The Animals Asia Foundation has launched a campaign to stop Bac Ninh Province's traditional pig slaughter during Nem Thuong Festival amid growing official concern about the barbarity of the practice and the impact it has on Vietnam's international reputation.

Pig tied up in cart, ready for the festival

The foundation objects to the practice where, on the sixth day of the new lunar year, thousands of people, including children, go to Nem Thuong Village to see the public slaughter of pigs. The pigs are decapitated and bystanders dip money into the blood in hope of good luck for the year.

Animals Asia Foundation, a non-governmental organisation opposed to animal cruelty in China and Vietnam, called on local authorities to put an end to the slaughter, which it called the cruelest ceremony in Vietnam, adding its voice to those of many other organisations and individuals who want the festival ended.

Decapitating the pig in public

"Cutting the animals while they are still alive and healthy is cruel," Animals Asia said in a media release.

"Witnessing and carrying out such activities will harden human emotions and feelings. This will especially affect children who are still in psychological development stages."

Animals Asia has been campaigning to end the slaughter for two years, submitting documents and requests to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, authorities of Bac Ninh People's Committee and relevant agencies, but has yet to make significant progress.

It said the Nem Thuong Festival was just one of many festivals around the world that involve animal slaughter and cruelty, and they need to be condemned and stopped.

Visitors dipping money in pig blood in hope of good luck for the year.

Speaking with Dtinews reporter on January 29, Phan Dinh Tan, spokesman for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the ministry was aware of the reaction towards the traditional slaughter and would act.

"Such barbaric activities no longer fit in with modern civilised life," Tan said.

"Even the buffalo fighting festival in Haiphong City has disturbing content. These traditions should end because they are against the world's policy to treat all animals humanely and with respect," he said.

The vice chairman of Bac Ninh People's Committee, Nguyen Tu Quynh, said that after hearing reactions from the public and representations from ambassadors of the European Union two years ago, steps had been taken to change the ceremony.