The regular cobras are kept in an open pit and they will generally ignore you if you ignore them, but will strike if they are provoked. On the other hand though, the pythons are docile enough to be taken out of their cages and handled, but be warned that the larger ones are capable of strangling a human.

Warning: Besides its snakes, the Dong Tarn Snake Farm has wild creatures on display - including monkeys, bears and owls - that are kept in deplorably poor condition.

The farm was formerly run by a retired Viet Cong (VC) colonel named Tu Duoc, who ran the place very efficiently. Unfortunately, after his death in 1990, facilities have gone steadily downhill.

The snake farm is really only to be recommended to those truly charmed by snakes.

Dong Tam also has a collection of mutant turtles and fish on display. The cause of their genetic deformities is almost certainly the spraying of Agent Orange during the American War, which was particularly intensive in the forested parts of the Mekong Delta.

The snake farm is operated by the Vietnamese military for profit and is open to the public. The restaurant here includes cobra on the menu and there's a shop where you can stock up on cobra antivenin.

You'll need your own transport to get to Dong Tam Snake Farm. Coming from HCMC, continue for 3km beyond the turn-off to My Tho and turn left at the Dong Tam lunction (signposted). From the junction, follow the dirt road for 4km, turn right and continue for lion until you reach the snake farm. To get there from My Tho, follow Le Thi Hong Gam street west along the river for around 7km and just beyond the Binh Duc post office turn right and follow the dirt road for 3km to the farm.