Casinos built for other people
Vietnam's casinos were licensed on the condition that Vietnamese nationals could not use them. The floors exist for foreign passport holders and for regional tourism, in the same pattern Cambodia and South Korea use, where the revenue is welcome and the local player is not.
A pilot, extended and extended
Decree 03/2017 opened a three-year trial letting Vietnamese citizens in, subject to being 21 or over and demonstrating a monthly income above a threshold. In practice only one venue delivered it: Corona Phu Quoc, from January 2019. The trial period was then extended more than once, with the pandemic given as the reason.
It has since widened rather than ended. Ho Tram was admitted to the scheme for five years from 26 November 2025, and Van Don for five years from the date its casino eligibility certificate is issued. Fifteen years after the first Vietnamese casino, whether citizens may play in their own country is still an experiment with an end date.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can Vietnamese citizens gamble in Vietnam?
- Only at the venues inside the pilot scheme, and only if they are 21 or over and can show a monthly income above the threshold set by Decree 03/2017.
- Which casinos admit locals?
- Corona Phu Quoc since January 2019, Ho Tram from 26 November 2025 for five years, and Van Don for five years from the issue of its eligibility certificate.
- Can foreign visitors gamble in Vietnam?
- Yes. The casinos were licensed for foreign passport holders in the first place, and that has not changed.
Legal age, regulator and the tax treatment of player winnings on this page were checked against the regulator's own material or a reputable legal summary in August 2026. Gambling law moves; confirm anything consequential with the regulator before relying on it. Where sources disagreed, this site leaves the figure out rather than guessing.