Vietnam: Sun Group approved to build $2 billion casino resort in Quang Ninh

Vietnamese developer Sun Group has been granted approval to construct a US$2 billion integrated resort in Quang Ninh Province, a project that will include a casino open to locals under a revised regulatory framework.

The Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee confirmed that Don Sun Joint Stock Company, a subsidiary of Sun Group, has been designated to carry out the project. The resort will be developed on a 244.5-hectare site within the Van Don Economic Zone, with 182.4 hectares allocated for construction and 62.1 hectares preserved as natural forest.

The initiative had previously received in-principle support from Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh following a recommendation by the Ministry of Finance. Sun Group stated that the “Van Don Integrated Casino & Tourism Complex” will require more than US$2 billion in total investment, funded through equity, loans, and other mobilized sources. The development term has been approved for up to 70 years.

Construction is scheduled over nine years, beginning once the land allocation and lease are finalized. The project will be rolled out in three stages, with the first phase valued at VND25.1 trillion (US$964 million), the second at VND22.1 trillion (US$849 million), and the third at VND4.3 trillion (US$165 million).

Beyond casino operations, the complex will feature luxury hotels and resorts, condotels, shophouses, retail and commercial centers, large-scale convention and exhibition facilities, international-standard sports and recreation amenities, and premium wellness and healthcare services. It is also expected to host art performances, cultural shows, and 24-hour entertainment.

The development will revive Vietnam’s experiment with allowing locals to gamble, following the conclusion of a pilot program earlier this year. Only one property, the Corona Resort & Casino on Phu Quoc island, had previously admitted Vietnamese citizens under the trial, which was stalled by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Reports indicate that the revised model will replace financial qualification checks with an entry levy of VND2.5 million (around US$100) for 24-hour access or VND50 million (around US$2,000) for a month’s access.

Nguyen Quang Huy, chairman of Sun Group Northern Region, said: “We believe this project will create unprecedented experiences for guests, while making a significant contribution to Quang Ninh’s economy and driving the Van Don Economic Zone forward to become a new benchmark of tourism and entertainment in Vietnam.”

The company noted that the Van Don project had been officially approved by the prime minister in late June. It emphasized ambitions to position the resort alongside international destinations such as Macau and Las Vegas, strengthening both Quang Ninh’s and Vietnam’s status in the global tourism and leisure market.

Sun Group has played a key role in Quang Ninh’s infrastructure and tourism development, with previous projects including Van Don International Airport, Ha Long International Cruise Port, the Ha Long–Van Don and Van Don–Mong Cai expressways, and attractions such as Sun World Ha Long and Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh.