In 2007, the project on developing a dog racetrack in Xuan Thanh commune registered by Xuan Thanh Greyhound Racing JSC received an investment registration certificate from the Ha Tinh provincial People’s Committee. 

In December 2014, the project received a certificate on investment adjustment for the first time.

The project covers an area of 29,000 sq m and has an operation duration of 49 years with total investment capital of VND300 billion.

The project kicked off in April 2007 and construction completed in December 2014. It aims to popularizing greyhound racing in Vietnam to attract travelers to HaT inh.

In March 2007, Ha Tinh authorities released a decision approving the detailed planning of the project. Just one month later, the decision on leasing land to the project was made. In 2020, the provincial authorities allowed the investor to shift the land leasing payment mode from annual pay to one-time pay.

As the construction ran smoothly as planned, the project was scheduled to be put into a trial run in December 2014.

In 2017, all items of the project were completed, including canteens, grandstand, veterinary house, toilets, dog kennels, ticket sales houses, gates, dog racing tracks, and machinery and equipment procurement.

The investor planned to open 76 betting centers outside the racetrack in cities and provinces from the second year after it was put into operation.

However, seven years after the construction ended, the racetrack is still not operational because of administrative procedures. The investor still needs to follow other procedures to be eligible to do dog race betting.

According to Ha Tinh authorities, investors can only carry out prize-winning dog race activities if they can obtain a license from competent agencies in accordance with the laws.

The problem is that Ha Tinh still has not got the nod from the PM to add the project to the list of priority projects in the 2021-2030 period.

The Ha Tinh Department of Planning and Investment said the project should be added to the Ha Tinh’s socio-economic development overall planning by 2020, or the Ha Tinh development planning in 2021-2030. Also, the project needs to get the PM’s agreement on the investment as stipulated by the 2014 Law on Investment.

Le Tran Sang, deputy director of the Ha Tinh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said it is necessary to await the circular that guides the implementation of Decree 06 (January 2017) on betting businesses.

Thien Luong