The items will be destroyed on November 12 by the ministry in co-operation with the ministries of Finance and Public Security. The ivory and rhino horn will be ground, burnt and then buried in Hanoi's Soc Son District, a source from the ministry said.

The action takes place in the run up to a Hanoi Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade which will be held on November 17.

Destroying ivory and rhino horn is a symbolic action to show the commitment of the Vietnamese government to tackling the illegal wildlife trade, and raise local people's awareness on the use of the products, the ministry said.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the destruction of smuggled ivory and rhino horn has been carried out in many countries including Kenya, the US, France, Italy, the Philippines, Singapore, and China.

The conference, which will be held on November 17 at the Lotte Hotel, Hanoi will see the participation of delegates from 54 countries and territories. This is the third annual conference following the first held in 2014 in the UK and the second held in 2015 in Botswana.

The Hanoi conference is expected to mark an important turning point in Vietnam’s efforts in strengthening its commitment to combat the illegal wildlife trade.

A Hanoi Declaration joint statement between the governments of the participating countries will be issued at the conference.

Vietnam is being rated by several international wildlife protection groups as a focal point for illegal trading of ivory and rhino horn. Dozens of tonnes of ivory and rhino horn have been seized at local ports in 2015. 

The largest case involved the import of eight tonnes from Mozambique and Nigeria to Tien Sa Port in Danang in August.

Dtinews