Pangolin hunters and smugglers could face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison under the Penal Code No 100/2015/QH13, as from July 1, 2016, according to Nguyen Van Thai.
Customs officers rescue two pangolins at Nam Can International Border Gate in Ky Son district, Nghe An province. (Source: cand.com.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) – Pangolin hunters and smugglers could face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison under the Penal Code No 100/2015/QH13, as from July 1, 2016, according to Nguyen Van Thai, Director of Save Vietnam’s Wildlife.
Non-profit Save Vietnam’s Wildlife is working together with Cuc Phuong National Park in the Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Program (CPCP), which looks to protect pangolins, an endangered species which is protected as stipulated in Decree 160/2013/ND-CP.
The Penal Code No 100/2015/QH13 imposes more severe punishments for the illegal hunting, killing, raising, transport and trade of pangolins.
Illegally transporting and trading from 1 to 6 pangolins will be fined from 500 million VND to 2 billion VND and sentenced to between one and five years in jail.
The punishment will be raised from five to ten years in prison if the number of pangolins is from seven to ten and from 10 to 15 years in jail if illegally trading and transporting more than 10 pangolins.
On May 19, two alive Manis pentadactyla-typed pangolins were found in the luggage of Nguyen Van Duong who lives in Dien Hong commune, Dien Chau district, Nghe An province, when he passed the Nam Can International Border Gate in the province’s Ky Son district.
The inspection force also discovered ten alive turtles (Palatysternon Megacephalum) in the luggage, without attached legitimate documents as well as certificates of origin.
All pangolins and turtles were transferred to the quarantine area at rescue centres in Cuc Phuong National Park.
The case reflected the close coordination between the Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Program, the border gate’s customs division, the border guard station at the border gate, Ky Son police and Ky Son district’s ranger division.
Nguyen Khac Chien, Deputy Head of the Nam Can International Border Gate Customs Division, said many wild animals, especially pangolins, are illegally being transported and traded from Laos to Vietnam.
Intensifying inspections will help with reducing the smuggling as well as conservation of wildlife, he said.-V🎀NA
The Education for Nature – Vietnam (ENV) has initiated a “zero tolerance” policy on illegal hunting, trading and use of pangolins – which are on the brink of extinction.
Vietnam’s first Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Education Centre was inaugurated at a ceremony jointly held by Save Vietnam’s Wildlife (SVW) and Cuc Phuong National Park on February 20.
The official launch of Emirates’ Dubai–Da Nang route on June 2 has sparked a “tourism revolution” for Vietnam’s central coastal city. Da Nang is emerging as a top destination for high-end travelers, particularly from the lucrative Middle Eastern market.
Bernama CEO Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin said VNA has been a consistent and reliable partner in OANA, contributing actively to the regional media landscape through content sharing, coordination, and policy discussions. Their coverage of ASEAN and Indochina issues adds valuable perspectives. Bernama appreciates the collaboration with VNA.
In this era of global integration and digitalisation, the press must adopt modern multimedia models to not only meet increasing information and communication demands but also align with the broader socio-economic development of the country.
A master plan on implementation of recommendations accepted by Vietnam under the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) took effect on June 17.
Running until June 21, the festival brings together more than 80 central and local media organisations, featuring nearly 130 exhibition booths that cover the full spectrum of national life, encompassing economy, politics, culture, society, defence, security, and foreign affairs.
As of June 17, Ca Mau province had achieved its target of supporting the construction and renovation of 4,400 homes, with a total budget of over 235 billion VND (about 9 million USD).
Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association (VJA) Le Quoc Minh has called for technology to be leveraged not to replace identity, but to enhance it—allowing Vietnamese journalism to reach both local and global audiences.
In recent years, with strong support from the Party and State, and building on its tradition as a heroic news agency, the VNA has not only actively participated in OANA but also proactively proposed various ideas for cooperation, helping shape a fresh image of effective media collaboration in the digital era, said VNA General Director Vu Viet Trang.
The education sector has been one of the foundations playing a vital role in deepening Vietnam – New Zealand ties, said Prof. Damon Salesa, Vice-Chancellor of the Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
Tien Giang province has addressed the housing needs of 608 poor, near-poor, and policy-beneficiary families facing housing difficulties. Of these, 370 houses were newly constructed while 238 underwent major renovations.
Dr Pham Minh Hung from the University of Economics and Business under Vietnam National University, Hanoi, said the fixed-term contract mechanism is a correct step, liberating the entire system from traditional constraints which have long stood in the way of innovation.
The partnership will focus on studying and recommending LRT routes that connect the city’s transport network with urban development zones, industrial parks, and TOD areas. The research will cover Thu Dau Mot city and surrounding areas, with completion scheduled before August 15, 2025.
Media must not only serve as a channel for information but also act as a vanguard in shaping public opinion, combating misinformation, upholding the Party’s ideological principles, and reinforcing unity between Vietnam and Laos.
In Vietnam, the voluntary blood donation movement was first launched on January 24, 1994. In 2008, the Prime Minister established the National Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation.
Currently, 20 Vietnamese citizens remain in Iran, including embassy staff and personnel. All are safe, mentally stable, and in regular contact with the embassy.
A VietnamPlus survey of 764 young people shows that 83.9% of Gen Z use smartphones to read news, only 12% use computers, and the rest access content via tablets.
GVB Startup 2025 attracted the participation of nearly 150 individuals and organisations from across Vietnam. The event seeks to promote bold and ambitious startup ideas and projects, contributing to the future of global innovation, and supporting startups through the provision of resources, networking opportunities, and market insights.
Customs officers rescue two pangolins at Nam Can International Border Gate in Ky Son district, Nghe An province. (Source: cand.com.vn)
