According to Ho Thi Quyen, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre, Vietnam and Malaysia hold significant potential for cooperation in the Halal food sector.
In the first half of 2025, total trade turnover between Ho Chi Minh City and Malaysia reached an estimated USD 2.6 billion, up 34.7 per cent year on year. Exports from Ho Chi Minh City to Malaysia alone hit USD 435 million, marking a 16.6 per cent increase.
Vietnam has officially recognised the National Halal Certification Centre (Halcert), under the Ministry of Science and Technology, as a national contact point for the Halal sector.
However, Quyen noted that the number of Halal certifiers in Vietnam remains limited and certification costs are high. Requirements such as on-site supervision by Muslim inspectors also pose challenges for Vietnamese businesses entering this market.
Zaimah Osman, Trade Consul of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) in Ho Chi Minh City, reaffirmed Malaysia’s view of Vietnam as a key partner and encouraged Vietnamese enterprises to explore Malaysia’s diverse business opportunities.
To facilitate business connections, Matrade operates a global network of 48 offices, including those in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. The agency offers trade consulting and market intelligence to support Vietnamese companies in deepening bilateral cooperation.
Vietnam recently launched a national programme aimed at strengthening international partnerships to develop its Halal industry through 2030. The strategy seeks to enhance Vietnam’s competitiveness and position the country as a reliable hub in the global Halal value chain. It also aims to leverage the benefits of more than 15 existing free trade agreements, many of which involve Muslim-majority countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, the UAE, and Turkey.
