Quang Ninh Aims to Become Vietnam’s Leading Muslim-Friendly Destination

Halal tourism, also known as Muslim-friendly tourism, is one of the fastest-growing global trends. It’s driving an increasing demand for travel experiences tailored to the Muslim community. With its open and stable economy, Vietnam, particularly Quang Ninh province, is embracing the Halal value chain, aiming to become a Muslim-friendly destination that caters to the cultural and religious needs of Muslim travelers.

Quang Ninh’s Strategic Vision

As one of Vietnam’s key tourism hubs, Quang Ninh is world-renowned for the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ha Long Bay. The province also boasts modern transport infrastructure, a vibrant cultural heritage, and a welcoming local community. With a vision to tap into new markets and align with global trends, Quang Ninh has identified Halal tourism as a strategic priority.

In late May, Ha Long University, in collaboration with the Institute for South Asian, West Asian, and African Studies under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, organized the international conference: “Developing Quang Ninh into One of Vietnam’s Leading Muslim-Friendly Tourism Destinations.”

Expert Perspectives on Halal Tourism

During the conference, H.E. Kohdayar Marri, Ambassador of Pakistan to Vietnam, emphasized that Pakistan, with over 95% of its population being Muslim, has been at the forefront of Halal tourism development. He noted:

“When I visited Quang Ninh, I realized that you have all the modern infrastructure needed to attract Muslim travelers. What is essential now is to provide adequate prayer facilities, a welcoming environment, and Halal-certified food options.”

The Importance of Human Capital

H.E. Ali Akbar Nazari, Ambassador of Iran to Vietnam, further stressed that success requires more than infrastructure—it also demands human capital. He highlighted the need for training tourism personnel, including hotel staff, tour guides, and service providers, to ensure they understand Muslim customs, culture, and needs. He also underlined the importance of multilingual promotion campaigns targeting key Muslim-majority markets such as Malaysia, Indonesia, West Asia, and Central Asia.

The Iranian Ambassador proposed that Iranian businesses are ready to partner with Quang Ninh in building a comprehensive Halal tourism ecosystem, covering workforce training, Halal certification, and joint promotional efforts. He also suggested fostering cultural exchange through Halal food festivals, exhibitions, and tourism campaigns to strengthen ties between Iran and Vietnam.

Preparing for the Golden Opportunity

With Muslims making up over 25% of the world’s population, the Halal market represents vast untapped opportunities for Vietnam’s tourism sector. Quang Ninh began preparing for this shift nearly a year ago when a delegation from the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Certification Center surveyed nine 4–5-star hotels in Ha Long. They assessed kitchens, guest rooms, and facilities to measure readiness for Muslim guests in line with Halal standards. Some hotels and restaurants have already started adapting their services to welcome Muslim visitors.

Quang Ninh now stands at a “golden opportunity” to capture the growing Muslim travel market. On February 14, 2023, the Vietnamese Prime Minister issued Decision No. 10/QD-TTg, approving the National Strategy on International Cooperation for Developing Vietnam’s Halal Industry until 2030. This landmark policy provides momentum for provinces like Quang Ninh to align economic diplomacy with tourism growth.

Achieving the 2030 Tourism Target

With these initiatives, Quang Ninh has set an ambitious target: by 2030, the province aims to welcome 25.4 million visitors, including 8.6 million international travelers. Becoming a Muslim-friendly destination is expected to play a central role in achieving this vision.