Da Lat, a famous tourism destination in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, plans to open its first casino as part of the town's draft plan on night-time economy development.
According to the draft plan for 2023-2030, the casino, along with shophouses, clubhouses, and recreational activities, will be located in the tourism areas of Thung Lung Tinh Yeu (Love Valley), Mong Mo (Dreamy) hill, and Thong Nhat (Reunification) hill. Those areas are about five kilometers away from Da Lat town's center.
Da Lat asked Lam Dong province authorities to let Thanh Thanh Cong Lam Dong Tourism Co.Ltd, the tourism arm of local multi-sector business TTC Group, to develop the night-time economic complex.
It is also a move of Da Lat to develop new tourism models and reduce the overwhelming number of visitors to the central area.
Besides, Da Lat’s draft plan features a new night market, also the replacement of the current night market in Ward 1; a musical water park; a street food; longer serving time of cafes, cinemas, bowling facilities; shopping streets; among others.
Vietnam currently has nine operating casinos, namely Do Son Resort & Casino in Hai Phong city; Lilai International Hotel, Royal Casino, Hong Van Casino Hotel in Quang Ninh province; Aristo International Hotel in Lao Cai province; Crowne International Casino in Silver Shores International Resort in Danang city; Grand Ho Tram Resort & Casino in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province; Nam Hoi An Casino Resort in Quang Nam Province; and Corona Resort and Casino on Phu Quoc island of Kien Giang province.
Three others in the central provinces of Thua Thien-Hue and Khanh Hoa and Van Don district of northern province of Quang Ninh are under construction or drafting.
Those in Phu Quoc and Van Don are the only two Vietnamese players can enter. Last year, the Ministry of Finance proposed a two-year extension of the pilot scheme that allows Vietnamese citizens to gamble at Phu Quoc island’s Corona Resort and Casino.
The ministry started considering extending the time period for the scheme on the basis that pandemic-related disruptions to domestic and international tourism had made it hard to assess its merits.
The facility, invested in by Phu Quoc Tourism Development and Investment JSC, incurred a loss of VND2.76 trillion ($121 million) from its debut early 2019 to September 2021.