Elephants have been part of Vietnamese culture for 2-3 millennia, appearing on Dong Son bronze drums and Ly Dynasty (1009-1225 AD) ceramics.
In the Nguyen Dynasty, elephants were incorporated into the royal army, and conservation decrees were issued.
Ivory could only be harvested from elephants that died naturally or were gifted.
The royal family had the exclusive right to exploit ivory, which was considered equivalent to gold.
Ivory was crafted into luxurious objects, royal seals (Emperor Tu Duc’s seal), and palace entry permits for aristocrats and high-ranking officials.
