Yen Helen president: 'I want the world to know about Vietnamese bird's nest'

Instead of focusing on competition, the brand concentrates on product quality, gradually introducing its products to the international market.

Yen Helen's bird's nest products support health.

Helen Solar - Khanh Hoa Bird's Nest Co., Ltd. (Yen Helen) recently received Halal certification, guaranteeing that its products comply with Islamic law, after over a year of meeting stringent criteria. This certification allows Yen Helen products to enter the Dubai market and potentially other global markets. Bui Thi Huong, president of Yen Helen, discusses her entrepreneurial journey and the company's plans for expanding its market share in Vietnam and internationally.

Bui Thi Huong, president of Yen Helen, presents the company's bird's nest products.

- From a teacher, why did you switch to the bird's nest business?

- It was truly serendipitous. As a teacher, I never imagined I'd become an entrepreneur, let alone work with bird's nest, a very specialized field. I used to think of bird's nest as a luxury product, something unattainable. But then, by chance, everything changed.

When I first arrived in Cam Ranh, Khanh Hoa, the sight of swiftlets circling cars, flying overhead, and surrounding my vehicle created a sense of connection with these birds. I was also fascinated by the meticulous process of building swiftlet houses, harvesting the nests, manually cleaning them, and, especially, the health benefits they offer. I'm proud to be one of the fortunate few involved with bird's nest, a precious Vietnamese product.

- Why did you choose Khanh Hoa for your bird's nest business?

- I consider Khanh Hoa my second home. My family decided to settle in Cam Ranh, an ideal location for swiftlets to thrive. Vietnam has a 3,200 km coastline, and Khanh Hoa alone boasts 380 km, plus numerous islands. The province is nestled against the Truong Son mountain range, creating a unique terrain that produces sea bird's nests. The climate is also favorable, with only about 20 rainy days per year and sunshine year-round. This attracts a rare species of swiftlet known as "Aerodramus fuciphagus," which produces renowned bird's nests. These swiftlets create nests with high nutritional value, containing 19 amino acids, 35 easily absorbed trace minerals, and over 55% protein.

I chose to work with bird's nest in Khanh Hoa not only for its quality but also out of love for this region and a desire to contribute to its economic development.

Yen Helen achieves Halal certification, expanding export opportunities to the Muslim market.

- What challenges have you faced while developing the brand?

- My biggest concern is sourcing enough raw materials to meet the growing demand from customers who trust our products. Bird's nests cannot be industrially produced; they depend on nature and a suitable ecosystem for the swiftlets. We can't prioritize quantity over quality. To ensure a sufficient supply of high-quality nests, I've invested in a proper swiftlet house system, controlling everything from design and environment to the harvesting process.

- In this competitive market, what are Yen Helen's advantages?

- Instead of competing directly, Yen Helen focuses on enhancing product quality and building brand reputation. Transparency about product origin is crucial for any business, without waiting for traceability regulations. This builds customer trust.

Furthermore, to build a strong bird's nest brand based on the principles of "heart, wisdom, and beauty," I invest in quality and image, transforming this agricultural product into a "nutritional queen" that provides a unique user experience. From the beginning, we built our factory to ISO standards to guarantee consumer quality. All our products are certified with ISO22000 and HCCP.

High-quality bird's nest products for health, beauty, and gifting.

Thanks to consumer trust, Yen Helen has been recognized as a High-Quality Vietnamese Product (2025) and among the top 10 Trusted Brands in Asia (2025). Recently, Yen Helen received FDA (U.S.) certification, allowing export to the American market.

Currently, Helen Solar - Khanh Hoa Bird's Nest Co., Ltd. (Yen Helen) is the first and only company in the bird's nest industry to receive Halal certification from Halcert, a rigorous Islamic standard. This allows us to officially export to the UAE, opening up opportunities for Vietnamese bird's nest in the international market.

Yen Helen's bird's nest production process.

- Many brands focus on ready-to-drink bird's nest. What are your plans for product expansion?

- Yen Helen currently offers over 100 products, from raw to refined, and over 20% are ready-to-drink bird's nests with precious herbs. We focus on quality and reputation over extensive advertising. Our ready-to-drink products contain 70% bird's nest, use advanced technology, and have no preservatives. These products are available in hospitals and coal mines, affirming their nutritional value and health benefits.

Instead of following trends, we've chosen our own path: focusing on product quality and dedicated customer care. We also continuously research and develop new products to meet diverse customer needs.

Bui Thi Huong introduces bird's nest products to international customers and partners.

- What inspired you to create a swiftlet garden?

- I don't view swiftlets merely as a business commodity but also as precious birds that need protection. If we only exploit without replenishing, we'll lose this unique natural resource. This thought led me to create a safe habitat with optimal living conditions for them.

I spent years studying swiftlet flight paths and habits, leading me to seek permission to build the first swiftlet garden in Khanh Hoa. This idea came during a business trip to Khanh Hoa, where I saw flocks of swiftlets soaring, sometimes close to cars or perched on branches in forests. This sight inspired me to find a long-term solution, providing a stable habitat for swiftlets to thrive and help sustain this valuable natural resource. The swiftlet garden has been approved and is currently under construction.

- How will your company achieve its goal of making bird's nest accessible to all Vietnamese people?

We're focusing on three core strategies: increasing capital for the swiftlet garden to ensure the highest quality bird's nest source in Khanh Hoa; diversifying products while optimizing costs; and raising consumer awareness. We also have programs for those in need. Additionally, we're strengthening communication and collaborating with hospitals and nutrition centers to promote the benefits of bird's nest and educate people on its proper use.

We aim to not only make bird's nest accessible domestically but also internationally, establishing Yen Helen as a brand representing Vietnamese quality and essence. Through international certifications and strategic partnerships, we want to introduce Vietnamese bird's nest to the world, affirming its place on the global nutritional map.

- What are Yen Helen's future plans?

- We will launch more ready-to-drink bird's nest products, such as Bird's Nest Collagen and Gold Hellenest. We'll continue innovating, infusing each strand of bird's nest with our passion, ensuring every product, from the nest itself to the gift box, tells a unique story reflecting Vietnamese culture. We want every Vietnamese person to think of Yen Helen as a symbol of health and trust. From there, we hope to elevate this Vietnamese brand, making our national product a diplomatic gift and a premium choice for world leaders.