The first lounge for Muslim passengers at a Vietnamese airport.

On December 16th, Tan Son Nhat Airport Aviation Services Joint Stock Company (SASCO) inaugurated the Jasmine Lounge at the Tan Son Nhat International Departure Terminal, officially opening Vietnam's first Halal-certified business lounge to serve Muslim business travelers.

With a floor area of ​​300m2 and a limited capacity of 70 guests, in addition to standard amenities such as business lounges and the SASCO Business Lounge system, Jasmine's distinguishing feature is: "Compliance with the hygiene and Halal requirements of Islamic law and the Malaysian Halal standard MS1500-2019".

Explaining the need for Halal certification, Ms. Nguyen Minh Ngoc, Deputy General Director of SASCO, said: "Muslims are very strict in adhering to their religious regulations, especially regarding food and prayer. In airports that do not have facilities specifically for this religious group, you will see them having to use secluded corners in a public place like the airport to pray or having limited food options. Therefore, a lounge with Halal certification is necessary to serve this group of passengers."

SASCO has undergone an assessment process and received Halal certification from the Malaysian Halal Consulting & Training Company (MHCT) according to the standards of the International Halal Alliance. To ensure a qualified workforce participating in all operational stages and the closed supply chain from production, raw material procurement, transportation to organization and service, SASCO also collaborated with MHCT to provide Halal awareness training for its staff. Specifically, 234 employees received certificates of completion, 14 employees received Halal Internal Auditor certificates, and 2 staff members received Halal teaching certificates.

Notably, Jasmine features two separate prayer rooms for men and women, ensuring a solemn space for passengers to perform rituals and pray. You will also be impressed by the Mediterranean-style cuisine that meets Halal standards, the unpretentious design of the Jasmine lounge with its subtle jasmine fragrance, green surroundings, and decorative details inspired by Islamic art.

At the opening ceremony, Professor Dr. HJ Abdul Rafek Saleh, Executive Director of MHCT and Member of the International Halal Association, highly appreciated SASCO's professionalism and adherence to Islamic law in serving Halal food, with consultation, training, and evaluation from MHCT.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hung Cuong, Deputy General Director of SASCO, said that in addition to ensuring Halal compliance for Muslim passengers on new routes, especially recently focusing on the Middle East and India markets, Jasmine demonstrates respect and concern for cultural, religious, and belief values, meeting the diverse needs of passengers and contributing to the improvement and enhancement of services at Tan Son Nhat Airport.

Ms. Minh Ngoc also added that the lounge currently serves all types of guests, not just Muslims. Notably, because it does not serve pork or beef, Hindus can also enjoy the food at Jasmine Lounge. Customers of airlines that partner with SASCO can easily purchase lounge access tickets through the booking website.

During the opening ceremony, when asked about his impression of the Jasmine lounge, Abhi (31 years old, British nationality) said: "The lounge is very clean, the food is delicious, and we were very warmly welcomed. The Halal standards here reassure me. In particular, I think the food here could be ranked among the top 5 lounges we have visited worldwide."

Abhi's wife, Sai (32 years old, British nationality), said: "We have traveled to many places, and I have only seen two countries with prayer rooms in airports: one in the UK, and the other here. I am a vegetarian, so I feel very reassured about Halal-certified food like this."

It is known that Abhi and Sai are Hindus. This is their first time visiting Vietnam and they are also among the first guests to experience the services at Jasmine Lounge.

It can be said that Jasmine – the first Halal-certified Business Lounge in Vietnam – marks a significant development for Vietnam's aviation industry amidst the recovery of international aviation after the pandemic and the new trend of integration.

Le Ho Uy Di