--- title: "Vietnam’s Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co." date: 2026-05-17 published: 2026-05-13 author: "Dragos Nistor" featured_image: "https://honeybeeandco.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/plate-without-bees-vietnam-hero.jpg" --- # Vietnam’s Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. ## Vietnam’s Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. ![Vietnam's Plate Without Bees - a Pho Bo bowl showing the bee-dependent foods that would disappear without pollinators](https://honeybeeandco.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/plate-without-bees-vietnam-hero.jpg "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 1")Vietnam Edition # Vietnam’s Plate Without Bees Six iconic Vietnamese dishes. Over 350 native bee species. What vanishes from the plate when the pollinators disappear. Vietnam is home to more than 350 bee species, including Apis dorsata and multiple stingless bee species. Vietnamese cuisine is one of the freshest, most herb-dependent food cultures in the world – and many of those herbs and fresh ingredients depend on pollinators. Without pollinators, an estimated 75% of globally important food crop species cannot produce fruit, seed, or viable harvest. This tool shows what that means for six iconic Vietnamese dishes. Select a dish, then remove the bees. Other editions: [![United Kingdom](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/gb.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 2") United Kingdom](/plate-without-bees/) [![Italy](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/it.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 3") Italy](/plate-without-bees/italy/) [![France](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/fr.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 4") France](/plate-without-bees/france/) [![Spain](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/es.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 5") Spain](/plate-without-bees/spain/) [![Germany](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/de.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 6") Germany](/plate-without-bees/germany/) [![Greece](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/gr.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 7") Greece](/plate-without-bees/greece/) [![Portugal](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/pt.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 8") Portugal](/plate-without-bees/portugal/) [![Romania](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/ro.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 9") Romania](/plate-without-bees/romania/) [![Turkey](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/tr.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 10") Turkey](/plate-without-bees/turkey/) [![United States](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/us.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 11") United States](/plate-without-bees/united-states/) [![Mexico](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/mx.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 12") Mexico](/plate-without-bees/mexico/) [![Brazil](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/br.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 13") Brazil](/plate-without-bees/brazil/) [![Argentina](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/ar.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 14") Argentina](/plate-without-bees/argentina/) [![Peru](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/pe.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 15") Peru](/plate-without-bees/peru/) [![Colombia](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/co.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 16") Colombia](/plate-without-bees/colombia/) [![China](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/cn.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 17") China](/plate-without-bees/china/) [![Japan](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/jp.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 18") Japan](/plate-without-bees/japan/) [![South Korea](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/kr.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 19") South Korea](/plate-without-bees/south-korea/) [![Thailand](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/th.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 20") Thailand](/plate-without-bees/thailand/) [![Vietnam](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/vn.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 21") Vietnam](/plate-without-bees/vietnam/) [![Indonesia](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/id.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 22") Indonesia](/plate-without-bees/indonesia/) [![Philippines](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/ph.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 23") Philippines](/plate-without-bees/philippines/) [![India](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/in.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 24") India](/plate-without-bees/india/) [![Pakistan](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/pk.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 25") Pakistan](/plate-without-bees/pakistan/) [![Morocco](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/ma.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 26") Morocco](/plate-without-bees/morocco/) [![Egypt](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/eg.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 27") Egypt](/plate-without-bees/egypt/) [![Lebanon](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/lb.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 28") Lebanon](/plate-without-bees/lebanon/) [![Saudi Arabia](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/sa.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 29") Saudi Arabia](/plate-without-bees/saudi-arabia/) [![Ethiopia](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/et.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 30") Ethiopia](/plate-without-bees/ethiopia/) [![Nigeria](https://flagcdn.com/20x15/ng.png "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 31") Nigeria](/plate-without-bees/nigeria/) 0% Source: Klein et al. (2007), Dependence of World Crops on Pollinators. