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A huge new entertainment complex is on its way to Van Don in northern Vietnam, after Quang Ninh Province approved plans for a casino resort worth around US$2 billion. What makes this project stand out is that, unlike most casinos in the country, it will welcome both international visitors and Vietnamese players.
The resort will cover more than 240 hectares in the Van Don economic zone and aims to be much more than just a casino. The design includes luxury hotels, condos, townhouses, shopping areas, wellness centers, convention halls, and a mix of leisure and entertainment facilities that will run around the clock.
Developed by Van Don Sun Joint Stock Company, part of the well-known Sun Group, the complex is being pitched as a destination that could one day rival heavyweights like Macau or Las Vegas. The timing also plays into Vietnam’s changing demographics: the country’s middle class is growing fast, expected to make up more than a quarter of the population by 2026, up from just 13% in 2023.
Vietnam warming up to casinos
For many years, gambling was seen as something negative in Vietnam and limited almost entirely to state-run lotteries. But as casinos boomed in nearby countries, Vietnam cautiously started to open the door.
Back in 2019, the government tested the waters with a three-year pilot program on Phu Quoc island, allowing locals to gamble at the Corona Resort & Casino. The experiment was extended during the pandemic but eventually came to an end in 2024. Financial results were disappointing, though the island itself has since exploded in popularity as a holiday destination. Travel & Leisure even named it the world’s second most beautiful island last year, just behind the Maldives.
Sun Group doubling down on Quang Ninh
This isn’t Sun Group’s first big move in Quang Ninh. The company has already developed Van Don International Airport, Ha Long International Cruise Port, and several other tourism and entertainment projects in the region.
Construction of the Van Don resort will be a long-term effort, with estimates suggesting it could take up to nine years to fully complete. Once finished, the complex is expected to be a major economic driver for the province, creating jobs, attracting more visitors, and giving Vietnam’s entertainment landscape a significant boost.
Source: igamingbusiness.com
