VietNamNet Bridge – Hanging animal meat in front of restaurants in the vicinity of the Perfume Pagoda in My Duc District is to be banned, say officials in Ha Noi.

Wild animal meat hangs outside a restaurant near the Huong (Perfume) Pagoda in Ha Tay Province. The province has prohibited restaurants from hanging meat in front of restaurants to protect the pagoda's image.

The new measure is intended to protect the image of the pagoda – one of the most popular spiritual destinations in the city, especially during the first days of Tet (the Lunar New Year festival).

Food may, however, be displayed inside glass cabinets within the eateries, Ha Noi police said, asking the board organising the Perfume Pagoda festival to set up an inter-sectorial team to carry out inspections.

The team will also deal strictly with cases of trading wild animal meat, said Ha Noi police.

This follows a request by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment that the relevant agencies should quickly promote educational schemes to cut down on the trading, or use as gifts, of wild animal products – especially during the coming Tet festival.

City police have also recommended rechecking the cable car system at the Perfume Pagoda to guarantee the safety of visitors during the festival.

This year, the festival is expected to attract one million visitors.

Source: VNS