Location: Central Highland and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Sponsors: Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF)

Years: 2024

Collaborator(s)/Partner(s): BirdLife International

This scoping study examined the scale, species composition, and conservation implications of the songbird trade in Vietnam. Wildtour’s contribution focused on field identification, market observations, and ecological interpretation to help partners understand priority species and information gaps. The study results provide an updated baseline on Vietnam's songbird trade, highlighting the need for stricter law enforcement and policy reforms to protect wild populations. Beyond legal measures, shifting public mindsets through ground-up demand reduction is critical. Initiatives like the Vietnam Bird Race and public bird photography exhibitions redirect competitive interests toward wild observation, fostering genuine appreciation for birds in their natural habitats rather than in cages.

Background

Songbirds here are prized for their cultural, religious, and recreational significance, and the songbird trade is a major aspect of the wildlife trade, involving both legal and illegal markets. The most recent study conducted by TRAFFIC in 2016 reported a total of 8,047 individuals of 115 bird species in the two largest cities – Ho Chi Minh and Ha Noi (Eaton et al. 2017). Another study on the online bird trade carried out by Leupen et al. (2022) showed a total of 834 individuals of at least 50 species in 434 posts. Evidently, there is a huge market for birds as pets and songbirds all across Vietnam, however, there are relatively few studies on the wild bird trade (Moiser et al. 2009; Edmunds et al. 2011; Nguyễn et al. 2013; Eatonet al. 2017; Hoàng & Cao 2019) and almost all of them are small-scale and discrete, focusing on the trade in large cities such as Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and in some provinces such as Dong Thap and Thanh Hoa province. Our work seeks to expand the body of knowledge on the wild bird trade in Vietnam by contributing updated physical market survey data and by conducting surveys in provinces that have not been as intensely studied in the past.

Methodology

Surveys across five study sites (Ho Chi Minh City, Pleiku, Kon Tum, Di Linh, and Da Lat) targeted more than 30 bird shops pre-identified via Google Maps and social media. Combining direct observations with interviews, the study gathered key data on traded songbird species, retail pricing, and regional variations in Vietnam's domestic bird trade.

Key findings

Over 80 songbird species have been documented across the surveyed bird shops, led by the abundant Red-whiskered Bulbul, including at least 12 threatened species such as the endemic Orange-breasted Laughingthrush and near-endemic Vietnamese Cutia. Birds were primarily sold for ornament, release ceremonies, or singing competitions.
The findings also highlight a post-2015 surge in sunbird trade. The Ornate Sunbird ("Hút mật năm màu bụng vàng") dominated southern song competitions, followed by Van Hasselt’s Sunbird. Meanwhile, prized endemic subspecies like Mrs. Gould’s (Aethopyga gouldiae annamensis) and Black-throated (A. saturata johnsi) sunbirds are sought for their striking male plumage and songs, but are kept in private aviaries rather than entered into competitions.

Ornate Sunbirds being sold in a bird shop in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Conclusion

Due to the sensitivity of the wild bird trade, some shop owners were hesitant to share specific details, limiting data on songbird sources and pricing. Budget and time constraints also prevented a comprehensive survey of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest urban market. With future funding, a city-wide assessment would offer a complete picture of trade dynamics. Furthermore, the rapid growth and complexity of digital platforms highlight an urgent need for long-term monitoring across both physical markets and online channels.

 

Songbird trade