Vietnam has been identified as one of the major recipients of rhino horn from South Africa.
The demand for rhino horn in Vietnam has increased substantially over the past few years, and the country is currently considered a significant factor in the illegal rhino horn trade.
Most rhino horn entering Vietnam is sourced from South Africa. Rhino horn is obtained for consumption (quasi-) legally via trophy hunts, and illegally from poachers operating in South Africa.
Not only is the demand for rhino horn as a curative widespread in urban areas of Vietnam, but rhino horn and special tools for grinding rhino horn are offered for sale in shops and online.
And according to the wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC, senior political figures in Vietnam are likely involved in the acquisition – and consumption – of rhino horn.
Rhino horn for sale in Vietnam
In addition to the traditional myths surrounding the healing properties of rhino horn, the Vietnamese have propagated the recent rumor that rhino horn is a cure for cancer. (Updated August 6th, 2011: Some Chinese medicine websites have been offering rhino horn mixtures for the treatment of cancer. This suggests that the “cancer rumor” is likely a planned marketing ploy. Updated January 26th, 2012: “Cancer rumor” linked to China’s Longhui Pharmaceutical Company.) This unfortunate notion has been compounded by hospital staff who have reportedly offered rhino horn to terminally ill patients.
Staff at a particular hospital in Ha Noi are said to have approached patients with terminal cancer, and offered to put them in touch with traders who have authentic horns for sale.
Rhino horn is sold in Vietnam through various retail outlets, such as traditional medicine stores. It is also fairly easy to locate rhino horn for sale online in Vietnam.
The photo below is part of an advertisement for rhino horn on a Vietnamese website:
Some Vietnamese businesses sell special tools for preparing rhino horn, along with their regular wares.
For example, a badminton racket repair shop in Hanoi displays a sign offering “Rhinoceros horn bowls for sale”:
It is disturbing to note that rhinoceros skin and blood are offered as well.
In Ho Chi Minh City, several of these sellers also claim to be able to supply the skin and blood of rhinoceros, though these orders must be placed one month in advance.
Rhino horn is sold whole or in “cuts weighing between 90g to 500g”. The horn is mixed with water after being ground into a powder and consumed as a liquid.
Imitation rhino horn
The demand for rhino horn is so great in Vietnam that some outlets are selling imitation rhino horn made from cows or buffalo.
[The imitation horns] are reportedly produced in several villages in Viet Nam, though a well known production center sited by several sources is Ning Hiep in Bac Ninh province on the outskirts of Ha Noi.
On the Vietnamese market, a “freshly cut” rhino horn commands a retail price of USD $25,000 – $40,000 per kg. Imitation horns fetch a substantial price of USD $15,000 per kg.
Contrary to popular belief, the manufacture and sale of “fake” rhinoceros horns does not flood the market and drive prices down. Instead, imitation horns keep the trade invigorated and the demand high. Next page >>
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thanks for your article very informative, will circulate to other parties not on the internet.
kevin bewick
Hi Kevin -
That would be great – thank you!
I’m glad you enjoyed the article.
Rhishja
I was shocked to read about a 10 man gang armed with AK47′s
raiding a farm in Limpopo and killing two rhinos for their horns.
May I suggest a possible way to prevent this.
1. That Rhinos even at an early age have their horn drilled and deep down
a transponder is inserted which could be detected at border control.
2. Word is put out that a toxic element has been injected into the horn
which if injested by humans can be fatal.
Something like a farmer being upset about his watermelons being
plundered. His solution was to erect a sign that he had placed poison
in one of them. Following day, another sign appeared which someone
said that there were now two poisioned watermelons.
I am totally shocked at the Trophy hunting going on with Professional Hunters bringing in unqualified Vietnamese gun toting barsteds in to shoot our beloved rhino. The photo of one of them standing over that beautiful dead rhino absolutely turned my stomache and my heart bled for that magnificent life that had just been brutally massacred!!!! Just reading this report tells me that Vietnam is on a total mission to order every living rhino on the African continent, they will not give up until every one has been murdered!!!
My God what a realization, it is absolutely appalling to think these individuals will pay anything for the end result, no matter what science says they will still continue?
I would like to thank you for showing me this write up, it has shattered me and made me honour the Conservation of the Rhino people who forge on with their fight against these savages. May God sit up and stop this anialation!!!!!!
Leave a tracking Chip in the horn.(they will not know what hit them) you’ll track them down to the meter.
I want to know whether the horn shown in the post is real and if not,also the other findings suggestive of fake one.In our area there are so many myths about it.Some say it lighter than cow and buffalo horn.Other say that rhino horn has characteristic smell.