Central Asian families vacationing at 5-star hotels often bring many family members, sometimes even domestic helpers. This group of tourists is likely to stay for extended periods and spend heavily, but Da Nang businesses have yet to fully exploit the business opportunities from this segment.

Báo Đà Nẵng•09/11/2026

Market potential of Halal

During his research on the Halal market, Associate Professor Dr. Dinh Cong Hoang, Head of the Middle East and West Asia Research Department at the Institute for South Asia, West Asia and Africa Studies, noted that many tour groups from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan chose 5-star hotels in Da Nang for their vacations. Some families traveled with many members, even bringing along domestic helpers. They utilized high-end services and spent considerable time relaxing at the hotels.

For landlocked countries like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, coastal destinations like Da Nang have an advantage in attracting vacationers, especially high-spending families.

It is noteworthy that despite their extended stays, the activities of these groups of tourists are still mainly concentrated within the hotel, while external services have not been exploited to their full potential. “These are the segments where they spend money, stay longer, and spend more, which we haven’t fully exploited,” Mr. Hoang commented .

Given this reality, the issue is not just about attracting more international tourists, but also about how to expand revenue from these vacations to include various local businesses. A family staying for several days may have needs for food, shopping, transportation, healthcare, and cultural experiences. If suitable products and services are available, revenue can flow not only to hotels and resorts but also to restaurants, businesses, and service providers.

The size of the international Muslim tourist market also shows room for growth. Fazal Bahardeen, founder and CEO of CrescentRating and HalalTrip, cites figures for 2025 showing the world recording approximately 196 million international Muslim tourists, an 11% increase compared to the previous year.

For Da Nang, the opportunity lies in identifying and targeting the right segments, especially the group of tourists who stay for extended periods and use high-end services from the Middle East and some Central Asian countries.

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Da Nang seeks to attract Muslim tourists from the multi-billion dollar market.The Muslim tourism market is projected to reach $310 billion in spending by 2030, presenting significant opportunities for Da Nang. However, to attract this group of tourists, the city needs to address issues ranging from meals and places of worship to a reliable service system.

Da Nang explores the potential of Halal tourism.On the morning of October 27th, the international workshop “International Experiences and Potential for Halal Tourism Development in Da Nang” took place with the participation of over 100 delegates, experts, and businesses.

Da Nang seeks opportunities to develop Halal tourism.With its advantageous tourism infrastructure, cultural resources, and international air connectivity, Da Nang has ample room to tap into the potentially lucrative Halal tourism market.

To tap into the market, Associate Professor Dr. Dinh Cong Hoang suggested that Da Nang could organize a “Halal Month,” combining business networking fairs and culinary competitions. These activities would not only showcase products and services suitable for Muslim customers but also create opportunities for local businesses to find partners and expand their business prospects.

Develop the right product.

Mr. Cao Tri Dung, Chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association, believes that the city needs to more deeply target segments of Muslim tourists who are likely to spend more and stay for longer periods, in addition to traditional markets.

However, to be truly effective, tourism products cannot be limited to just luxury accommodations or resorts. Tourists also need restaurants serving Halal food and services that suit their lifestyles throughout their trip.

A tourist’s journey begins at the airport, followed by accommodation, meals, sightseeing, and shopping; therefore, airport staff must be knowledgeable about Islamic culture. Hotels must pay attention to food quality, while tourist attractions also need to offer corresponding services.

If hotels adequately meet the needs of tourists but visitors struggle to find suitable restaurants outside, their opportunities to utilize additional local services will be limited. Therefore, the city needs to develop an interconnected service system, rather than each accommodation or restaurant serving its needs independently.

One of the crucial steps is building a Halal food supply chain. To serve Muslim customers, businesses not only need suitable dishes but also must meet requirements regarding ingredients, processing methods, and Halal certification.

Associate Professor Dr. Dinh Cong Hoang noted that serving this market does not mean restaurants have to focus on Pakistani, Indian , or Middle Eastern cuisine. Vietnamese dishes, local specialties, seafood, and vegetables can also be offered to Muslim customers if they meet Halal requirements.

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This opens up opportunities for food processing businesses and ingredient suppliers in Da Nang. Instead of just focusing on increasing customer numbers, businesses can develop additional products to cater to tourists already in the city.

Besides improving services, the ability to reach customers in the digital environment is also becoming increasingly important. Mr. Fazal Bahardeen noted that many Muslim tourists are using online platforms and artificial intelligence (AI) tools to search for hotels, restaurants, and plan their trips. If businesses lack clear information, verified data, or appropriate certifications, their chances of being recommended to customers will be limited.

Drawing on experience in Hong Kong (China), where CrescentRating has evaluated over 80 establishments and trained more than 500 personnel, Mr. Fazal suggested that Da Nang strengthen the evaluation of restaurants and hotels that are friendly to Muslims, publicly disclose service information, and upload verified data to digital platforms. This would allow tourists to easily search, select, and book suitable services.

For businesses, having a presence in the digital environment is not just about promotion; it’s also about helping customers clearly understand what needs the business can meet.

source Expanding business opportunities from the Muslim tourist market.