Vietnam Considering Expanding Casino Industry on Newly-Electrified Islands

Newly electrified islands may offer an opportunity for Vietnam’s gambling industry to expand.

The central island of Ly Son and an islet off its coast would be the perfect place to build new casinos in Vietnam, experts say. A high-ranking banker and a senior economist have urged officials to turn the now electrified islands into a casino and tourism destination, local gambling news has reported.

“The 69-hectare Be Island should be set aside for a high-end entertainment area with five star hotels and casinos to attract tourists for long holiday visits,” Tran Bac Ha, chairman of Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam suggested at a national conference.

“I believe that Ly Son can become the silver island of the central region in a near future,” he added.

A new development plan for Ly Son and Be

Under the current Vietnamese gambling laws, casinos are built exclusively for tourists. Clearly the country’s gambling industry has great potential for growth, but with better policies the two islands of Ly Son and Be could become the next big destination for players and regular tourists alike.

The islands comprise of about 10 square kilometers of land, off the coast of the Quang Ngai Province. More than 21,000 residents live here and most of them work as fishermen and garlic farmers.

Experts present at the conference called for the government’s support in creating an efficient development plan for the area. One of them said an airport and docks should be built on the islands. Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc promised to forward the proposals to the central government.