Ho Tram approval set to reshape Vietnam’s gaming landscape and redirect regional player flows: Expert
Summary
Vietnam has authorised local play at The Grand Ho Tram as part of Resolution No. 307/2025/NQ-CP, a move industry experts say is a turning point for the nation’s regulated casino market. The decision grants permanent local entry to Corona Resort & Casino and launches five-year pilot programmes at Ho Tram and Van Don, expanding domestic access beyond the initial 2017 pilot scheme.
Tim Nguyen, director of Fortuna Investments, calls the approval a structural milestone that will unlock a domestic player base close to Ho Chi Minh City, redirect players who previously crossed into Cambodia, and attract renewed international investor interest. Ho Tram — already Vietnam’s most established integrated resort and undergoing a US$1 billion expansion — is expected to become the southern anchor of Vietnam’s integrated-resort market. Local-entry rules under Decree 03/2017 (age, income and family consent requirements, plus entry fees) remain in force and regulatory monitoring will stay strict.
Key Points
- The government’s Resolution No. 307/2025 expands domestic casino access: Corona gets permanent local entry; Ho Tram and Van Don enter five-year pilot programmes.
- Ho Tram’s proximity to Ho Chi Minh City means a sizeable domestic market that previously travelled to Cambodia may be retained domestically.
- Local-entry remains governed by Decree 03/2017: players must be 21+, meet income and family-consent rules, and buy daily or monthly passes.
- The Grand Ho Tram is mid-way through a ~US$1bn expansion that will significantly increase hotel capacity and amenities.
- Approval is being viewed as a policy signal that Vietnam is preparing to develop regulated integrated resorts similar to Singapore or the Philippines, which may draw international operators and investors.
- If pilot results show strong tax returns and responsible-gaming compliance, further local-entry approvals could be considered for Da Nang, Hanoi and Van Don.
- Van Don’s large-scale integrated-resort project (VND51.5 trillion concession) is expected to benefit from its inclusion in the pilot scheme, improving investor confidence ahead of construction.
Why should I read this?
Short version: this changes the game. If you care about where Vietnamese players spend money, where operators will invest, or how regional flows shift, this is the headline move that starts that story. It means more domestic demand, less outbound traffic to Cambodia, and a clearer signal that Vietnam wants regulated, large-scale resorts. Worth a quick read if you don’t want to be surprised by the next wave of deals and planning.
Author’s take
Punchy: This is more than a policy tweak — it’s a market pivot. Ho Tram opening properly to locals is likely to accelerate IR investment, boost southern tourism, and force competitors across the border to reassess their catchment strategies. For investors and operators, the pilot is now the key test: strong revenue and controls could unlock the rest of Vietnam as a mainstream IR market.
