Te Dong Vat Nga Pagoda in Hanoi is the resting place of thousands dogs and cats, with the site being the first of its kind in Vietnam and representing a peaceful place where animal lovers can pay their final respects to their beloved pets.
Pet funerals begin with a ritual that takes place in front of the altar.
The owner of the deceased pet will have to prepare offerings of fruits, votive papers, and flowers, just as they would do during a human burial.
The pet’s body is then placed in a small coffin before being cremated or buried. The whole process can take up to three to four hours, depending on the animal’s size.
The cemetery has been meticulously built.
Nguyen Bao Sinh, 83, owner of the pet cemetery, believes that pets have the right to be treated just like humans. He said that it was one of the main reasons for him to build the pet cemetery.
Tuyet Phuong of Hoai Duc district gives her dog Milu, who she thought of as a family member, a proper burial. Being able to go to the pet cemetery has given her peace of mind.
A pet owner pays between VND6 million and VND10 million to arrange a funeral and a little gravestone for their lost friend.
The gravestones bear the years of the pet’s birth, death, and a photograph.
Son and his daughter from Long Bien district believe their cat MiSu will go to a better place after being cremated at the site.
