Tay Ninh, Mekong Delta emerging as Vietnam’s strategic Halal hub
Amid rising global demand for Halal products, Tay Ninh province, a gateway in Vietnam’s southwestern border, together with the Mekong Delta, is being shaped into a strategic centre for the development of the nation’s Halal industry.
Developing raw material areas, improving processing quality, and perfecting the Halal certification system are seen as crucial steps to boost international integration and establish the delta as a key national production and supply hub for Halal goods.
Agricultural potential and strategic location
In Tay Ninh, several enterprises have invested in closed-loop agricultural production, ensuring traceability and food safety – essential criteria for Halal certification.
Hung Nhon Group, in partnership with Dutch firm De Heus, has launched a high-tech livestock farming project in the province to serve the Halal market for 2025–2030.
Vu Manh Hung, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Digital Agriculture Association (VIDA) and Chairman of Hung Nhon Group, said the entire production process, from breeding and feed to farming, complies strictly with Halal requirements. The group has also worked with international certification bodies to complete Halal-compliant dossiers and management systems, aiming not only to access the Halal market but also to enhance the global reputation of Vietnamese agricultural products, reported VNA.
 |
| Advanced technology is widely applied at concentrated livestock farms in Tay Ninh. (Photo: VNA) |
In addition to pursuing exports, businesses are helping local farmers access modern technology, increase production capacity, and build sustainable linkages, creating a model for integration into the regional Halal economy.
Tan Nhien Co. Ltd, a Tay Ninh-based enterprise, has upgraded its traditional rice paper into a national brand with strong international reach. Its products are now exported steadily to markets such as the Republic of Korea, the US, Australia, Japan, Taiwan (China), and Thailand. With plant-based ingredients, a clean production process, and no preservatives, the rice paper has received the JAKIM Halal certificate and initial orders from Malaysia, one of the world’s largest Halal markets.
Halal market: a gateway for global integration
Tran Van Tan Cuong, Director of the National Halal Vietnam Company, noted that while the Halal market represents a global trend, each Islamic country has different national standards that require enterprises to adapt flexibly. Despite Vietnam’s limited pool of Halal experts, he stressed that with adequate investment and effective trade negotiations, the country’s agriculture and other sectors could strengthen their presence in this lucrative market.
Associate Professor Dr. Dinh Cong Hoang from the Institute for South Asian, West Asian and African Studies recommended that Tay Ninh and the Mekong Delta adopt a comprehensive standardisation strategy and identify requirements of each import market. In particular, they should establish a two-tier Halal standard system (basic and advanced ones) to give enterprises flexibility in selecting export pathways.
Standardizing products and services to Halal requirements, leveraging local advantages, and strengthening ties with key markets are critical to unlocking Vietnam’s opportunities in the Muslim world, he opined.
Nguyen Hong Thanh, Vice Chairman of the Tay Ninh provincial People’s Committee, highlighted that opening the Halal market is a strategic opportunity not only for Tay Ninh but also for the Mekong Delta, enabling more exports to the UAE, the Middle East, and Africa.
Tay Ninh is now home to more than 37,000 businesses and nearly 1,900 FDI projects worth over 24 billion USD, including 57 enterprises already granted Halal certificates and 48 engaged in trade with the UAE. The province has pledged favorable conditions in infrastructure, land, and investment climate, while inviting businesses and industry associations to step up trade promotion and global distribution linkages, paving the way for Vietnamese products to establish a strong foothold in the international Halal market.
Opportunities and challenges for Vietnamese industry amid surging foreign investment
In the first half of 2025, Vietnam recorded a 32% increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the manufacturing sector, equivalent to nearly 12 billion USD, accounting for more than 56% of total registered capital. This is the highest level since 2009, marking progress not only in scale but also in the quality of flows of investment capital.
Analysing this situation, John Campbell, Director of Industrial Services at Savills Ho Chi Minh City, said that Vietnam has seen a sharp rise in the number of new manufacturing projects, as well as important shifts in the industrial real estate market.
Accordingly, Savills noted that the 32% year-on-year increase in FDI in the manufacturing sector in the first half of 2025 represents significant progress, not only for the sector itself but also for Vietnam’s economic trajectory. The manufacturing and processing sectors attracted nearly 12 billion USD, accounting for over 56% of registered FDI, reaffirming their leading rold. This dramatic increase — the highest since 2009 — reflects global confidence in Vietnam’s investment environment and role in supply chains.
Apart from this impressive growth, value-added output rose more than 10% year-on-year, contributing nearly 2.6 percentage points to GDP. This is not a short-term boom but a structural shift in investor confidence and market maturity. This is a breakthrough in both scale and structure, that reinforces Vietnam’s roadmap towards high-value sustainable industrial growth.
