Vietnam targets global Halal tourism market with new strategy to attract Muslim travellers

Vietnam is stepping up efforts to establish itself as a competitive destination in the rapidly expanding global Halal tourism market, with government officials outlining a comprehensive strategy to attract more Muslim travellers and strengthen the country's position in the international Halal economy, as reported by VNA, a TV BRICS partner.

The initiative was presented at the conference "Vietnam: A New Destination of Halal Tourism", jointly organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Officials highlighted Vietnam's strong foundations for developing the sector, including its rich cultural heritage, diverse natural landscapes, renowned cuisine and strategic location connecting Southeast Asia with Northeast Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang noted that the country's Halal tourism industry remains at an early stage despite its significant potential. Of the 21 million international visitors welcomed in 2025, just over 600,000 were Muslim travellers, representing nearly 3 per cent of total arrivals.

The government views the Halal travel sector as one of the fastest-growing segments of global tourism. With more than 2 billion Muslims across over 100 countries and territories, demand for Halal-friendly destinations continues to expand, particularly from markets such as Malaysia, Indonesia, India, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Vietnam's strategy extends beyond tourism to support broader participation in the global Halal economy. Officials highlighted opportunities to increase exports of Halal-certified agricultural products, seafood and processed food while strengthening the country's international reputation as a trusted supplier.

To support tourism growth, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to improve regulatory frameworks, expand Halal certification, develop specialised workforce training programmes, strengthen international cooperation and encourage greater investment in Halal-compliant services.

In addition, tourism authorities are developing specialised travel experiences tailored to Muslim visitors, including wellness retreats, golf tourism, Cham cultural heritage tours, community-based tourism and ecotourism.

Officials believe the strategy will diversify Vietnam's international visitor base, enhance the country's competitiveness in global tourism and unlock new opportunities for sustainable growth across both the tourism and Halal industries.