The company earned Halal certification recently, ensuring compliance with Islamic dietary standards after a rigorous year-long process, opening doors to Dubai and other markets. In an exclusive interview, Bui Thi Huong, Chairwoman of Helen Nest Food, shares her entrepreneurial journey and ambitions for expanding the brand’s presence in Vietnam and beyond.
– From a teacher to a bird’s nest entrepreneur, what inspired you to make this career shift?
It was truly a matter of fate. As a teacher, I never imagined diving into business, let alone bird’s nest production. Initially, bird’s nests seemed like a luxurious, almost unattainable product. But destiny had other plans.
My journey began in Cam Ranh, Khanh Hoa, where I was captivated by the sight of swiftlets soaring around my car, almost as if welcoming me. Their grace and the intricate process of harvesting their nests fascinated me.
I was also intrigued by the intricate process of building houses to attract swiftlets for nesting, harvesting their nests, and the meticulous, handcrafted methods used to clean them. Above all, I was drawn to the health benefits bird’s nests provide.
– Why did you choose Khanh Hoa as the base for your business?
My family and I live in Cam Ranh, a region ideal for swiftlets to thrive. Of Vietnam’s 3,200 km coastline, Khanh Hoa boasts 380 km of it, plus numerous islands. Backed by the Truong Son mountain range, the province’s unique geography and mild climate, with only about 20 rainy days a year, make it a haven for sea swiftlets. These birds produce nests rich in 19 amino acids, 35 bioavailable minerals, and over 55% protein.
My decision to build a business here stems not only from the superior quality of Khanh Hoa’s bird’s nests but also from a love for this land and a desire to boost the local economy.
– What challenges have you faced in building Helen Nest Food?
The biggest challenge is securing enough raw materials to meet growing demand while maintaining uncompromising quality. Bird’s nests can’t be mass-produced; they depend on nature and suitable ecological conditions for swiftlets. Scaling up without compromising standards is tough.
To address this, we’ve invested heavily in state-of-the-art swiftlet houses, meticulously controlling every step, from design and environmental conditions to harvesting processes. Our focus remains on delivering a product that earns the trust of our customers, both in Vietnam and worldwide.
– What gives Helen Nest Food a competitive edge in the bird’s nest market?
Helen Nest Food focuses on perfecting product quality and building a trusted brand. Transparency is key; disclosing the origin of our products isn’t just a requirement; it’s our commitment to earning customer confidence.
To create a strong brand rooted in integrity, wisdom, and beauty, we’ve invested in quality and aesthetics, transforming a humble product into a “queen of wellness” that delivers exceptional experiences. From the outset, we built our factory to ISO standards to guarantee consumer safety. All our products meet ISO 22000 and HACCP certifications.
Helen Nest Food was honored with the title Vietnam High-Quality Goods (2025) and named among the Top 10 Most Trusted Brands in Asia (2025). Recently, we received FDA certification from the United States, affirming that our products meet the requirements to export to the U.S. market.
Our brand is also the first and only company in Vietnam’s bird’s nest industry to be awarded Halal certification by Halcert, one of the strictest and most rigorous standards for Muslim consumers. This presents a valuable opportunity for us to officially enter the UAE market and marks a significant step toward bringing Vietnamese bird’s nest products to the global stage.
– Many brands focus on ready-to-drink bird’s nest products. What are your plans for product diversification?
Helen Nest Food offers over 100 products, from raw to refined, with more than 20% being ready-to-drink bird’s nests infused with precious herbs. We don’t rely on flashy advertising; our quality and reputation speak for themselves. Our ready-to-drink products contain 70% bird’s nest, use advanced technology, and are free of preservatives. They’re trusted in hospitals and coal mines, where their nutritional and health benefits shine.
Instead of following trends, we carve our own path by prioritizing quality and personalized customer care. At the same time, we’re continuously researching and developing new products to meet diverse consumer needs.
– What inspired you to create a swiftlet sanctuary garden?
I see bird’s nests as more than a business; they’re the product of a precious species that must be protected. Exploitation without regeneration risks depleting this unique natural resource. This conviction drove me to create a safe, sustainable habitat for swiftlets to thrive.
After years of studying their flight patterns and behaviors, I sought permission to establish Vietnam’s first swiftlet sanctuary garden in Khanh Hoa. The idea sparked during a trip where I watched flocks of swiftlets glide through the sky, sometimes swooping near cars or perching densely on forest branches. That sight inspired me to find a long-term solution to provide stable nesting grounds. This sanctuary, now under construction with official approval, will not only support swiftlet populations but also preserve a vital natural resource for future generations.
– How will your company make bird’s nest accessible to all Vietnamese people?
Our goal is rooted in three core strategies. First, we’re investing heavily in our swiftlet sanctuary garden in Khanh Hoa to secure a sustainable supply of high-quality raw materials. Second, we’re diversifying our product range, optimizing costs, and raising consumer awareness about the benefits of bird’s nests. Third, we’re committed to supporting those in need through special programs tailored for disadvantaged communities.
We’re also amplifying our outreach by partnering with hospitals and nutrition centers to educate people on the proper use of bird’s nests. Beyond making this delicacy a household staple in Vietnam, we aim to take Helen Nest Food global, establishing it as a hallmark of Vietnamese quality and heritage. Through international certifications and strategic partnerships, we’re promoting Vietnamese bird’s nests to the world, cementing their place on the global map of premium nutrition.
– What are Helen Nest Food’s plans for the near future?
We’re gearing up to launch new ready-to-drink bird’s nest products, such as Yen Collagen and Gold Hellenest. In the near future, we plan to launch Helen Nest Food drink, along with a range of products specially tailored for children, women, and men.
Our focus is on innovation, infusing every strand of bird’s nest, and even the packaging, with unique stories that reflect Vietnam’s rich cultural identity. We want every Vietnamese person to associate Helen Nest Food with trust and health.
From there, my hope is to help Vietnamese brands
soar, turning this national treasure into a symbol of pride and prestige,
worthy of being presented as a premium diplomatic gift to world leaders and
heads of state around the globe.
Content by Hai My – Dan Minh
Designed by Thai Hung
Photos courtesy of Helen Nest Food
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