Sustainable development of bird's nest farming in Khanh Hoa province

Khanh Hoa is considered a province with unique natural conditions, favorable for the swiftlet farming industry to develop strongly, becoming a high-value economic sector.

Economic value of bird's nest

Khanh Hoa is known as a province with unique natural conditions, possessing a system of islands, coastal cliffs and a temperate climate, creating special advantages for the strong development of the bird's nest farming industry.

Khanh Hoa province has favorable natural conditions for developing the bird's nest farming industry. Photo: Kim So.

According to Mr. Phan Dinh Thinh, Head of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine of Khanh Hoa province, bird's nest has become a special economic sector, bringing high economic value and making an important contribution to the socio-economic development of the locality.

The bird's nest farming industry in Khanh Hoa has developed early and strongly in the whole country. Currently, the whole province has 1,425 bird's nest houses (of which the old Khanh Hoa has 831 houses and the old Ninh Thuan has 594 houses), distributed in 61/65 communes, wards and special zones with bird's nest farming activities.

In addition, the province also manages 33 bird nest islands with 173 natural bird nest caves. The output of exploited bird nests in the first 6 months of 2025 reached 11,190 kg, an average increase of 1.56% over the same period in 2024. The estimated value of Khanh Hoa bird nest industry is currently over 450 billion VND per year, creating many jobs and a large source of income.

Realizing the importance of developing the bird's nest industry in a sustainable and modern direction, associated with environmental protection, Khanh Hoa province has focused on building and completing all legal documents.

Mr. Phan Dinh Thinh said that the province has fully implemented documents implementing the Law on Animal Husbandry and guiding documents.

Swallow house in Bac Nha Trang ward, Khanh Hoa province. Photo: Architect.

Important documents that have been issued include: Decision approving the Planning of bird's nest farming areas, Decision regulating the management, protection, and exploitation of bird's nests in caves and islands, and Resolutions regulating inner-city areas, towns, townships, and residential areas where breeding is not allowed, bird's nest farming areas, and policies to support the relocation of breeding facilities out of prohibited areas.

The province also increased inspection, examination and handling of establishments that do not comply with regulations, and implemented the Prime Minister's telegram on strengthening the prevention of illegal hunting of swiftlets. Thanks to this management, the value chain of the bird's nest industry has been consolidated.

The province currently has about 106 establishments and processing enterprises that have been granted Food Safety Certificates. In particular, 17 enterprises with 325 bird nest houses have joined in exporting bird nest products to major markets such as China, the US, and Australia, affirming the position and quality of Khanh Hoa bird nests in the international market.

Tighten management

Besides the achieved results, State management of bird's nest farming activities still faces some difficulties, especially in declaring farming activities.

Processing bird's nest at Khanh Hoa Bird's Nest Company. Photo: Engineer.

Director Phan Dinh Thinh emphasized that, according to Circular No. 21/VBHN-BNNPTNT of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, bird nest farming facilities must declare their farming activities.

However, in reality, many breeding facilities have not yet made declarations. This is causing great difficulties for State management agencies in accurately grasping the current status, quantity, and controlling all bird's nest farming activities in the province. The lack of synchronous management information can lead to risks of disease, food safety and difficulties in enforcing environmental regulations.

While managing bird's nest farming is a relatively new field, it requires close and synchronous coordination between functional agencies, especially in disseminating and requiring bird's nest house owners to strictly comply with regulations on declaration.

Therefore, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine recommends that there should be close and synchronous coordination between functional agencies, and at the same time consider issuing stronger sanctions for cases of intentional non-compliance with regulations on declaration, to avoid "circumventing the law" to operate.

The ultimate goal is for Khanh Hoa's bird's nest industry to continue to develop in a modern direction, with sustainable economic growth in harmony with protecting the ecological environment and protecting public health.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/phat-trien-ben-vung-nghe-nuoi-chim-yen-tinh-khanh-hoa-d783206.html