Swiftswallow farming in the Mekong Delta opens export path

Strengthening supply-demand connections

Currently, the country has more than 29,320 swiftlet houses, producing 130–150 tons of bird’s nests per year, most of which are consumed in the Chinese market, accounting for up to 80% of global demand, equivalent to 300 tons per year.

In Southeast Asia, Indonesia leads with 150,000 swiftlet houses (60% of output), followed by Thailand and Malaysia. Vietnam, the Philippines, Cambodia and Myanmar account for about 13% of the market share. Despite the large market, the bird’s nest sector still faces challenges in management, quality and traceability.

With abundant natural advantages and diverse ecological environments, especially after the merger, An Giang – Kien Giang became the new An Giang province, leading the country with 4,475 swiftlet houses. Rach Gia ward alone has 835 houses, followed by Hon Dat (770 houses), Kien Luong (309 houses), Ha Tien (214 houses), Thoai Son (303 houses) and Chau Phu (241 houses).

Swiftlet farming in An Giang is developing very effectively. Bird’s nest output in 2025 is expected to reach 35 tons, with nearly 20 tons harvested in the first six months, achieving 56% of the plan. The commercial value of bird’s nests contributes positively to household income and agricultural production value, gradually building the An Giang origin bird’s nest brand.

However, rapid development has led to several issues: spontaneous construction, illegal use of loudspeakers causing noise, processing and consumption not following a chain, products lacking traceability, many swiftlet houses not used properly and located within residential areas.

Tran Quoc Tuan, Deputy Director of the An Giang Department of Livestock and Veterinary, said: An Giang has great advantages for swiftlet farming, but most houses are still spontaneous, lack coordination and have not formed a value chain. Noise management, construction, environment, product quality, and traceability need stronger regulation for the sustainable development of the bird’s nest sector.

Currently, An Giang has 5 registered export enterprises, 2 units granted codes and monitored diseases in more than 1,200 swiftlet houses, all testing negative for avian influenza and Newcastle disease.

Standardization is key to elevating the Vietnamese bird’s nest brand

Tran Quoc Dung, Head of Science and Technology Committee of the Vietnam Bird’s Nest Association, stated that standardizing bird’s nest criteria at national and association levels is urgent.

Dung emphasized that to enhance the reputation of Vietnamese bird’s nests in the international market, technical criteria must be standardized, quality classified, origin managed, and a transparent traceability system established. Enterprises need to apply standards consistently from raw nests, cleaned nests, feather-extracted nests to jarred nests. This will provide a basis for fair value, brand elevation and export expansion.

The association is developing detailed criteria for each product type, including moisture, purity, nitrite content, protein, amino acids, microbiology, heavy metals, and swelling after soaking… ensuring compatibility with ISO, HACCP and Ministry of Health standards. When fully applied, Vietnamese bird’s nest products will gain significant competitiveness.

In addition to production management, An Giang identifies consumption and commercialization as vital factors. The domestic market is growing strongly due to rising incomes and increasing demand for premium products. Enterprises are encouraged to develop OCOP products, apply e-commerce, and diversify business models for clean nests, jarred nests and refined nests.

The province also plans to organize a large-scale bird’s nest fair, creating opportunities for entities involved in technology, equipment installation, harvesting, processing, distribution and export to sign commercial cooperation agreements.

Enterprises seek support and clear guidance

Representatives from many bird’s nest processing and export enterprises expect the province to continue supporting export procedures, guiding the application of new standards, and creating a common platform for closer cooperation between enterprises and swiftlet house owners. With clear guidance, An Giang’s bird’s nest sector is expected to achieve a strong breakthrough in 2025.

Tran Thanh Hiep, Deputy Director of the An Giang Department of Agriculture and Environment, said: An Giang has specific advantages with floodplain, freshwater, saline and marine island ecosystems, highly suitable for swiftlet farming. The province currently has 4,475 swiftlet houses, ranking among the top in the country, with 2025 output expected to reach 35 tons, making an important contribution to the household economy.

However, the sector is still fragmented, mainly small-scale households, and the link between farming, processing and consumption is not yet sustainable. Traceability, quality certification and value chain development remain limited. The market relies heavily on traders, while the products are high-value and have strict requirements.

Hiep emphasized the role of enterprises in leading the establishment of bird’s nest raw material areas, promoting the application of technology, and forming sustainable value chains. From this, a breakthrough will enable An Giang’s bird’s nest sector to “take off”, contributing more to GRDP, and aiming to participate in exhibitions at APEC 2027.