Despite warnings that avian influenza could escalate into a pandemic, we have observed that the sale of uninspected live poultry continues in many locations, with a significant influx of poultry into Ho Chi Minh City.
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A poultry trader on National Highway 1A was discovered by veterinary authorities in Binh Chanh, and he immediately called to “alert” the vehicles behind him. |
Although there is a sign prohibiting the sale of live poultry at the entrance to Tran Chanh Chieu Chicken Market, we did not see any signs of poultry outside the market. However, during a brief walk, we were approached by more than a dozen individuals offering to sell live chickens and ducks.
On the afternoon of October 26, a woman standing in front of a veterinary checkpoint in District 5 invited us, “Would you like to buy some chickens or ducks?”. Knowing we were looking for a large quantity of live poultry, she eagerly responded:
“Whatever you need, I have it. Come into my house and choose any you like.” However, when we inquired whether the chickens and ducks had passed inspection, she hesitated and replied, “Poultry with feathers doesn’t need inspection. Only processed chickens and ducks come with inspection certificates.”
About 15 meters away, we were also approached by a fruit seller offering live chickens! After waiting for a nod from a potential buyer, she quickly went into her house and emerged with a basket containing four chickens. She quoted a price of 40,000 VND per kilogram for roosters and 30,000 VND per kilogram for hens: “Right now, it’s a bit difficult to transport and sell poultry, so prices have gone up a little.” When we asked about inspection, she nodded affirmatively: “Of course, how could I sell without inspection!?” But when we requested to see the inspection certificate, she cleverly replied, “These are free-range chickens from Tien Giang. They are safer than the industrial chickens that come with inspection certificates.”
At other markets, we did not find it difficult to trace the “origins” of the live chickens and ducks. At a display of ducks without inspection certificates at Ba Chieu Market (Binh Thanh District), a vendor rushed into her house and brought out a pair of ducks that were still quacking. According to the two duck sellers conversing, they had purchased them from a nearby slaughterhouse.
At Tan Son Nhi Market (Binh Tan District), when we asked to buy live chickens, the shop owner eagerly responded, “Yes, I can slaughter them for you right here.” However, when we suggested buying in bulk, she became suspicious and declined: “The veterinary authorities are very strict now; there aren’t many live chickens left to sell. If you want to buy in large quantities, you should go to Cu Chi or Hoc Mon and look for them in the gardens.”
A stroll through Hoc Mon, Ba Chieu, Tan Binh markets, and temporary markets at the end of Nguyen Thai Son Street revealed that fresh live poultry was still being sold abundantly.
At Thi Nghe Market, a female chicken seller chastised us for being “chicken-hearted” when, after negotiating the price for a pair of ducks and preparing to slaughter them, we asked, “Do you have a veterinary certificate?” The shop owner threw the knife on the ground and exclaimed, “These ducks are healthy and delicious; why do you keep asking? If you’re so scared, don’t eat them. What paperwork?” In the Tam Binh Market area (Thu Duc District), a local resident mentioned, “Many vendors here don’t dare to sell openly, but if you go to the fish and vegetable market area and ask, you can find them immediately.”
Unlike the more concealed activities in the inner city, the trading of poultry is more open in the outskirts. On the morning of October 26, according to several traders at Binh Chanh Market, the veterinary station had just “swept through,” so most of the live chickens and ducks had been “disposed of.” However, at the end of the market, a few live chickens and ducks were still displayed along the pathway. Holding a pair of ducks in front of us, the vendor marketed, “My short-necked ducks are very delicious!” Regarding inspections, he casually explained, “Life and death are all predetermined. There will be inspections, but when it’s time to die, it’s inevitable.”
In addition to buying and selling, poultry farming still exists in many areas of Ho Chi Minh City. A veterinary officer admitted, “There are still many places in the inner city that raise chickens, especially fighting cocks.” Indeed, according to a vendor selling bamboo cages for chickens on Hoa Hao Street in District 10, there are still many “fighting rings” that come by to purchase cages. Early in the morning on Dao Duy Tu Street, many “rings” were seen taking their chickens out for coffee.
YEN TRINH – QUANG KHAI – D.HUNG
