The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has reported to the Prime Minister about the results of the appraisal of the Van Don casino complex project located in Van Don Economic Zone in Quang Ninh, and proposed approving the project.

This is the latest appraisal report as the documents about the project submitted by Quang Ninh authorities in the statement in January 2023 showed different factors in terms of location, land use area, and investment capital compared with the documents which the ministry had appraised and reported to the Prime Minister in the dispatches released before.

Under the latest proposal by Quang Ninh People’s Committee, Van Don casino complex will be set up in Van Yen commune of Van Don district, covering an area of 244.45 hectares. The land use duration for the project is 70 years from the day of land allocation. Of this, the land area for the project implementation is 182.37 hectares and the natural forest area is 62.08 hectares.

The forestland is within the scope of project implementation. According to Quang Ninh province, it will be kept intact and managed according to the provisions of the forestry law.

The total investment capital of the project is $2.1 billion, which doesn’t include expenses on compensation for site clearance and re-settlement support.

It is expected that the time needed to build the project will be nine years, from the fourth quarter 2023 to the end of the third quarter 2032.

According to Quang Ninh authorities, it will be a high-end integrated resort and entertainment complex for prize-winning electronic games and events of international stature. Its major activities will include a casino, real estate, tourism services, hotel and resort villas.

The casino will be open to both foreign and Vietnamese. 

MPI affirmed that the development of two casino projects in Phu Quoc City of Kien Giang province and the casino in Van Don, open to Vietnamese, has the Politburo’s agreement in principle.

Regarding investor selection, the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) said it is subject to both categories - organizing bids to choose investors with land usage in accordance with the laws on bidding, and organizing auctions for land use rights in accordance with the laws.

Quang Ninh authorities want to choose investors through bidding. Therefore, MPI has requested the local authorities to clarify the fact that there are not enough conditions to auction land use rights in accordance with Article 119 of the Land Law.

Hong Khanh