The pangolin, weighing about 5.4 kilogrammes and reported to be in good health, was found on May 3 at the home of a resident in Tuyen Quang Commune.
After discovering the animal, the resident protected it and notified local authorities, who later coordinated with relevant agencies to take custody of the pangolin.
Authorities are completing procedures to release the animal back into the wild.
Pangolins are mammals covered in hard scales and primarily feed on ants and termites. Although once common in Vietnam, their population has declined sharply due to illegal hunting and trafficking.
Under Vietnam’s Red Data Book, pangolins are classified as Group IB wildlife species requiring strict protection. The species is also listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.