| Label | Element | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Return Abstract | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |
| Registrant Name | dei_EntityRegistrantName | VANGUARD WHITEHALL FUNDS |
| Prospectus Date | rr_ProspectusDate | Feb. 27, 2024 |
| Admiral | Vanguard Advice Select International Growth Fund | ||
| Risk Return Abstract | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |
| Risk/Return [Heading] | rr_RiskReturnHeading | <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:13pt;font-weight:bold;">Fund Summary</span> |
| Objective [Heading] | rr_ObjectiveHeading | <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Investment Objective</span> |
| Objective, Primary [Text Block] | rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock | The Fund seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation. |
| Expense [Heading] | rr_ExpenseHeading | <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Fees and Expenses</span> |
| Expense Narrative [Text Block] | rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock | The following tables describe the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and example below. |
| Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] | rr_ShareholderFeesCaption | <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:bold;">Shareholder Fees</span> <br/><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:8.5pt;margin-left:0%;">(Fees paid directly from your investment)</span> |
| Operating Expenses Caption [Text] | rr_OperatingExpensesCaption | <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:bold;">Annual Fund Operating Expenses</span> <br/><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:8.5pt;margin-left:0%;">(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)</span> |
| Portfolio Turnover [Heading] | rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading | <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.5pt;">Portfolio Turnover</span> |
| Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] | rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock | The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 8% of the average value of its portfolio. |
| Portfolio Turnover, Rate | rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate | 8.00% |
| Expense Example [Heading] | rr_ExpenseExampleHeading | <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.5pt;">Example</span> |
| Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] | rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock | The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund’s shares. This example assumes that the Fund provides a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: |
| Strategy [Heading] | rr_StrategyHeading | <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Principal Investment Strategies</span> |
| Strategy Narrative [Text Block] | rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock | The Fund invests predominantly in the stocks of companies located outside the United States and is expected to diversify its assets in countries across developed and emerging markets. In selecting stocks, the Fund’s advisors evaluate foreign markets around the world and choose a select group of large-, mid-, and small-capitalization companies considered to have above-average growth potential. |
| Risk [Heading] | rr_RiskHeading | <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Principal Risks</span> |
| Risk [Text Block] | rr_RiskTextBlock | • Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from non-U.S. growth stocks and, to the extent that the Fund is invested in them, small- and mid-cap stocks, will trail returns from global stock markets. Historically, non-U.S. small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than the large-cap stocks that dominate the global markets, and they often perform quite differently.• Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund’s investments in foreign stocks can be riskier than U.S. stock investments. Foreign stocks may be more volatile and less liquid than U.S. stocks. The prices of foreign stocks and the prices of U.S. stocks may move in opposite directions.• Country/regional risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by companies in foreign countries or regions. Because the Fund may invest a large portion of its assets in securities of companies located in any one country or region, including emerging markets, the Fund’s performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of its investments in that area. Country/regional risk is especially high in emerging markets.• Emerging markets risk, which is the chance that the stocks of companies located in emerging markets will be substantially more volatile, and substantially less liquid, than the stocks of companies located in more developed foreign markets because, among other factors, emerging markets can have greater custodial and operational risks; less developed legal, tax, regulatory, financial reporting, accounting, and recordkeeping systems; and greater political, social, and economic instability than developed markets.• Currency risk, which is the chance that the value of a foreign investment, measured in U.S. dollars, will decrease because of unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates. Currency risk is especially high in emerging markets.• Manager risk, which is the chance that poor security selection will cause the Fund to underperform relevant benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective.• Asset concentration risk, which is the chance that, because the Fund tends to invest a high percentage of assets in its ten largest holdings, the Fund’s performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks. |
| Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] | rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading | <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Annual Total Returns</span> |
| Performance Narrative [Text Block] | rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock | The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows the performance of the Fund in its first full calendar year. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Fund compare with those of a relevant market index and another comparative index, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. Returns for the MSCI indexes shown are adjusted for withholding taxes. Keep in mind that the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447. |
| Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] | rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns | <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.5pt;">The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows the performance of the Fund in its first full calendar year. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Fund compare with those of a relevant market index and another comparative index, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund.</span> |