According to John Campbell, global factors are simultaneously driving FDI flows into Vietnam, including supply chain diversification, trade tensions and tariff pressures prompting firms to seek manufacturing destinations, with political stability and tariff incentives. Preferential trade agreements such as RCEP, CPTPP and EVFTA give Vietnam access to about 65% of global markets, further boosting its appeal for export-oriented manufacturing.
With its strategic location near China, Vietnam offers both competitive labour costs and seamless connectivity to regional supply chains. Rising green and high-tech FDI is evident in sustainable and advanced production projects such as Lego’s green factory and chip packaging investments, showing a shift towards modern, environmentally friendly industry.
“These combined factors are opening a new era of high-value, sustainable FDI flow into Vietnam, positioning the country as a global manufacturing hub that goes beyond cost advantages,” Campbell said.
Statistics from Savills Vietnam show that the number of new manufacturing projects rose by nearly 40%, underlining the country’s increasing strategic appeal in global supply chains. This reflects rising investment demand and market development.
The surge also demonstrates strengthened investor confidence, not only in capital inflows but also in operational expansion, with business establishing strategic facilities, NDO reported.
 |
| Long Thanh Industrial Park, Dong Nai. (Photo: NDO) |
The demand for building flexible supply chains is prompting investors to seek production destinations which are geographically diverse and politically stable. Vietnam’s rising reputation as a manufacturing hub is supported by infrastructure development, supportive policies and favourable trade positioning. This proves that Vietnam is not just a “passive recipient” of supply chain shifts, but has become a priority link in global production networks.
Notably, the surge in ready-built factories (RBF) outpacing land purchases may mark a turning point in Vietnam’s industrial property market. RBFs provide advantages such as faster start-up times and lower initial costs, with demand rising sharply.
In the first half of 2025, RBFs and logistics facilities recorded the highest absorption rates in three years, with occupancy reaching 88–89% across regions. Rising demand for RBFs has pushed up rental yields and occupancy, driving industrial expansion. While industrial land supply continues to grow, developing new facilities requires more time and capital, making RBFs a strategic option for investors seeking flexibility.
The shift towards RBFs reflects the maturity of Vietnam’s industrial real estate market, as investors prioritiese flexibility, speed and modern infrastructure — factors especially critical for high-tech and green manufacturing sectors meeting ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards.
From this reality, Savills Vietnam recommends measures to help the industrial real estate market grow sustainably and maintain FDI attractiveness. Priorities include ensure a stable and greener power supply; expand the DPPA mechanism and renewable energy; provide available land fund with streamlined approvals and transparent pricing; expand connectivity infrastructure by completing 3,000 km of expressways and upgrading seaports and ICDs; encourage development of high-standard RBF/RBW (ready-built warehouses) and BTS (build-to-suit) projects; adjust incentive policies suitable with the global minimum tax while retaining appeal; and develop specialized human resources for semiconductors and high-tech manufacturing.
Wartime film Red Rain selected as Vietnamese entry for 2025 Oscars
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on September 30 that the film "Mưa đỏ" (Red Rain) has been chosen as Vietnam’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards (Oscars).
A national selection council, comprising leading managers, artists, directors, producers, and screenwriters, was convened to discuss and vote on the nominee. After careful consideration, Red Rain received strong recommendations and was selected to represent Vietnam at the world’s most prestigious film awards.
According to the Cinema Department, Vietnam’s participation in the Oscars not only aims to introduce the nation’s cinema to international audiences but also affirms its growing position in the global film industry, fostering cultural exchange and opportunities for collaboration, cited VOV.
 |
| Red Rain has grossed VND710 billion as of September 29, making it the most-watched Vietnamese film of all time. |
Directed by Meritorious Artist Dang Thai Huyen and produced by the People’s Army Cinema, Red Rain is a fictional wartime drama inspired by the 81-day battle at the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel, central Vietnam. Since its release, the film has shattered domestic box office records, drawing 8.1 million viewers and grossing VND710 billion as of September 29, making it the most-watched Vietnamese film of all time.
 | Vietnam News Today (Sep. 27): EU Remains One of Vietnam's Key Partners Vietnam News Today (Sep. 27): EU remains one of Vietnam's key partners, Deputy PM reassures; Vietnam – Cambodia trade: Path towards 20 billion USD target; ... |
 | Vietnam News Today (Sep. 28): Vietnam Braces for Rare Storm as Bualoi Speeds toward Coast Vietnam News Today (Sep. 28): Vietnam, EU eye balance, deeper strategic cooperation; Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 6 completes UN Mission in South Sudan; Vietnam – ... |
