Vietnamese goods still have a lot of room for export growth in the Malaysian market because this is a market with good purchasing power, diverse demand and a close consumer culture to Vietnamese products.
Ms. Ho Thi Quyen - Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Center said that the Halal industry provides standard products and services for Hoi giao people such as food - beverages, tourism, seafood, etc. Currently, this industry is increasingly developing, there are currently more than 2 billion people in the world following Islam, this is an opportunity for Vietnamese poultry products to expand their export markets.
It is forecasted that by 2025, the Halal industry will grow strongly in Asia, the Middle East and Africa. New trends will reshape the Halal business environment, requiring businesses to adapt quickly, meeting standards from production to retail.
Malaysia and Vietnam have great potential for cooperation in the field of Halal food. Vietnam has recognized the National Halal Certification Center (HALCERT), under the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam, as a Halal unit in Vietnam with experts in the field of Halal, including Malaysia.
However, Ms. Quyen said that the number of Halal certificate issuers in Vietnam is still small and the cost is high, while the requirement of having Hoi giao people to supervise production makes it difficult for businesses to access this market.
Ms. Zaimah Osman - Trade Consul, Malaysia Trade Promotion Agency in Ho Chi Minh City (MATRade) said that Malaysia continues to consider Vietnam as an important partner and invites Vietnamese businesses to explore the diverse business opportunities that Malaysia brings.
To support Vietnamese businesses in connecting and cooperating, MatRade has a global network of 48 offices, including representative offices in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. MatRADE is also ready to provide trade consulting services and market information to promote business cooperation with Vietnamese enterprises more regularly.
The project "Strengthening international cooperation to build and develop Vietnam's Halal industry by 2030" is considered a strategic step to improve national competitiveness, making Vietnam a reliable center in the global Halal value chain and taking advantage of incentives from more than 15 free trade agreements (FTAs) signed, including many Muslim countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, UAE, Türkiye, etc.
According to Dr. Phu Van Han - General Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Ethnology - Humanities Association, the project not only has economic significance but also demonstrates Vietnam's commitment to deep integration with the Muslim community, contributing to building the image of a friendly, dynamic country that complies with global standards on Halal products and services.
To overcome market barriers, Dr. Han proposed promoting mutual recognition signing with international Halal certification organizations, developing specialized industrial parks and logistics centers according to the model of Malaysia and the UAE.
In addition, human resource training, school - business linkages, digitalization of certification processes, and blockchain traceability applications. Finally, building a national brand "Vietnam Halal Certified" will be a key factor to create a competitive advantage and position a prestigious national image in the eyes of global Islamic consumers.
Total import-export turnover between Ho Chi Minh City and Malaysia in the first 6 months of 2025 is estimated at 2.6 billion USD, up 34.7% over the same period in 2024. Of which, Ho Chi Minh City's export turnover in the first 6 months of 2025 to the Malaysian market is estimated at 435 million USD, up 16.6% over the same period in 2024.
