Is it safe or ethical to ride elephants or interact with monkeys on tours near Nha Trang, Vietnam?

From messages by 2 participants in 2 sources · Last activity: 61 days ago

TL;DR

Avoid riding elephants near Nha Trang (e.g. at Dak Lak's Yok Don National Park or Orchid Island) — it damages their backs; feeding or washing them is the better option. Also avoid close contact with monkeys, as bites are possible.

What the community said

Riding elephants should be avoided — feeding them is fine. Same goes for monkeys: a bite isn't guaranteed, but the risk exists, so if you have a choice, it's better to skip close contact.

Don't wait for an official ban — just avoid elephant rides, as it's harmful to the animals' health, especially their backs.

Elephants have vulnerable spots, especially their backs — riding causes real harm despite their powerful appearance. Elephants can be seen at Yok Don National Park in Dak Lak, and there's also one elephant on Orchid Island near Nha Trang. Washing and feeding them is a better alternative to riding.

Yok Don National Park, Dak Lak / Orchid Island ↗ link in original