article_snippet.sent: Cat meat was banned in Vietnam in 1997 .
article_snippet.sent: Despite being banned cat meat is freely advertised at the Quy Beo restaurant in Va Town - an hour's drive from the capital Hanoi .
article_snippet.sent: Banned: Police officers and lawyers are some of the Quy Beo restaurant in Va Town - an hour's drive from the capital Hanoi's biggest customers . '
article_snippet.sent: Former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai banned cat restaurants in 1997 when a plague of rats was threatening crops across the country.
article_snippet.sent: But the ban has been ignored since a plague of rats was brought under control - allowing cat restaurants to flourish without any legal penalties.