If there's a spectacle not for the faint-hearted, it's at Le Mat Snake Village, which is located not far from Hanoi - just 10 km from the city center.
The Vietnamese probably treat snakes the way we treat chickens; there are many of them here, and it naturally turned out that breeding them became a kind of national trade with a centuries-old history. Being a snake hunter in Vietnam is quite honorable.
These reptiles are exploited for different purposes; it is an entire branch of business built on exoticism and tradition. In the village, the whole process of snake breeding can be observed live. You can also witness the crawling creatures being killed and turned into kebab or soup. Snake meat, by the way, is quite appetizing, especially if you do not know in advance what you are eating. In addition, you can buy various alcoholic infusions with snake blood here, and, of course, medicinal remedies based on venom.
In spring, Le Mat hosts a snake festival - a very colorful spectacle with songs, dances, and lots of snakes. During it, an ancient legend is обязательно reenacted, according to which a brave fisherman saved a princess by defeating a terrible serpent that dared to overturn her ship.