| Performance Availability Phone [Text] | rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone | <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.5pt;">800-662-7447</span> |
| Performance Availability Website Address [Text] | rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress | <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.5pt;font-style:italic;">vanguard.com/performance</span> |
| Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] | rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture | <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.5pt;">Keep in mind that the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.</span> |
| Bar Chart [Heading] | rr_BarChartHeading | <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;">Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Advice Select International Growth Fund Investor Shares</span> |
| Performance Table Heading | rr_PerformanceTableHeading | <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:bold;">Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2023</span> |
| Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate | rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate | <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.5pt;">When after-tax returns are calculated, it is </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.5pt;">assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. </span> |
| Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred | rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred | <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.5pt;">Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.5pt;">who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. </span> |
| Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher | rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher | <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.5pt;">Also, figures captioned </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.5pt;font-style:italic;">Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.5pt;"> may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.</span> |
| Performance Table Closing [Text Block] | rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock | Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder. |
| Admiral | Vanguard Advice Select International Growth Fund | Risk Nondiversified Status [Member] | ||
| Risk Return Abstract | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |
| Risk [Text Block] | rr_RiskTextBlock | • Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund’s performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few stocks or even a single stock. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of particular issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds. |
| Admiral | Vanguard Advice Select International Growth Fund | Risk Lose Money [Member] | ||
| Risk Return Abstract | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |
| Risk [Text Block] | rr_RiskTextBlock | An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. |
| Admiral | Vanguard Advice Select International Growth Fund | Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Member] | ||
| Risk Return Abstract | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |
| Risk [Text Block] | rr_RiskTextBlock | An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. |
| Admiral | Vanguard Advice Select International Growth Fund | Admiral Shares | ||
| Risk Return Abstract | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |
| Purchase Fee | rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther | none |
| Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none |
| Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends | rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther | none |
| Redemption Fee | rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption | none |
| Account Service Fee Per Year (for certain fund account balances below $5,000,000) | rr_MaximumAccountFee | $ 25 |
| Management Fees | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.37% |
| 12b-1 Distribution Fee | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | none |
| Other Expenses | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.04% |
| Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 0.41% |
| 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | $ 42 |
| 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 132 |
| 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 230 |
| 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | $ 518 |
| Annual Return 2022 | rr_AnnualReturn2022 | (37.57%) |
| 2023 | rr_AnnualReturn2023 | 15.32% |
| Highest Quarterly Return, Label | rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel | <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;margin-left:0.0pt;">Highest</span> |
| Highest Quarterly Return, Date | rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate | Mar. 31, 2023 |
| Highest Quarterly Return | rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn | 16.44% |
| Lowest Quarterly Return, Label | rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel | <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;margin-left:0.0pt;">Lowest</span> |
| Lowest Quarterly Return, Date | rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate | Jun. 30, 2022 |
| Lowest Quarterly Return | rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn | (23.19%) |
| 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 15.32% |
| Since Inception | rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception | (18.17%) |
| Inception Date | rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate | Nov. 09, 2021 |
| Admiral | Vanguard Advice Select International Growth Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Admiral Shares | ||
| Risk Return Abstract | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |
| 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 15.29% |
| Since Inception | rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception | (18.17%) |
| Admiral | Vanguard Advice Select International Growth Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Admiral Shares | ||
| Risk Return Abstract | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |
| 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 9.11% |
| Since Inception | rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception | (13.44%) |
| Admiral | Vanguard Advice Select International Growth Fund | MSCI All Country World Growth ex US (reflects no deduction for fees or expenses) | ||
| Risk Return Abstract | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |
| 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 14.03% |
| Since Inception | rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception | (7.03%) |
| Admiral | Vanguard Advice Select International Growth Fund | MSCI ACWI ex USA Index (reflects no deduction for fees or expenses) | ||
| Risk Return Abstract | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |
| 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 15.62% |
| Since Inception | rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception | (2.20%) |