Vietnamese bird's nest enterprises need to seize opportunity: expert

Vietnam, especially Ho Chi Minh City, has made bird's nest a key industry with strong government support, so businesses should take advantage of the opportunity to connect and expand, said Yang Hsua-Ta, chairman of the Indonesian bird's nest association.

Yang made the statement at the recent Vietnam typical export goods fair in HCMC.

In 2020, China imported 323 tons of bird’s nest. The number grew to 354 tons in 2021, 495 tons in 2022, 597 tons in 2023, and 773.5 tons in 2024, Yang cited China Customs statistics.

In 2024, Vietnam exported 183 tons of bird's nest to China, accounting for nearly 23.7% of China’s total import in the year. Malaysia exported 167 tons, and Thailand exported 17.7 tons. Vietnam’s bird’s nest exports to China have grown every year, added Yang.

He emphasized that Indonesia, with its 11,700 islands, and Vietnam, with its favorable geography and natural conditions, are well-positioned to develop the bird's nest industry.

Yang highlighted that HCMC has made bird's nest a key focus for the city and the country, so businesses should seize this opportunity. "It is crucial for businesses to focus on food quality and safety."

"Every year, I represent the Indonesian bird's nest association at international bird's nest industry events, but very few Vietnamese companies attend. Meanwhile, Cambodia, which doesn’t have any companies officially exporting to China, attends international conferences every year. Thailand has not officially made bird's nest a key industry for development, but last month the Thai government announced that it would hold a press conference in August to promote the bird's nest industry as a key sector.

"Vietnam, especially HCMC, has already made bird's nest a key industry, with government leadership and guidance. I believe that Vietnamese bird's nest enterprises should take advantage of this and increase their international presence to gather more information and guidance," he noted.

Nguyen Nguyen Phuong, deputy director of HCMC's Department of Industry and Trade, also pointed out that Chinese companies are quickly coping products, and if Vietnam only exports raw bird’s nest or unbranded products, they could easily be forgotten in the market.

He emphasized the need to invest in creating strong brands for the products to ensure long-term success. To access the international market, the Vietnamese bird's nest industry, including that in HCMC, needs to focus on developing farming areas, streamlining production processes, creating unique product designs, and diversifying products to meet growing market demand.

During the event, HCMC signed cooperation agreements with several provinces and cities, including Lao Cai, to promote its bird's nest sector, other agricultural products, and tourism development.