Shafaqna English– In recent years, due to increased cultural exchanges, the number of Muslim tourists visiting Vietnam particularly Hanoi, has grown significantly.
Most of these travellers come from Indonesia, Malaysia, India, and some Middle Eastern countries. A recent example is a group of 200 Iranian tourists who chartered an entire flight to Hanoi, demonstrating the strong potential of the Halal tourism market.
The concept of Halal goes far beyond simply serving meals without pork or alcohol. It encompasses accommodations, prayer times, worship services, hospitality styles, and even respect for religious beliefs. However, the number of accommodations and restaurants in Hanoi that meet Halal standards remains limited, and travel businesses face challenges in serving this group.
In Southeast Asia, countries like Thailand and Singapore, despite not having large Muslim populations, have developed a Halal tourism “ecosystem” with compatible restaurants, hotels, shopping centres, and entertainment services.
Hanoi possesses many advantages to become a Halal tourism hub, potentially transforming this market into a powerful catalyst for the city’s tourism sector. Building a Halal-friendly ecosystem is now an essential step. Dang Huong Giang, Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, said tapping into the Halal market is not just about aligning with a global trend, but also a sustainable growth strategy that helps Hanoi expand its reach into the Muslim world.
Source: Vietnam Plus