'Golden turtles that attract wealth' sold on sidewalks in Ho Chi Minh City, forest rangers say they are harmful red-eared turtles

Some people sell turtles and soft-shell turtles on the sidewalk in Ho Chi Minh City, introducing 'golden turtles that attract wealth', however forest rangers say these are harmful invasive red-eared sliders.

The woman introduced this as a "golden" turtle that attracts wealth. Through the image provided by Tuoi Tre Online, a forest ranger initially identified this as a red-eared slider turtle - Photo: NGOC KHAI

At noon on January 9, on the sidewalk of Tan Son Street (near the intersection with Quang Trung Street, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City), a woman was selling many soft-shell turtles and tortoises in plastic cups.

According to her, the lowest price for soft-shell turtles is 10,000 VND/each. There are currently three types of turtles: the "golden" turtle that attracts wealth, the three-ridged turtle, and the striped-neck turtle, priced from several tens of thousands to several hundred thousand VND/each depending on their age.

Holding a turtle with two red streaks on both sides of its head, she said this was a "golden turtle that attracts wealth", priced at 200,000 - 300,000 VND/turtle.

"Only the golden turtle can stimulate wealth. You have to get a big one to stimulate wealth quickly. Business people often raise it for feng shui, to bring luck to their work," she said enthusiastically.

Regarding the origin of the turtles, the seller said "they were bred, not caught in the wild". "We have to collect them from many places, otherwise there will only be three or four in one place", she said.

On the same afternoon, Tuoi Tre Online reporter reported the incident of people selling turtles on the sidewalk of Tan Son Street to the representative of Ward 8 People's Committee (Go Vap District). The representative of Ward 8 People's Committee said that they would check and handle the matter.

Meanwhile, when looking at the photo of the turtle that the seller introduced as a "golden" turtle provided by a Tuoi Tre Online reporter, a forest ranger said that initially it could be determined that this was a red-eared slider turtle, a harmful alien species. If the red-eared slider turtle is received, the forest ranger agency will destroy it according to regulations.

Regarding the invitation to "buy a golden turtle to bring good luck and fortune", forest rangers said that this is just a trick of the seller to lure buyers.

People do not arbitrarily buy, sell or keep wild animals.

According to forest rangers, the three-ribbed turtle belongs to group IIB in the list of rare and endangered forest animals. Capturing, transporting, buying and selling three-ribbed turtles and other wild animals without documents proving their legal origin is a violation of the law.

People are not allowed to arbitrarily keep, transport, or trade wild animals without documents proving their legal origin.

A woman sells turtles on the sidewalk of Tan Son Street (near the intersection with Quang Trung Street, Go Vap District) at noon on January 9 - Photo: NGOC KHAI

Many turtles were sold on the sidewalk of Tan Son Street (near the intersection with Quang Trung Street, Go Vap District) at noon on January 9 - Photo: NGOC KHAI

The turtle that the woman introduced is a "golden" turtle that attracts wealth, priced from 200,000 - 300,000 VND/turtle - Photo: NGOC KHAI

The woman said she sells three types of turtles, including the "golden" turtle that attracts wealth, the three-ridged turtle, and the striped-neck turtle, priced from several tens of thousands to several hundred thousand VND per turtle depending on its age - Photo: NGOC KHAI

The woman introduced this as a three-ridged turtle, the price of the turtle above is 500,000 VND - Photo: NGOC KHAI

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/rua-vang-kich-tai-loc-ban-tren-via-he-tp-hcm-kiem-lam-noi-la-rua-tai-do-gay-hai-20250109193801662.htm