The project will span around 244 hectares in Vạn Yên Commune. Of this, 182.4 hectares will be allocated for development, while 62.1 hectares will be reserved for natural forest. The resort is expected to feature a casino alongside hotels, apartments, retail, office towers, and conference centres, turning Van Don into a central destination hub.

Construction in three phases 

The operating licence has been granted for 70 years, with a projected nine-year construction timeline. As per the official announcement, the resort is expected to open its doors in 2032. Construction is likely to occur in three phases, with a total estimated cost of VND 51.5 trillion (approximately €1.8 billion).

Nguyen Quang Huy, the Chairman of Sun Group Northern Region, shared: “We are honored to have been entrusted with this landmark development. Sun Group pledges to mobilize our full resources and apply the highest standards of planning, architecture, and operations in order to deliver an integrated tourism and entertainment complex that fully reflects the historic potential of Van Don and the extraordinary heritage value of Quang Ninh.”

The initial phase will require an investment of VND 25.1 trillion (€850 million), followed by VND 22.1 trillion (€750 million) in the second, and VND 4.3 trillion (€145 million) in the final stage. Of the total, VND7.7 trillion (approximately €260 million) must be sourced from investor equity, with the remainder financed through bank loans.

Authorities estimate that the project could contribute nearly VND 229 trillion (approximately €8.5 billion) in taxes over its lifetime, including corporate and value-added taxes. It is also being positioned as a key driver for the newly designated Van Don special administrative zone, expected to create thousands of jobs and improve infrastructure.

Locals allowed to play? 

One of the most significant elements of the project is the possibility that locals may be allowed to gamble at the Van Don casino. Vietnamese citizens are generally barred from entering casinos, but the Ministry of Finance has proposed a pilot programme permitting local participation under strict regulations. A similar trial involving the Corona Resort & Casino in Phu Quoc ended in December 2024.

If approved, Van Don would become the second legal venue in the country where Vietnamese nationals are permitted to gamble. The Ministry has also recommended that the Prime Minister authorise the provincial government of Quảng Ninh to oversee the investment and land allocation process.

The Van Don resort is seen as a strategic step at a time when neighbouring countries, including Thailand, are exploring legalisation of casinos. The government sees growing competition in the region, with Singapore, Macau, and the Philippines already established as gaming destinations.

At the same time, the country continues to take a hard line against illegal betting. In recent months, police have dismantled an unlawful crypto gambling ring, arresting several individuals, including four siblings accused of operating the scheme.

The Van Don project, which was initially proposed by the Quảng Ninh Provincial People’s Committee, now carries heightened significance. If everything goes as planned, Van Don may transform Vietnam’s approach to regulated gaming and boost its reputation as a rapidly growing tourism hotspot in Asia.