Van Don island set to become entertainment hub with casino
Van Don island district in the northern province of Quang Ninh is set to become a multi-sector marine economic zone, and an entertainment hub with casino and high-class sea-island tourism services.
Under the freshly approved Van Don urban development program by 2030, with a vision to 2040, the locality will become an urban area with synchronous, green, sustainable, and climate-adaptive infrastructure.
The island will preserve its landscape and identity, while effectively exploiting the distinct advantages of its geographical location and natural environment.

A corner of Van Don island district, Quang Ninh province, northern Vietnam. Photo by The Investor/Huu Thang.
Van Don will strive to achieve the tier-3 urban criteria by 2025 and become a town that meets the tier-2 urban criteria by 2030.
Under the current planning, Van Don Economic Zone is divided into two spaces for development, of which Cai Bau Island will be for major functional areas and Van Hai Archipelago for high-end resort tourism, eco-tourism, and high-tech agricultural production associated with preserving the ecological landscape and biodiversity.
Regarding the urban area development roadmap, Van Don will complete and renovate existing urban areas; build tourism projects, new urban areas and resettlement areas by 2025.
In the 2026-2030 period, it will improve the quality of urban infrastructure, continue to expand the existing downtown area, and look towards the establishment of Doan Ket, Quan Lan and Minh Chau wards. Of which, Quan Lan and Minh Chau will be developed into key sea-island tourism destinations.
A new administrative center will be built, serving as the service, commercial and political hub of Van Don town.
For 2031-2040, Van Don will upgrade infrastructure, expand the construction of new urban, service and commercial areas, and improve the quality of socio-economic and technical infrastructure of island communes.
If Van Don becomes a town, Quang Ninh will have the biggest number of towns among provinces in Vietnam. Currently, it has four towns, namely Ha Long, Mong Cai, Cam Pha and Uong Bi. Under its provincial master plan for the 2021-30 period, with a vision to 2050, the northern province will have seven towns.
- Read More
AI to reshape Malaysia’s economic landscape: expert
Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to significantly reshape Malaysia’s economic landscape, presenting not only challenges but also groundbreaking opportunities for growth, job creation, and innovation, according to an expert.
Southeast Asia - Sun, April 27, 2025 | 5:35 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's retail giant Mobile World to keep growing even if market stagnates: chairman
Mobile World Investment Corporation (MWG), a leading retailer in Vietnam, will continue to grow even if the market stagnates or retreats, said chairman Nguyen Duc Tai.
Companies - Sun, April 27, 2025 | 5:24 pm GMT+7
Japanese PM Ishiba arrives in Hanoi, beginning three-day visit
Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and his spouse, together with a high-level Japanese delegation, arrived in Vietnam on Sunday for a three-day official visit from April 27 to 29.
Southeast Asia - Sun, April 27, 2025 | 3:58 pm GMT+7
Thailand plans to inject $15 bln into economy
Thailand's Ministry of Finance aims to inject over THB500 billion ($15 billion) into the economy to boost the country's GDP growth by over 1.8%, focusing on stimulating consumption, investment, and providing soft loans.
Southeast Asia - Sun, April 27, 2025 | 1:54 pm GMT+7
New southern Vietnam plant to bring 'sustainable, long-term benefits' to Nam Kim Steel: chairman
Vietnamese steel major Nam Kim's 1 million-ton Phu My plant in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau is expected to create sustainable and long-term benefits for the company, said CEO Vo Hoang Vu.
Companies - Sun, April 27, 2025 | 1:42 pm GMT+7
Techcombank eyes market cap of $20 bln by end-2025: chairman
Techcombank, one of Vietnam’s major private lenders, aims to expand its market capitalization to $20 billion by the end of 2025, said chairman Ho Hung Anh.
Banking - Sun, April 27, 2025 | 10:40 am GMT+7
Vietnam’s private lender Sacombank to trim payroll, acquire securities broker
Sacombank, a mid-sized private lender in Vietnam, plans to downsize its headcount in 2025-2026 as part of its push toward digital transactions.
Banking - Sun, April 27, 2025 | 10:18 am GMT+7
Vietnam property giant Nam Long eyes 35% profit hike for 2025 on strong housing demand
Nam Long Investment Corporation, a major real estate developer in southern Vietnam, aims to achieve a net profit of VND701 billion ($27 million) in 2025, up 35% year-on-year, driven by strong local housing demand.
Companies - Sun, April 27, 2025 | 8:17 am GMT+7
SK may adjust ownership at Vietnam-based pharmacy major Imexpharm
South Korean chaebol SK Group may adjust its stake at Vietnam-based pharmaceutical company Imexpharm as part of a comprehensive portfolio review across the group, including all of SK’s global assets.
Companies - Sat, April 26, 2025 | 7:00 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's PVOIL owns 423 petrol stations with EV chargers following partnership with VinFast
PVOIL, a subsidiary of state-owned giant Petrovietnam, had 423 petrol stations with electric vehicle (EV) chargers nationwide as of March 2025, through its partnership with EV maker VinFast.
Companies - Sat, April 26, 2025 | 2:53 pm GMT+7
Indonesia expects 5% economic growth despite IMF forecast revision
Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has expressed confidence that the country’s economy will grow by up to 5% in 2025, despite the International Monetary Fund (IMF) having revised down the national growth forecast to 4.7%.
Southeast Asia - Sat, April 26, 2025 | 10:58 am GMT+7
Vietnam's dairy giant Vinamilk to be safe and sound amid US tariff storm: CEO
Vietnam’s largest dairy maker Vinamilk will not be significantly affected by U.S. reciprocal tariffs and global trade competition as its largest share lies in the domestic market, said CEO Mai Kieu Lien.
Companies - Sat, April 26, 2025 | 10:51 am GMT+7
Vietnam's EV startup VinFast posts 192% surge in 2024 deliveries, eyes double figure in 2025
Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer VinFast recorded robust revenue growth in its unaudited Q4 and 2024 financial statements, driven by strong vehicle deliveries despite global market uncertainties.
Companies - Sat, April 26, 2025 | 8:28 am GMT+7
Vietnam’s first rice husk-fueled biomass power plant inaugurated
A biomass power plant using rice husk and woodchips as fuel was inaugurated on Friday in Vietnam's Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang.
Southeast Asia - Fri, April 25, 2025 | 11:13 pm GMT+7
Bestway International launches $300 mln plant in southern Vietnam
Chinese group Bestway International has launched a $300 million investment project in Vietnam's southern city of Can Tho, signaling a significant boost in large-scale foreign investment for the Mekong Delta region.
Southeast Asia - Fri, April 25, 2025 | 11:10 pm GMT+7
Indonesia accelerates tariff talks with US
Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto has met with U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent to promote tariff talks with the U.S.
Southeast Asia - Fri, April 25, 2025 | 11:06 pm GMT+7