Authorities in HCM City have seized 619 kilos of ivory illegally imported from Africa at the city's Cat Lai Port.
The ivory seized on Thursday, with an estimated value of VND20 billion (USD 883,000), had been hidden in two timber containers arriving at Cat Lai port, according to the Customs Newspaper.
The newspaper said the smugglers used more sophisticated tactics than previous shipments by packing wax around the ivory when it is sealed inside emptied-out timber, and then using wood nails instead of metal in an attempt to trick any X-ray checks.
Around four tonnes of ivory has been seized at Cat Lai Port over the past two months.
The seizure came just a week after leaders and senior officials from 47 countries met at an international conference on illegal wildlife trade in Hanoi, which was attended by British Prince William.
The conference called for stepped-up efforts to combat illegal wildlife trade.
At the conference, Prince William, who is president of United for Wildlife, praised Vietnam, China and other Asian countries for taking steps to battle wildlife trafficking, but said rhinos, elephants, pangolins and tigers were still being killed in horrifying numbers.