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 274(1608), 303-313. Dependency categories: Essential 95%, High 65%, Modest 25%, Little 5%, None 0%. Key Takeaways - 87 of the world’s leading food crops depend on animal pollination to some degree (Klein et al., 2007) - Without bees, a Vietnamese Banh Mi loses its coriander, cucumber, carrot, and avocado – four of its five fresh fillings are pollinator-dependent - Vietnam has over 350 native bee species; Apis dorsata pollinates wild tropical crops across the Mekong Delta - Coriander, an essential herb in pho, banh mi, and fresh spring rolls, carries a 65% pollinator dependency rating - Vietnam is the world’s second-largest coffee producer; coffee carries a 25% modest pollinator dependency ## Why Vietnamese Cuisine Depends on Bees Vietnamese food is built on freshness. The herb plates that accompany pho – coriander (65%), spring onion (65%), bean sprouts (65%) – are the flavour delivery system of the cuisine. The lemon squeezed into pho broth is 65% dependent. The cucumber, avocado, and carrot in a Banh Mi are 95%, 95%, and 25% dependent respectively. Banh Mi without its fresh filling is not a Banh Mi. Vietnamese cuisine’s commitment to fresh, uncooked herbs makes it among the most pollinator-dependent food cultures in the world per dish. Vietnam is also the world’s second-largest coffee producer; coffee carries a 25% modest pollinator dependency, and a 20% yield reduction represents enormous commercial impact at Vietnam’s scale. Vietnamese forest honey, harvested from Apis dorsata colonies in the U Minh Cajuput forests of the Mekong Delta, is one of Southeast Asia’s most distinctive wild honey products. Harvested by traditional honey hunters using smoke and rope ladders for thousands of years, it represents a cultural practice and an ecosystem dependency that no managed hive can replicate. Vietnam’s fruit export economy – mango, lychee, dragon fruit, longan – is heavily dependent on native bee populations maintaining viable ranges across Mekong Delta orchards. “Without bees, a Vietnamese Pho loses its garnish plate entirely. Coriander, spring onion, and lemon are all pollinator-dependent. The broth and noodles survive. The freshness that defines Vietnamese cooking disappears.” ## The Science Behind Vietnamese Crop Pollination 350+Native bee species in VietnamVietnam’s diverse landscape from the Red River Delta to the Mekong Delta and northern mountain ranges supports over 350 described native bee species. Key species include Apis dorsata, Apis cerana, Apis florea, and multiple Trigona stingless bee species. Approximately 60% of Vietnamese bee species are at risk. Data: Southeast Asian bee research literature and IUCN assessments. Key Vietnamese pollinator dependencies: cucumbers (95%), avocado (95%), coriander (65%), spring onion (65%), lemon (65%), carrots (25%), mango (25%), lychee (95%), and coffee (25% modest). Our [Acacia Honey](/acacia-honey/) comes from European managed colonies in Transylvania. Read more on the [About page](/about/), try our [honey subscription](/honey-subscription/) and save 20%, or explore the [World Bee Atlas](/world-bee-atlas/). For bee decline, read our article on [why bee populations are declining](/blog/why-are-bee-populations-declining/). ## Raw Honey. Shop HoneyBee & Co. Single-origin raw honey from Transylvanian family apiaries and a SALSA-certified British supplier. Six varieties, all cold-extracted and fully traceable. Free UK delivery on three or more jars. Raw Honey – from £10.99 [![HoneyBee and Co. Acacia Honey 280g](https://honeybeeandco.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/acacia-honey-600x749-1.avif "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 32")Acacia HoneyTransylvania – 280g£10.99Add to basket](/acacia-honey/) [![HoneyBee and Co. Wildflower Honey 280g](https://honeybeeandco.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/wildflower-honey.avif "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 33")Wildflower HoneyBritish Midlands – 280g£10.99Add to basket](/wildflower-honey/) [![HoneyBee and Co. Linden Honey 280g](https://honeybeeandco.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/linden-honey-600x750-1.avif "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 34")Linden HoneyTransylvania – 280g£10.99Add to basket](/linden-honey/) Gift Sets & Bundles [![Discovery Trio](https://honeybeeandco.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/honeybee-co-discovery-trio-raw-honey-lifestyle-gift-set.jpg "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 35")Discovery TrioAcacia, Wildflower and Heather. The complete introduction to the range.Shop now](/discovery-trio/) [![Cheese Board Selection](https://honeybeeandco.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/honeybee-co-cheese-board-honey-pairing-stilton-brie.jpg "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 36")Cheese Board SelectionAcacia, Heather and Soft Set. Curated for cheese pairing.Shop now](/cheese-board-honey-selection/) [![Honey subscription](https://honeybeeandco.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/honeybee-co-winter-warmer-honey-hot-lemon-fireplace.jpg "Vietnam's Plate Without Bees | HoneyBee & Co. 37")Subscribe and Save 20%Acacia from £8.79/mo. Wildflower from £8.79/mo. Free UK delivery.Start subscription](/honey-subscription/)## Frequently Asked Questions Which Vietnamese foods disappear without bees?Coriander, spring onion, cucumber, avocado, lemon, carrot, tomatoes, mango, and lychee are all significantly pollinator-dependent. Rice noodles, pork, beef broth, and fish sauce are largely unaffected. How many bee species live in Vietnam?Vietnam has over 350 native bee species including Apis dorsata, Apis cerana, Apis florea, and multiple Trigona stingless bee species. Approximately 60% are at risk. Is Vietnam’s coffee production dependent on bees?Yes, at 25% modest dependency. Vietnam is the world’s second-largest coffee producer at around 1.8 million tonnes annually. Bee cross-pollination significantly increases Robusta yields. At Vietnam’s scale, a 25% yield reduction represents enormous commercial impact. What is Vietnamese forest honey?Forest honey harvested from wild Apis dorsata colonies in the U Minh Cajuput forests of the Mekong Delta. It has been harvested by traditional honey hunters for thousands of years. It is one of Southeast Asia’s most distinctive wild honey products. What percentage of Vietnamese food requires pollinators?Vietnamese cuisine’s fresh ingredient layer – coriander (65%), spring onion (65%), cucumber (95%), avocado (95%), and lemon (65%) – is all significantly pollinator-dependent under Klein et al. (2007). Rice, noodles, pork, and fish sauce are unaffected. How can I help protect bees in Vietnam?Support organisations protecting tropical forest habitats in the Mekong Delta and Vietnamese highlands. Choose food products from supply chains committed to pollinator health. Explore the World Bee Atlas to learn which species are native to Vietnam. [Interactive ToolWorld Bee Atlas: Native Species Across 75 CountriesExplore the atlas →](/world-bee-atlas/) [Interactive ToolThailand’s Plate Without Bees: Six Thai DishesTry the tool →](/plate-without-bees/thailand/) [ProductAcacia Honey: Raw, Single-Origin from TransylvaniaShop now →](/acacia-honey/)