Few descriptions of traditional duck farming in Vietnam are available. This small study reports on these traditional techniques before they disappear as a consequence of the country's rapid economic and social development. Five production farms and two hatcheries located in South Vietnam were evaluated. The study covered basic questions relating to farm and hatchery management, nutrition, vaccination, pharmaceutical use, costs and priority needs. Questions were translated into Vietnamese for personal interviews. Out of five production farms, three did not use the local veterinary services. However, four used a French duck plague vaccine and not the Vietnamese product. There was little knowledge on the appropriate use of pharmaceuticals. Hatching methods within the two hatcheries were similar to those of South China. The traditional farming system made efficient use of a scavenging resource base that would not otherwise be used. The study highlighted the resourcefulness of Vietnamese farmers in their present situation, and identified areas for disease control and research.