Sustainable connections elevate the Vietnamese bird's nest brand

According to the Vietnam Bird's Nest Association, there are currently over 22,000 swiftlet houses across 42 out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide. The Mekong Delta alone hosts approximately 10,500 swiftlet houses. Tien Giang ranks second nationwide, after Kien Giang province, with more than 1,700 swiftlet houses, producing over 20 tons of bird's nests annually. The country's total bird's nest output reaches about 150–200 tons per year, with an estimated economic value ranging from USD 500 to 600 million.

At the 2024 National Conference honoring exemplary bird's nest businesses, organized by the Vietnam Bird's Nest Association on May 24 in Tien Giang province, many enterprises noted that the industry is facing numerous challenges, especially simultaneous declines in output and prices, along with fierce competition in terms of product quality and pricing in the international market.

Several opinions at the conference also suggested the need to develop smart swiftlet farming models utilizing IoT technology to automatically monitor temperature, humidity, and sound. These models aim to optimize swiftlet living conditions and enhance the quality of bird nests.

Delegates highlighted that China, a key market for Vietnamese bird's nests, is imposing increasingly stringent product quality standards. Beyond market pressures, swiftlet house owners also reported incidents of bird's nest theft and swiftlet hunting in various areas, contributing to reduced harvest yields.

To effectively develop this model, Mr. Le Minh Phu from Truong Xuan commune, Thap Muoi district, Dong Thap province, who operates four swiftlet houses yielding approximately 180 kg annually, shared that a well-managed farming process is essential to produce high-quality bird's nests. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of expanding into new markets for the industry and suggested that authorities simplify documentation and procedures to facilitate swiftlet farming for the public.

Mr. Luu Van Phi, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Tien Giang province, stated that Vietnam and China signed an agreement for the official export of bird's nests to China in 2022. As a result, Tien Giang's bird's nest industry has significantly developed, transitioning from small-scale farming and rudimentary processing to investing in advanced processing technologies and diversifying products. 

Presently, some enterprises have achieved ISO 22000 food safety certification and Halal certification, paving the way for entry into Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian markets.

Moreover, ensuring product quality in line with declared standards is crucial. "Recently, we had to address a case where bird's nest products failed to meet declared quality standards upon inspection. Currently, the government is intensifying efforts against counterfeit and substandard goods, so it's time for us to commit to genuine and sustainable development", Mr. Luu Van Phi cautioned.

He also called for enhanced market inspection and supervision and support for small-scale enterprises to implement electronic traceability systems, enabling consumers to easily verify product origins.

Mr. Bui Bang Son, Head of the Tien Giang Representative Office of the Vietnam Bird's Nest Association, shared that through this conference, the Association aims to connect bird's nest producers and swiftlet farmers to form a sustainable export chain to the Chinese market, thereby enhancing the value of bird's nests.

At the conference, the Vietnam Bird's Nest Association awarded commemorative medals and certificates of merit to various organizations and individuals, launched the movement "Building a brand for community health", auctioned bird's nest paintings for social work, and welcomed new members.

The bird's nest painting auction not only raised funds for charity but also promoted the bird's nest industry through art, attracting interest from entrepreneurs and the community.

According to the Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), Vietnam's bird's nest industry holds significant economic value and export potential. Over nearly four years of implementing the 2022 Protocol, 13 enterprises have been approved to export bird's nest products to the Chinese market, totaling over 4 tons of refined bird's nests and millions of bird's nest products, valued at more than USD 4 million.

The Ministry is also researching the application of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standards for swiftlet farming areas, upgrading farming processes to improve quality and food safety.

In April 2025, Vietnam and China signed a new Protocol for the export of bird's nests, encompassing both clean and raw bird's nests. This new agreement marks a significant advancement, enabling Vietnam's bird's nest industry to fully exploit the potential of the Chinese market and enhance the international value of the Vietnamese bird's nest brand.