Special king offerings now in Hanoi for Tet  Many rare and expensive kinds of animals, which were considered as specialties offered for Kings in the past, are now being displayed at Hanoi Spring Fair 2014 as Tet nears. The fair, which has started from January 18 at Giang Vo Exhibition Centre, includes many rare animals brought by people across the country. Ho Thanh Dung, from Phu Tho Province, owner of a flock of nine-spur chickens, said this type of chicken is usually raised to wander freely so that they can peck food outside. Breeders only give them a little bit of maize and rice. The meat of this kind is much sought after and. A chicken weighing 2.5 kilogrammes takes eight months to a year to raise. One kilogramme of this type of chicken meat costs VND450,000 (USD21.4). Tran Thi Van from Bac Ninh Province, owner of a flock of pheasant, said this kind of bird used to live in the wild. Now they are raised on farms. They are fed on rice, and weigh an average of 1.2 – 1.3 kg. Every year, the pheasant lays around 90 eggs, but most do not hatch eggs, one reason they risk extinction. Many people put the eggs in incubators for rearing. In 2006, the pheasant was removed from the Vietnamese Red List. One kilogramme of the pheasant meat is priced at VND320,000.       Peacoks and royal pheasants, when eaten, are believed to bring luck and prosperity.   A nine-spur chicken    A mature Dong Tao chicken can weigh 5-6kg, and is sold at VND600,000 per kiogramme.   A 500g black coot priced at around VND900,000 per kilogramme    A Ho chicken is from Bac Ninh and sold at VND400,000-500,000 per kilogramme A white-eared forest chicken   The mandarin duck was honoured in Asia in the distant past and considered a symbol of happiness and faithfulness in marriage.   Visitors  By Nguyen Duong | dtinews.vn