Mr. Huỳnh Hữu Lợi, Head of the Animal Health Department in Ho Chi Minh City, stated that for the time being, the city still allows keeping pet birds at home, but only on an individual basis. Group exhibitions, singing contests, and transportation or commercial activities involving these birds are prohibited during festivals.
According to Mr. Huỳnh Hữu Lợi, if the situation of avian influenza progresses to a more complicated phase in the near future, the city will strictly implement the principle of “three no’s”: no consumption, no raising, and no transportation of poultry, including pet birds and pigeons.
Ho Chi Minh City currently hosts several wild bird parks, primarily located in District 9, Cu Chi District, and Can Gio District. For these wild bird populations, the city must capture, and in some cases, cull them to collect samples for regular monitoring.
Regarding birds kept in parks, the Animal Health Department has issued a notice requiring management units to limit visitor access, disinfect the area, conduct vaccinations, and perform regular blood sample tests. Caretakers must wear protective gear, while medical personnel will oversee health protocols; nets must be used to enclose the areas to prevent wild birds from competing for food with the domesticated ones.
Specifically for pigeons, the Animal Health Department recommends keeping them confined, limiting their numbers, and closely monitoring them with regular sampling for testing.
