Vietnam Aims to Become Halal Hub of ASEAN

Expanding export markets has become more urgent than ever for Vietnamese enterprises. Among emerging destinations, the Halal market in the Middle East and Muslim-majority countries is increasingly viewed as a strategic frontier, not only due to its multi trillion-dollar scale but also because of its strong, stable, and long term import demand.

According to Mr. Tran Kim Khanh, representative of San Ha Co., Ltd., the company is gradually orienting its product development toward Halal standards as demand from these markets continues to surge. Key product categories with strong demand include dairy products, meat, rice, processed foods, and beverages.

“In reality, international trade delegations visit Vietnam almost every day to explore cooperation opportunities and express their interest in Halal-compliant products,” Mr. Khanh noted. “This is clearly a highly promising export market and has been identified as one of our key strategic destinations in the coming years.”

This strategic direction is also widely recognized by trade promotion authorities as an inevitable trend in the current global context. Mr. Tran Phu Lu, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC), emphasized that export market diversification, particularly tapping into the Halal market in the Middle East has become a prerequisite for Vietnamese enterprises.

Currently, the Middle East stands among the most dynamic import markets worldwide, with annual import values exceeding USD 1.2 trillion and GDP growth rates ranging between 5–6%. Within this landscape, Türkiye is regarded as a “golden gateway”, serving as a strategic entry point into the broader Muslim world of over 2 billion consumers.

To help businesses seize these opportunities, ITPC implemented more than 160 trade promotion activities in 2025, focusing on building a Halal ecosystem, supporting certification processes, and organizing trade missions to Dubai, Egypt, and Malaysia.

Overcoming Standards and Structural Barriers

Ms. Nguyen Phuong Tra, Director General of the Middle East–Africa Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that the global Halal market currently accounts for approximately 25% of the world’s population and is projected to reach an economic scale of USD 10 trillion before 2028.

Specifically, the Halal food sector is expected to grow from USD 2.7 trillion in 2024 to nearly USD 5.9 trillion by 2033, with an average annual growth rate of around 9%.

The Middle East, with a population of nearly 500 million and a combined GDP of approximately USD 3.6 trillion, possesses substantial purchasing power. Due to limited agricultural production, countries within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) import up to 85% of their food needs, with total food imports reaching USD 132 billion in 2023. Major import markets include Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

However, alongside these vast opportunities, Vietnamese enterprises face significant challenges. Chief among them is the diverse and complex Halal certification landscape, where standards vary across countries and certifying bodies. Barriers include high certification costs, short validity periods, intense competition from established exporters, and risks related to trade fraud-necessitating thorough partner due diligence and strict control of payment terms.

To unlock this potential, Ms. Nguyen Phuong Tra proposed that Ho Chi Minh City strengthen cooperation with major economic hubs such as Dubai and Riyadh, establish a dedicated Vietnam Halal Business Association, and develop preferential policies related to taxation and financing. Enterprises are also encouraged to actively participate in reputable international trade fairs such as Saudi Food Expo, Halal Trade Expo Dubai, and MIHAS in Malaysia.

Türkiye: A Strategic Gateway to the Global Halal Economy

From a market-specific perspective, Ms. Nguyen Viet Hang, Vietnam’s Commercial Counsellor in Türkiye, observed that despite global economic uncertainties, Vietnam–Türkiye economic and trade relations in 2025 have continued to show positive momentum.

With a Muslim population of nearly 90 million and its role as a key member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Türkiye has set an ambitious target to double its Halal export value within the next five years. This presents a golden opportunity for localities such as Ho Chi Minh City-Vietnam’s economic powerhouse to leverage their strengths in manufacturing capacity and logistics to integrate more deeply into the global Halal supply chain.