Meet Vietnam's Adorable Moon Bears

It’s easy to see how the moon bear has won the hearts of so many: They’re playful, adorable and, with a distinctive splash of white on their chests, certainly eye-catching. Here’s a look at the Tam Dao Bear Sanctuary in Vietnam, where the team from Animals Asia is working to improve the lives of these wonderful bears.

Animals Asia and the Tam Dao Bear Sanctuary

The Tam Dao Bear Sanctuary, near Hanoi, rescues and rehabilitates moon bears, which are also known as the Asiatic Black Bear. For Animals Asia, their primary mission is to rescue these bears from bile farms and provide them with a safe environment. As Hoang Van Chien, the Bear Team Supervisor for Animals Asia, puts it, “We help them recover [so] they can enjoy their new lives within the rescue centre.”

Unfortunately, most of the bears they rescue aren’t suitable for release into the wild, for both mental and physical reasons – but those bears still play an important role in changing public perceptions. For many people in Vietnam, the only moon bears they ever see are kept in tiny cages, miserable and in poor health. They never see the personalities of the bears, which are curious, social and playful – and, just like many people, they love to nap.

The main issue for moon bears in Vietnam stems from traditional medicine. Bear bile has long been part of eastern medicine, believed to increase a man’s fertility, as well as acting as a hangover cure. While the ursodeoxycholic acid in bear bile does have some unrelated medicinal benefits, there are better herbal and synthetic alternatives. As for fertility and hangovers?

“That’s a myth,” says Tuan Bendixsen, the Vietnam Director for Animals Asia.

Unfortunately for moon bears and the team at Animals Asia, traditions are slow to change. But rather than just searching for the bears that are still held in captivity, the Tam Dao Bear Sanctuary is also working to challenge the demand for bear bile through public outreach.

“When they come here,” says Tuan Bendixsen, speaking about visitors to the centre, “and they see the bears playing, I think this is something that I hope will engender some kind of empathy for the bears and will hopefully encourage them not to use bear bile.”

A better future for moon bears

The team of workers and volunteers at the Tam Dao Bear Sanctuary are giving the bears the chance to be their own best advocates. By providing a safe environment, these bears have a better chance to thrive. To support Animals Asia, check out their website or visit their sanctuary. Be sure to book a tour in advance, though, as they only bring in visitors twice a month, and space is limited.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.