Squirrels, porcupines, and deer are still displayed for sale right after being slaughtered at the Huong Pagoda Festival in Hanoi this year despite a ban from local authorities.

A slaughtered porcupine being displayed at a large fresh meat stall

The offensive sight has become familiar to visitors for many years. Although an inspection by local police in 2014 announced that all the animals sold for meat here were domesticated, there were doubts about the animals' origin.

And local restaurants have been required not to displayed the fresh meat at this religious site.

However, since the festival's opening day on February 10, many visitors have complained about the offensive scenes of the carcasses of slaughtered animals being sold at restaurants around Yen Spring or along the way to Thien Tru Pagoda.

Slaughtered animals hung in a fridge or displayed at a stall

Speaking with the media about the problem, chairman of My Duc District People's Committee, Nguyen Van Hoat, stressed that they have asked local restaurants not to serve wild animals and keep the fresh meat in fridges.

"I see that there are still some restaurants and stalls displaying fresh meat open air and will deal with them soon," Hoat said.

Dan Viet/Dtinews