By Alina @ TLY
Dry bird's nest is one of the easiest gifts to mail across the country, and orders from Ten Lei Yen's shop in Westminster's Little Saigon usually reach anywhere in the United States in 3 to 5 business days. The part that takes planning is the calendar, not the packaging, so here's how a box travels and when to order so it lands before the holiday instead of after it.
Why dry nest travels so well
The nest in our boxes is cleaned and fully dried before it's packed, so it travels like any dry pantry good. What it doesn't like is being crushed, because dried strands are brittle until they've been soaked. That's why we ship in rigid boxes packed snugly, and it's why we'd talk you out of squeezing a box into a padded envelope if you're re-mailing a gift yourself.
How long does it take to arrive?
From the day an order ships, plan on 3 to 5 business days to anywhere in the country, Hawaii and the far end of Florida included. Business days are the catch. An order placed late on a Friday won't move until Monday, and carrier holidays don't count either. If your mom is expecting a box before a Saturday family dinner, we'd count back a full week and order then.
When to order for Christmas and Lunar New Year
These are our two busiest stretches of the year, and they're the carriers' busiest too. For Christmas, we'd get orders in by the first week of December, which leaves room for the slowdown that hits every shipping company in the middle of the month. Lunar New Year falls on February 6 in 2027, and plenty of families like the nest to arrive a week or two early so it's on hand for visits and offerings. Ordering in mid-January keeps you clear of the rush.
Choosing a box someone else will open
When you're not there to explain it, a box that looks and feels like a gift matters. Most families send our 250 g boxes, because 250 g covers at least fifty standard servings of 3 to 5 grams each and the box presents well on a table. Every bird's nest order also comes with a small bag of ginseng and rock sugar, so whoever opens it has what they need for a traditional sweet bowl without a trip to the store. If you're not sure how far one box goes, our guide to how many servings are in a 250 g box lays it out.
Sending it to an address that isn't yours
At checkout you can enter any US shipping address that's different from your billing address, so the box goes straight to a parent in Texas or a sister in New York. If the person receiving it has never prepared bird's nest before, send along a link to our soaking and cleaning guide or our week-one guide. The short version is a soak of 4 to 6 hours or overnight, then a gentle double-boil of about 40 minutes.
Can we ship bird's nest to family in Vietnam?
Yes, but the order has to be placed here in the US. Customers in Vietnam can't order from us directly, so it's usually a family member here who buys the nest for them. We then send it to Vietnam through the cargo company we work with. For security, Vietnam shipments only go through our cargo partner, not an outside cargo service, so give us a call at 714-418-9788 and we'll set up the delivery with you.
What if I need help placing a gift order?
Most people order online at tenleiyen.com, where you can choose the box and enter the recipient's address in one go. If you get stuck or have a question, call our Westminster shop at 714-418-9788, Monday through Saturday 10 AM to 5:30 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM, and we'll help you through it.
Browse Red Label, Blue Label and 5A bird's nest when you're ready to send a box home.
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