On December 16, Tan Son Nhat Airport Services Joint Stock Company (SASCO) opened the Jasmine lounge at the international departure terminal of Tan Son Nhat airport, officially opening the first Halal-qualified business lounge in Vietnam to serve Muslim business passengers.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opened Vietnam's first Halal-certified business lounge serving Muslim business passengers.
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 difference is: "Complying with the hygiene & Halal requirements of Islamic law and Malaysian Halal standards MS1500-2019".
Professor Dr. HJ Abdul Rafek Saleh, CEO of MHCT, Member of International Halal Association, awarded the certificate "Compliance with hygiene & Halal requirements of Islamic law and Malaysian Halal standards MS1500-2019" to SASCO company.
Explaining the need for Halal certification, Ms. Nguyen Minh Ngoc, Deputy General Director of SASCO, said: "Muslims are very strict in complying with their religious regulations, especially in the matter of eating and praying. At airports that do not have facilities specifically for this group of religious guests, you will see them having to use hidden corners in a public place like the airport to pray or will not have many options for eating and drinking. Therefore, a lounge with Halal certification is a must to serve this group of guests."
SASCO has undergone the assessment process and has been awarded Halal certification by Malaysia Halal Consulting & Training (MHCT) according to the standards of the International Halal Alliance. In order to ensure qualified human resources participating in the entire operation and closed supply chain from production, raw material procurement, transportation to organization and service, SASCO has also cooperated with MHCT to train Halal awareness for the staff. Of which, 234 employees received certificates of course completion, 14 employees received Halal Internal Auditor certificates and 2 staff received Halal teaching certificates.
Jasmine has two separate prayer rooms for men and women, ensuring a sacred space for passengers to worship and pray.
Notably, Jasmine has two separate prayer rooms for men and women, ensuring a sacred space for passengers to perform rituals and pray. You will also be impressed when experiencing Mediterranean-style cuisine that meets Halal standards. The Jasmine lounge space is not elaborately designed with the light scent of jasmine, green scenery and decorative details inspired by Islamic art.
At the opening ceremony, Professor Dr. HJ Abdul Rafek Saleh, CEO of MHCT, Member of the International Halal Association, highly appreciated SASCO's professionalism and compliance in the Halal food service process according to Islamic law requirements with the consultation, training and assessment of MHCT.
Passengers enjoy Mediterranean-style cuisine that meets Halal standards.
Mr. Nguyen Van Hung Cuong, Deputy General Director of SASCO, said that in addition to ensuring Halal conditions to serve Muslim passengers from new flights, especially recently focusing on the Middle East and Indian markets, Jasmine shows respect and care for cultural values; religions; beliefs... to meet the diverse needs of passengers, contributing to perfecting and improving the services of Tan Son Nhat airport.
Ms. Minh Ngoc also added that the current lounge serves all types of customers, not just Muslim customers. In particular, because they do not serve pork or beef, Hindus can still enjoy dishes at Jasmine Lounge. Customers of airlines that cooperate with SASCO can easily buy tickets to the lounge through the booking website.
Mr. Abhi and Ms. Sai were two of the first guests to experience the amenities at the Jasmine lounge.
During the opening ceremony, when asked about his feelings about the Jasmine lounge, Mr. Abhi (31 years old, British nationality) said: "The lounge is very clean, the food is very tasty and we were welcomed very warmly. The Halal standard here makes me very secure. In particular, for me, the food here can be ranked in the top 5 of the lounges we have been to around the world."
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 the airport, one is in the UK, and the other is here. I am a vegetarian, so I feel very secure with Halal food like this."
It is known that Mr. Abhi and Ms. Sai are Hindus. This is their first time traveling to Vietnam and they are also among the first guests to experience the service at Jasmine Lounge.
It can be said that Jasmine - the first Business Lounge in Vietnam meeting Halal standards has marked a strong development step of the Vietnamese aviation service industry in the context of international aviation recovering after the pandemic and new integration trends.
