Humane Society International/Vietnam praised Six Senses Ninh Van Bay for becoming the first resort in Vietnam to have its own free-range egg farm. The resort’s farm will help its customers learn about a more humane alternative to intensive confinement egg production.

The new egg farm provides the hens with a quality of life well above that experienced by most laying hens in Vietnam. The majority of egg-laying hens in the country spend their lives crowded into small wire cages, known as battery cages, which do not give the birds sufficient space to walk or even stretch their wings.

Ngoc Nguyen, sustainability supervisor for Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, said, “Six Senses Ninh Van Bay aims to provide the highest quality experience to our guests, and our new free-range egg farm is one way we do this. Not only do we believe the quality of the food is enhanced when hens are given space to roam, but our guests will appreciate Six Senses respecting nature by providing a place for hens to perform their natural behaviors.”

At Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, the chickens on their farm can move about freely within a large yard or take cover in a spacious indoor enclosure, and can engage in natural behavior such as foraging outdoors, perching and nesting.

Trang Dang, HSI’s campaign manager for farm animals in Vietnam, said, “We urge consumers to do more research on the origins of their eggs, and avoid purchasing eggs produced in farms that use battery cages. By promoting the concept of free-range eggs, the resort provides valuable information to their guests so they can make a better choice for animals.”

The resort also adopts “Green Monday Vietnam”, a program that encourages their guests to eliminate meat once a week, on Monday, and opt for other delicious, healthy plant-based options. This is a part of a global movement supported by HSI that aims to promote a healthier, more sustainable and more compassionate community.

HSI works with governments, farmers, and other stakeholders in the egg, meat, and dairy sectors to end the extreme confinement of animals in cages and crates, and improve the overall welfare of farm animals. We can all stand up for animals every time we sit down to eat by reducing the number of animal products we eat, replacing them with plant based products or animal products from sources that adhere to higher animal welfare standards when possible.

Facts:

• In 2013, Vietnam had 71.5 million hens and produced 7.8 billion eggs, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization.
• While Vietnam has many small-scale free-range producers, the number of large industrial facilities, in which battery cages are still in use, is increasing.
• There is no legislation banning or restricting the confinement of egg-laying hens in cages in Vietnam, though a number of global food companies have committed to using only cage-free eggs, including for their operations in Vietnam, such as Accor Hotels, Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts and Marriott International