Le Mat Snake Village is the main supplier of healing potions and delicacy snake meat for the whole of Vietnam. This colourful attraction is referred to as a village more out of habit. Le Mat has long been one of Hanoi's outlying neighbourhoods.
Residents of Le Mat traditionally keep special snake farms, where they breed vipers, cobras, aspids and water snakes - deadly reptiles for humans and animals. Famous snake herbalists live here. Like most attractions, the village has its own legend. A terrifying huge snake that lived in the river terrified the whole neighbourhood. One day, the monster attacked a boat carrying a beautiful princess and capsized it. Fortunately, there was a young fisherman who defeated the river gast, saved the princess, and saved the local population from the constant threat. To this day, the profession of snake hunter is surrounded by honour.
In the village you can see how reptiles are bred, buy medicines on snake venom. They are recognised by Oriental medicine as effective in treating many serious diseases - from joint and vascular to male reproductive diseases. Local herbalists claim that treatment with snake venom cures any ailment.
When visiting the village you can try natural snake tincture or fresh snake blood diluted with ginger water. The main action awaits tourists in one of the local family restaurants. The guest chooses a snake, and in his presence it is cut, draining the blood into a glass of rice vodka. The still beating heart is put in the same glass. The snake's bile is poured into a neighbouring glass. The guest is invited to drink both glasses and swallow the heart. This is not easy for a European to do. Motivated by the fact that all the contents improves blood circulation, male potency, mental performance. And generally good for the whole organism. After that, the snake meat dinner turns out to be really tasty.
In spring, the village holds an annual snake festival. An improvised stage presents a dramatisation of a local legend, and guests are treated to a gourmet snake meal.
