The Bear Sanctuary

BEAR SANCTUARY Ninh Binh gives rescued Asiatic black and sun bears a species-appropriate home after years in tiny cages on Vietnam's bile bear farms. Guided visits take in the outdoor enclosures where bears swim in wading pools, climb platforms and forage, alongside a newer Sky Walk feature that lets visitors observe the bears from above without disturbing them. A cafe and shop selling sanctuary-made souvenirs sit on site.

The sanctuary, run by international animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS since it opened in 2017, has rescued dozens of bears from bile farms and the illegal wildlife trade, working with Vietnamese authorities to enforce the country's 2005 ban on bile extraction. Beyond rehabilitation, the site runs education programmes for local schoolchildren on animal welfare and biodiversity. Entry fees and shop purchases fund the bears' long-term care directly, since most cannot be released back into the wild.