The 0.9kg tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) was discovered by residents and local forces in Quang Phuc residential area, Bac Gianh Ward, and subsequently handed over for protection.
Bac Gianh Ward issued a notice asking any legal owner or custodian of the animal to come forward with relevant documents.
If no legal owner or custodian is identified by September 21, and the tortoise is found not to be evidence in a legal case, local agencies will determine how it should be handled in accordance with regulations.
To safeguard the animal's health while the case is being reviewed, it has been transferred to the wildlife rescue, conservation and development centre at Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park for care and management.
Once it is deemed fit, the tortoise will be considered for release back into the wild.
The elongated tortoise is listed as a Group IIB endangered, rare and precious forest species under Vietnamese regulations and as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Local agencies urged residents who encounter endangered or rare wildlife to report and hand the animals over to relevant agencies rather than capture, trade, transport or keep them illegally.