VietNamNet Bridge – Cho Lach in the southern province of Ben Tre is known as the land of flowers and ornamental trees and the hundred-year trade of breeding pedigreed fighting-cocks and ornamental chickens.

A local man, Mr. Nguyen Van Ut Lanh, said: "In the past Cho Lach had many vast orchards. Local people took advantage of these orchards to raise pedigreed fighting cocks for entertainment. Gradually it has become a traditional trade. We breed fighting cocks for not only entertainment but to sell to other provinces and also to Cambodian fighting-cock courses. We also raise ornamental chickens."

Lanh said raising fighting and ornamental chickens is a hard and meticulous job. Breeders have to choose the parent chickens very carefully. The chickens must be raised under special procedures.

Some breeders imported chickens from the United States or Peru to create cross-bred chickens, which are priced at several hundreds to thousands of US dollars.

During vacations or festivals, travelers flock to Cho Lach to see ornamental trees and chickens, which have made the area famous.

Unique chickens of Cho Lach:

An ornamental cock with beautiful feathers. A "naked" chicken. The “queen chicken”.       This chicken is called “dragon scale” for the strange scales on its legs.           A chicken with odd wings.     A boy enjoys taking photos with a chicken with nearly 1m long feathers. Many visitors enjoy watching the strange chickens.