Bear bile tourism shuts down in Ha Long

Bear bile tourism in the northern province of Quang Ninh's Ha Long City has finally been shut down, according to the non-governmental organisation Education for Nature – Viet Nam (ENV).

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The end to the vicious trade has been attributed to the efforts made by provincial authorities since the start of the year.

Bear bile tourism began in 2007 with six bear farms set up along the main routes to one of the most popular tourist destinations in Viet Nam.

The farms received bus-loads of mainly Korean tourists, who could witness bile being extracted from live bears before being encouraged to purchase the bile and other bear products, in violation with the law.

ENV has been working closely with authorities at both national and provincial levels for the past seven years in an effort to put a stop to bear bile tourism in Quang Ninh.