Vietnamese bird's nest: The trend toward developing of international products

The potential from the swiftlet farming areas

According to Nguyen Nguyen Phuong, the Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnamese bird's nests have the potential to thrive thanks to suitable farming environment, which is conducive to the production of high-quality bird's nest products.

 Ho Chi Minh City is developing swiftlet farming areas in the following districts: Long Phoung ward (Thu Duc City), An Thoi Dong, Binh Khanh, Ly Nhon, Tam Thon Hiep communes (Can Gio district), An Nhon Tay, An Phu, Binh My, Hoa Phu, Nhuan Duc, Phu Hoa Dong, Phu My Hung, Thai My, Trung An communes (Cu Chi district), Dong Thanh, Nhi Binh, Tan Hiep, Thoi Tam Thon, Xuan Thoi Son, and Xuan Thoi Thuong communes (Hoc Mon district).

 China is the current focal point of the global bird's nest market, with an annual consumption of USD 8 billion. Indonesia accounts for 80% of the annual supply.  Nevertheless, Vietnam's bird's nest products have earned the trust of numerous international customers as a result of their exceptional quality, despite the fact that they only entered the industry approximately two decades ago.

 A representative from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade stated, "This presents an opportunity for Vietnamese bird's nest businesses to establish their quality and broaden their market, not only in China but also in other countries such as South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia."  From March 27 to 29, the 2025 Vietnam Export Goods Fair will allocate a designated area for bird's nest enterprises to exhibit and interact with one another.

 90 companies from China, Malaysia, and Singapore have expressed a strong interest in Vietnamese bird's nest products, out of the 200 international buyers who have enrolled for the event.  Nguyen Nguyen Phuong, an official from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, stated that the department has been collaborating closely with industry associations and bird's nest enterprises and has received enthusiastic support from both domestic and international partners.

Vietnam bird’s nest festival

 The Korean Chamber of Commerce (KOCHAM) recently expressed its interest in facilitating the establishment of large-scale partnerships between South Korean enterprises and Vietnamese enterprises during a meeting. Their objective is to create high-value-added products for export to South Korea by combining ginseng and bird's nest.

 This collaboration is expected to increase the value of Vietnamese bird's nest products, particularly those that are highly sought after in premium markets and are designed to enhance the mental development of pregnant women and children.  "They have suggested collaborating with the Department of Industry and Trade to establish standards and certify selected, high-quality products for re-export to South Korea. T his proposal is highly feasible and will facilitate production and export activities", Nguyen Nguyen Phuong shared.

 Deputy Head of the Trade Management Division of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, Nguyen Minh Hung, also stated that Vietnamese bird's nest enterprises have the potential to collaborate in technology transfer, cross-border e-commerce, and livestream sales in Chinese for the China and Singapore markets via online platforms.

 The 2025 Vietnam Export Goods Fair initiative to promote Vietnamese bird's nest products serves as a foundation for the organization of the Vietnam Bird's Nest Festival at the end of this year.  This significant international event will unite bird's nest associations from Indonesia, Malaysia, and China, thereby expanding the global recognition of Vietnamese bird's nest products.

 Vietnam's bird's nest industry is establishing a strong foundation for sustainable growth by fortifying its position in the international market.  Despite Indonesia's present dominance in the industry, which consists of over 200,000 bird's nest farms and annual exports valued at USD 8 billion, Vietnam has a distinctive advantage.  The superior nutritional content and rich flavor of its bird's nest products are highly regarded.  This presents a substantial opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to expand their market presence and capitalize on the opportunity, not only in China but also in Taiwan, South Korea, and other ASEAN countries.