Vietnam Halal Exporters Court Buyers at Bangkok Expo 2026

Vietnamese halal exporters pitched buyers from across Asia and the Middle East at Grand Halal Bangkok 2026, a three-day exhibition held July 15-17, 2026, under the theme “Gateway to the Global Halal Economy.” The event drew roughly 500 exhibitors, 15,000 visitors, and delegations from 60 countries, according to Asia News Network and the event’s organizers.

Vietnam’s Ambassador Pham Viet Hung said the exhibition supports the country’s strategy to develop its halal sector by connecting domestic businesses with partners in Thailand, the wider ASEAN bloc, the Middle East, and other global markets. He called it an important opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to connect not only with Thailand’s halal industry but also with halal food producers worldwide, and said Vietnam’s strengths in agriculture and food processing position the country to play a larger role in the global halal supply chain.

Among the Vietnamese companies on the exhibition floor, Danny Green JSC presented halal-certified beverages and canned food made from certified organic ingredients, one entrant in a national export base that Vietnamese officials are trying to expand well beyond its current size.

The event’s official site describes 15 lifestyle zones spanning food and beverage, tourism, wellness, beauty, fashion, manufacturing, franchising, and financial services, a spread that signals how far halal commerce now reaches beyond groceries and into travel, cosmetics, and finance.

Building a National Halal Infrastructure

Vietnam has spent two years assembling the institutional scaffolding behind that ambition. The government established the Vietnam Halal Certification Authority, known as HALCERT, in March 2024 to oversee certification activities and coordinate training and international cooperation. As of that period, HALCERT had certified approximately 50 companies, concentrated in seafood, beverages, and confectionery, according to ASEAN Briefing. Certified Vietnamese firms include Minh Phu Seafood Corporation and Vinamilk, per ASEAN Briefing. Vietnam ranks among the world’s top 20 food exporters and the 15th-largest agricultural exporter, with agriculture accounting for roughly 11 percent of gross domestic product, ASEAN Briefing reported.

A Strategy Years in the Making

As The Halal Times has reported, Vietnam has been building toward this moment for years, from its stated ambition to become the halal hub of ASEAN to repeated warnings that the country requires a strong strategy to maximize halal market opportunities. The Bangkok showing follows Vietnam’s expanding halal trade horizons, a trend that predates HALCERT and long predates this month’s exhibition.

Sizing the Opportunity, and the Gap

Estimates of the market Vietnamese exporters are chasing vary sharply by source. ASEAN Briefing puts the global halal market at US$2.4 trillion in 2024, projected to reach US$4.5 trillion by 2030. Nhan Dan, Vietnam’s state media outlet, cites a considerably larger figure: US$7.5 trillion to US$10 trillion, with nearly two billion consumers worldwide. Closer to home, the Vietnam Halal Center has said the country could potentially produce about US$34 billion worth of goods for Organization of Islamic Cooperation member nations, according to ASEAN Briefing.

The Certification Bottleneck

The gap between potential and execution doesn’t stem from a lack of demand; it comes down to paperwork and preparation. Pham The Cuong, Vietnam’s trade counsellor in Indonesia, has said the primary challenge facing Vietnamese firms is limited certification and insufficient preparation in processes, human resources, and finance, according to Nhan Dan. Ba Thi Nguyet Thu, director of the Hanoi Xanh Cooperative, has said halal products appeal not only to Muslim consumers but also to buyers seeking safe, transparent, and high-standard goods, per Nhan Dan. Her cooperative holds halal certifications from Turkiye, India, and Malaysia, and sells through a “Halal Viet” storefront on Alibaba.

HALCERT hasn’t published an updated certification count since the roughly 50 companies ASEAN Briefing tallied, and Vietnam’s US$34 billion OIC export target, per the same outlet, remains aspirational rather than realized. The number to watch: how many of Grand Halal Bangkok’s 500 exhibitors, drawn from 60 countries per organizers, turn July’s introductions into signed contracts before Vietnam’s next halal trade showing, and whether firms outside the seafood, beverage, and confectionery categories that dominate HALCERT’s current roster start appearing on the certified list.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is Vietnam’s halal export market potential?

The Vietnam Halal Center has said Vietnam could produce roughly US$34 billion worth of goods for Organization of Islamic Cooperation markets, according to ASEAN Briefing, though the country’s certified export base remains far smaller than that target today.

What is HALCERT?

HALCERT is the Vietnam Halal Certification Authority, the national body Vietnam launched in March 2024 to issue halal certificates and run training and international-cooperation programs, per ASEAN Briefing.

How many exhibitors attended Grand Halal Bangkok 2026?

Roughly 500 exhibitors and 15,000 visitors from 60 countries attended the July 15-17, 2026 exhibition, according to Asia News Network and the event’s organizers.

What is the biggest obstacle for Vietnamese halal exporters?

Pham The Cuong, Vietnam’s trade counsellor in Indonesia, has pointed to limited certification and insufficient preparation in processes, staffing, and finance as the main barrier, according to Nhan Dan.

How big is the global halal market?

Estimates differ by outlet. According to ASEAN Briefing, the global halal market was US$2.4 trillion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$4.5 trillion by 2030, while Nhan Dan reported a broader US$7.5 trillion to US$10 trillion range with nearly two billion consumers worldwide.