Opening scheduled for mid-July
Vinpearl Phu Quoc Casino Resort will be the first casino in Vietnam to welcome local gamblers, the country’s Ministry of Planning and Investment has confirmed. The resort, expected to open in mid-July, will be part of the Bai Dai Integrated Resort on Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam’s largest island in the southernmost province of Kien Giang, reported G3ubNewswire.
Vinpearl is the first gaming hall selected to participate in a three-year pilot program to test the efficacy of locals gambling. The casino will offer 1,000-plus slot machines and more than 100 roulette and baccarat tables. Vietnamese players will be charged a casino entry fee of VND1 million (US$44) with a monthly pass costing VND25 million. Gamblers will need to produce proof that they earn at least VND10 million (US$434.50) per month.
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has signed a deal with Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Tourist Investment and Development Joint Stock Co to manage a hotel at the site. A spokesperson for the group stated, “Guests can also access the fully-equipped fitness center, outdoor swimming pool, spa and a VIP lounge, as well as Casino Phu Quoc, the first in Vietnam to permit domestic entry.”
In a report earlier this year by VietNamNet Bridge, Phu Quoc Island was described as “one of the hottest holiday spots in the country.” The report said it’s being positioned by the local and central governments as “an international hub for eco-tourism, resort tourism and amusement and a regional financial center.”
Also known as Pearl Island, it’s the biggest island in the country and is known for its white sandy beaches and year-round balmy weather.
“What attracts tourists the most are the island’s wild beaches, its warm weather which allows tourists to bathe in the sea almost all year round, and its diverse landscapes from mountain to forest and sea,” said Huynh Quang Hung, deputy chairman of the Phu Quoc District People’s Committee. It attracts tourists from Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia, China and South Korea as well as far-flung places like Sweden, Russia, the UK and Italy. Up to 100 flights arrive and depart from the airport every day, including eight to 10 international flights, Hung said.
The airport is currently being upgraded to handle 5 million visitors a year by 2020 and 7 million by 2030, with 40 percent of them expected to be foreign travelers.
