Quang Ninh province in northeast Vietnam has approved a landmark integrated resort and casino project in the Van Don Special Economic Zone as of September 2025. The development involves an estimated $2 billion investment covering over 244 hectares. It will feature a large-scale casino, luxury hotels, beachfront villas, and water-based recreational activities. The project is set to obtain a 70-year license, with construction expected to last approximately nine years. This initiative aims to attract both foreign and domestic tourists, create around 6,000 jobs, and generate significant government revenues.
Local officials have welcomed the approval, with a Quang Ninh spokesperson stating, “This project is a major milestone for our province and will elevate Vietnam’s position in the regional casino and tourism markets.” Their optimism reflects the government’s commitment to expanding regulated gaming under controlled conditions, reinforcing the strategic importance of this development.
The Van Don casino project operates within Vietnam’s existing legislative framework, which permits foreign visitors and, more recently through a pilot scheme, Vietnamese citizens to participate in casino gaming under strict regulatory oversight. This policy aligns with amendments made in the 2023 anti-money laundering law, aimed at strengthening enforcement and addressing vulnerabilities related to illicit financing in gaming industries.
Despite ongoing challenges in cross-border cooperation and supervision capacity, the project intends to showcase regulatory rigor while balancing economic growth with compliance.
Economically, the resort is projected to generate approximately $312 million in annual post-tax profits and contribute over $8.7 billion to the state budget throughout its licensed lifecycle. It also enhances Vietnam’s competitive position amid growing regional casino liberalization, especially in Thailand, thereby solidifying its key role within Southeast Asia’s gaming ecosystem.
Vietnam’s Van Don project represents a regulatory and economic turning point in the nation’s gaming ambitions, signaling the start of a new era of controlled expansion and regulatory vigilance.
