Ho Chi Minh City proposes to open casinos. Source freepik.com

On May 17, Ho Chi Minh City asked the city's National Assembly delegation to open casinos at hotels and large-scale tourist places.

The project is based on the government's policy to develop the night-time economy in Vietnam, as approved by the prime minister in August 2020, which allows some activities to run overnight until 6am of the next day in some major tourist cities and zones.

The project aims to exploit the potential of the night-time economy in Vietnam to promote overall economic growth, improving incomes for residents while limiting risks and negative impacts on political security, social order, and safety

Ho Chi Minh City is one of the key tourist areas allowed to extend the opening hours for night-time activities, along with Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Haiphong, Danang, Hoi An, Thua-Thien Hue, Can Tho, Da Lat, and Phu Quoc.

Relating to casinos, in February this year,the Ministry of Finance proposed that the government extends thecasino pilot programme until 2024, but so far the government’s final decision has not been made.

The pilot allows Vietnamese nationals to play in casinos, which were previously the domain of foreign nationals only.

Vietnam is home to eight official casinos, most of which are small in scale. Since March 2017, Vietnamese people who are at least 21 years old are allowed to play in casinos on Phu Quoc Island in the south and Van Don in the north.