Mekong Delta River is covered and divided by wetlands and water, creating a unique way of life and culture. It’s home to numerous attractive destinations, including bustling floating markets, narrow canals with shadows cast by green leaves, fruit plantations, and vast rice fields. However, this region is also home to many snake species that have harmed or killed many people. Therefore, Dong Tam Snake Farm (Vietnamese: trại rắn Đồng Tâm; trại rắn means “snake farm”) was established and has grown into one of the country’s largest snake-raising centers, producing venom for local use and export. This farm has also become an attractive destination for domestic and international tourists to come to study and visit while exploring Dong Thap.
What is special about the Dong Tam snake farm?
On nearly 30 hectares of land, Dong Tam snake farm is currently divided into areas for raising snakes, pythons, and other animals. Many of them are rare and listed in Vietnam’s Red Book.
Explore the “kingdom of snakes”
When coming to Dong Tam snake farm, you will be able to see more than 400 different species of snakes, from non-venomous, venomous, to the most venomous snakes, inhabiting three environments.
– Lake area: this area is designed with a high wall with only one entrance gate. The deeper you go inside, the more you will see a lake bottom about 30-40cm deep, always full of water. In the middle of the lake, there is a small island with green trees as high as the lake wall.
Just look up at the top of the tree; there are many different species of snake living here, looking like ropes coiling around the branches. Most of them belong to colubrid species. On the island, the grass is overgrown. This is a shelter for toads, frogs, bullfrogs…They are a food source for snakes.
– Most venomous snake farming area: This area is the “home” of cobras, banded krait, Indochinese spitting cobra, Trimeresurus albolabris species… Those snake species are very dangerous and can even kill people with their venom.
– The zone for pythons: there are many large iron cages in this area, each cage contains a python. Coming here, you will have the opportunity to witness giant pythons, fairly quiet and often coil themselves around big tree vases.
Home of many rare animals
In addition to a large number of snakes and pythons, Dong Tam snake farm also raises many animals, including some rare and precious animals of Vietnam, such as tigers, crocodiles, turtles, foxes, bears, peacocks, ostriches, porcupines, and apes, such as yellow-cheeked gibbon….
This is an amazing farm where you can explore the habitats, characteristics, and physiology of many animals.
Snake Museum and the center for the treatment of snakebites
The snake farm is operated by the Vietnamese military for the purpose of studying snake antivenom, cultivating medicinal herbs & plants, and protecting wild animals. Today, the center is helping thousands of people with snake bites.
How to get to the Dong Tam snake farm from Ho Chi Minh City?
From Ho Chi Minh City, it’s quite convenient to get to the farm by motorbike or you can book a private car to Dong Thap as this is the best way when you travel with a group. When you drive by yourself, continue for 3km beyond the turn-off to My Tho, then turn left at Dong Tam. From the junction, follow the road for 4km, turn right, and continue until you reach the snake farm.
- Location: Kim Son Commune, Dong Thap province.
- Opening hours: 7:00 – 17:30
- Best for: solo, family, student.
- Entrance: 60.000VND/1 ticket
- Tourist spots nearby: Vinh Trang Pagoda, Thoi Son Islet, Vinh Long Museum, Cai Be floating market, Tan Phong islet, Tan Thanh Beach, ….
Source: collected by An
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