear bile farming
Donate to Moon Bear Bile Farm Rescue
You can donate to moon bear bile farm rescue through WARN at /appeals/moon-bears — gifts fund partner-led sanctuary placement, veterinary care and lifetime support for bears rescued from bile extraction farms in Vietnam and Indonesia within the 17-country partner network.
UK donors · Combined giving
How to Donate to a Local Animal Shelter — UK & Abroad
Donate to a local animal shelter by giving to a registered UK rescue near you. Give on this page as well if you also want partner-led CNVR and meat-trade quarantine abroad. WARN does not operate UK kennels, does not rehome pets, and is not a local animal protection society.
UK donors · Symbolic cat adoption
Adopt a Cat Symbolically UK
Adopt a cat from the UK by matching the goal: a local registered rescue for rehoming nearby, or WARN — a UK CIC, not a charity — to symbolically adopt from £5/month for partner-led TNVR and meat-trade quarantine in Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia.
UK donors · Cat charity donations
Donate to a Cat Charity UK
Donate to a cat charity from the UK by matching the goal: a local registered rescue for rehoming nearby, or WARN — a UK CIC, not a charity — for partner-led community-cat TNVR and meat-trade quarantine in Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia.
US donors · Symbolic cat adoption
Adopt a Cat from a Charity in the US
To adopt a cat into your US home, contact your nearest local shelter, humane society or cat rescue for rehoming — WARN does not place cats in US households, but you can symbolically adopt a cat from $5/month at /adopt/cat to fund partner-led TNVR, vaccination and meat-trade quarantine in Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia.
US donors · Cat charity donations
Donate to a Cat Charity US
Donate to a cat charity from the US by matching the goal: a local shelter for rehoming nearby, or WARN — a UK CIC, not a 501(c)(3) — for partner-led community-cat TNVR and meat-trade quarantine in Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia.
Donor intent · Shelter giving
How to Donate to an Animal Shelter
Give to a registered rescue or humane society near you if you want kennel rehoming. Give on this page if you want partner-led CNVR, rabies vaccination and meat-trade quarantine abroad. WARN does not operate local dog and cat shelters, and it is not a local animal protection society.
Appeals You Can Support in Vietnam
Back a specific cause for the animals of Vietnam. Every gift funds frontline rescue, veterinary care and humane coexistence work through our local partners.
17-country partner network
Help Animals After a Disaster
When floods, typhoons and earthquakes hit, animals are left behind. Fund partner-led emergency veterinary care, feed, water and temporary shelter across WARN’s network — not an airlift from Britain.
Support this appeal
Vietnam · Cambodia · Indonesia · Malaysia
End the Dog & Cat Meat Trade
Vietnam alone accounts for roughly a million cats killed for meat each year. Fund partner-led rescue, safe-house capacity and legal advocacy across the Southeast Asia dog and cat meat trade.
Support this appeal Indonesia · Malaysia
Rescue Asia's Moon Bears
Moon bears face bile farming, trafficking and habitat loss across Southeast Asia. Fund sanctuary care, rescue operations and welfare support through partners in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Support this appeal
Indonesia · Malaysia · Pakistan
Save the World's Most Trafficked Mammal
Pangolins are the most trafficked wild mammals on earth. Fund rescue, rehabilitation and release for pangolins seized from traffickers, with Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan as the in-network focus.
Support this appeal
Indonesia · Malaysia
Save the Slow Loris
Torn from the forest and mutilated for the viral pet trade, the slow loris is vanishing. Fund rescue, specialist rehabilitation and release, with Indonesia and Malaysia as the in-network focus.
Support this appealHelp the Animals of Vietnam
Your donation funds the rescue teams, sanctuaries, and programmes protecting wildlife and street animals across Vietnam.
Donate Now