Bird’s nest has long been considered one of the premium products of Vietnam’s agricultural sector, with significant export potential. With over 4,000 swiftlet houses across the country and a growing number of businesses involved in its processing and production, Vietnam is now facing a golden opportunity to boost exports of this delicacy—especially since China, the world’s largest consumer of bird’s nest, has officially opened its doors to legal imports from Vietnam.

However, as of May 2025, the official export value of bird’s nest to China remains modest—just over USD 4 million—far below its true potential. So, what is holding back "Made-in-Vietnam" bird’s nest from conquering this billion-person market?

Progress Through the 2022 and 2025 Protocols

After years of negotiation, on April 15, 2025, Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the General Administration of Customs of China signed a new export protocol, replacing the 2022 version. A key highlight of the new agreement is the inclusion of both raw and processed bird’s nest products, significantly expanding the range of exportable items.

To date, 13 Vietnamese companies have been granted official export licenses by China. Millions of products and over 4 tons of processed bird’s nest have been successfully exported to this vast market. Meanwhile, more than 70 domestic businesses are upgrading their processing facilities to meet Chinese quarantine and supervision standards, and over 4,000 swiftlet houses are undergoing disease surveillance.

Despite this, the current export value—just over USD 4 million—is still disproportionately low compared to Vietnam’s production capacity and the massive demand in China.

5 Key Benefits of Official Entry into the Chinese Market

Opening the Chinese market to Vietnamese bird’s nest offers several major advantages:

1. Rapid Export Growth

China is the world’s largest consumer of bird’s nest, with a steadily increasing demand. This presents Vietnamese exporters with access to a vast customer base, boosting revenue and encouraging business expansion.

2. Enhancing National Brand Value

Official access to China not only legalizes Vietnamese bird’s nest exports but also promotes their quality. This recognition helps reestablish Vietnam’s bird’s nest as a premium global food product.

3. Driving Investment and Production Standards

High demand compels businesses to invest in advanced processing technologies, enhance quality control, and improve production processes—creating more jobs and increasing value-added output.

4. Quality Improvements Across the Industry

Meeting China’s stringent import standards pushes the Vietnamese bird’s nest industry toward greater professionalism and sustainability, strengthening its global competitiveness.

5. Expanding Trade Cooperation

Presence in the Chinese market lays the foundation for Vietnamese businesses to connect with major distributors, e-commerce platforms, and retail chains—paving the way for entry into other high-potential markets like South Korea, Japan, and Singapore.

Why Is the Export Value Still So Low?

Despite these advantages, Vietnamese bird’s nest exports still face multiple challenges:

1. Late Market Entry

Vietnam entered the Chinese bird’s nest market more than a decade later than competitors like Malaysia and Indonesia. This delay has led to weak brand recognition in China, where consumers are more familiar and trusting of rival products.

2. Post-Pandemic Decline in Purchasing Power

Even after China reopened post-COVID, its economy remains in slow recovery. High-end products like bird’s nest have been hit particularly hard as consumers cut back on spending, dampening short-term demand and affecting export growth.

3. Inconsistent Technology and Product Quality

Vietnam’s bird’s nest production sector still lacks standardized processing technologies. While some products are expensive, they often fall short in terms of refinement and packaging compared to those from Malaysia and Indonesia, reducing their competitiveness.

4. Weak Value Chain Development

Most swiftlet farming in Vietnam is still informal and lacks strategic planning. The industry has yet to develop a cohesive value chain—from branding and technical standards to quality control processes. The inconsistent construction and technical support for swiftlet houses result in unstable product quality, hindering consistent output and export compliance.

5. Lack of Standards and Traceability

Vietnam still lacks a unified set of technical standards for swiftlet house construction and operation. Most bird’s nest products are not tagged with traceability codes, complicating quarantine inspections and quality monitoring—especially for demanding markets like China.