Phuket Thailand - TTG Asia: Vietnam to get first US-style casino-resort

Mr Lucky · #1 12-04-2007, 02:35

Watch out, Thailand. Vietnam is set to kick your ass. Found this article in a travel industry newsletter I get (TTG Asia):

Quote:

Vietnam to get first US-style casino-resort
Ho Chi Minh City (2007-04-11)

VIETNAM Casino City in Vung Tau province, Vietnam's first luxury gaming resort with five themed casinos and a Greg Norman-designed golf course, has begun construction.

Site plans include an arts and entertainment district with several theatres, museums and a cultural centre. The total development cost of the project is projected to be US$4 billion.

The first phase will include 1,200 hotel rooms, a 7,200m2 Las Vegas-style table games casino, 10 restaurants, an 8-acre swimming pool, and a 200-acre golf course and country club. It will cost US$500 million and is expected to be completed by late 2009.

The full project is expected to have a total gross floor area of about 1.5 million square metres, built along white-sand beaches in Xuyen Moc, Vung Tau province, a two-hour drive east of Ho Chi Minh City.

If Thailand doesn't get its s**t together, it's going to lose its tourist business to neighbouring countries. This is just one example of other SE Asian nations stepping up to the plate.

Dodger · #2 12-04-2007, 10:48

Mr Lucky I beleive Thailand has already done this, chosen asite in Phuket Town and have cleared it for work to commence soon. However saying that, I agree with you Thailand will loose its supposed edge over its neighbours with Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia coming up very fast on the rails and set to out pace Thailand as number one tourist spot very soon. Then when its too late Thailand will note what they have lost and react, hopefully. I heard the casino move was to counter act the dependance on western tourist and hopefuilly attract more rich asians, indians and arabs, who love to gamble.

Nautilus · #3 12-04-2007, 10:51

Gambling and pretty Vietnamese girls...wow!!!

K2 · #4 12-04-2007, 10:55

Dodger the mega project east of Phuket City has been scaled back and in any case there has been no approval for casino's in Thailand - even the island one they were proposing.

Two years back Prince of Songkla Uni were forced to scrap a Master's module they were running for would be casino managers. Legalising gambling remains a distant prospect so in the meantime Malaysia, Sing, Macao, VN, Cambo, Phils and even Burma can cash in. Another opportunity lost on what would be a very nice little earner for the government here!

Mr Lucky · #5 12-04-2007, 11:47

It's probably good that Thailand won't have casinos, knowing how much Thais gamble already.

The significant thing to me was Vietnam's US$4billion investment in tourism. And it sounds as though they've put some forethought and planning into it.

LivinLOS · #6 12-04-2007, 12:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dodger

Mr Lucky I beleive Thailand has already done this, chosen asite in Phuket Town and have cleared it for work to commence soon. However saying that, I agree with you Thailand will loose its supposed edge over its neighbours with Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia coming up very fast on the rails and set to out pace Thailand as number one tourist spot very soon. Then when its too late Thailand will note what they have lost and react, hopefully. I heard the casino move was to counter act the dependance on western tourist and hopefuilly attract more rich asians, indians and arabs, who love to gamble.

As K2 said.. All the multi billion baht proposals have been scrapped as they wont issue licensing.. This is one area where knowing Thais propensity to gamble I have to think they may be right in, even if it will allow other nations to claim the business..

As to Vietnam I have to get up there and explore.. Even with its semi commie governance people are telling me the biz climate is really improving, the country is in boom times, and the tourist areas are doing great and attracting more and more people..

With these increasing difficulty that is the current visa situation its wise to keep all options very much on the table..

Mr Lucky · #7 12-04-2007, 23:28

I often hear one thing that Vietnam lacks is the extensive nightlife that Thailand offers. It's there, but much more behind closed doors.

Ironically, this may get them the very thing that the TAT is lusting for....those elusive 'quality high-end tourists and families'.

Bello Uomo · #8 14-04-2007, 10:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Lucky

I often hear one thing that Vietnam lacks is the extensive nightlife that Thailand offers. It's there, but much more behind closed doors.

Absolutely right. I was there last year and can confirm that!

I was astounded by the amount of construction activity occuring in Vietnam. It really is a "mini China" in some respects. The economy is going gangbusters, and they are only just getting on to the tourism bandwagon.

Their tourism infrastructure still has some considerable way to go, but this is an example of the direction they're taking.

Cheers.

ATMwalking · #9 14-04-2007, 10:33

If they add nightlife, then they would have a home run over night. Much more foreign business friendly. Know some people that are doing quite well over there.

LivinLOS · #10 14-04-2007, 12:12

When we say nightlife.. Do we mean prostitution ??

would we think it would do well if it had a vibrant busy friendly nightlife bar scene and clubs (all of which I could imagine it could get rapidly if thier economy does well) but didnt have a girl scene ??

Mr Lucky · #11 14-04-2007, 22:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

When we say nightlife.. Do we mean prostitution ??

would we think it would do well if it had a vibrant busy friendly nightlife bar scene and clubs (all of which I could imagine it could get rapidly if thier economy does well) but didnt have a girl scene ??

Do we need answers to these questions or are we being rhetorical?

LivinLOS · #12 15-04-2007, 00:21

Only partly...

If I found a place had a vibrant nightlife.. Good bars and clubs.. I could make myself quite happy there.. Add in cheap cost of living.. Tropical climate.. friendly people..

I quite honestly think it was the nightlife and fun that I came here for not the girls.. I moved here with wifey, was totally 100% monogamous for years.. So girls didnt effect my choice then.. I am not so on the straight and narrow with current one but its only one of the treasons to be here not 'the' reason to be here..

Mr Lucky · #13 15-04-2007, 00:36

I catch your drift LLOS. If Vietnam had clubs full of fun girls who may or may not be on the game, but no gogos and no open street scene - Thailand would start to look pretty sleazy by comparison. Punters might start heading to Vietnam for their GFE.

LivinLOS · #14 15-04-2007, 01:32

Yeah I would feel that if it had a fun bar scene.. Some nightclub action.. Some expats to communicate with and blow the froth off a few.. It could compete very easily and yet not be fully pest friendly...

Being asia I am sure that there would be some low key options.. And I would suspect that like most asia hooking up with local girls for non P4P would not be any harder than elsewhere..

Jut kinda mulling on what Mark26 has stated a few times that if it wasnt for the girls people wouldnt come here or wouldnt forgive its failings.. And while I certainly enjoy a loose moralled weekend every once in a while, really its the party vibe (which is a damn site less than it was 5 years ago) that drew me here.. That and climate food cost of living etc..

Malaysia is open arms for long stay expats but due to religion issues not much fun.. Cambodia is the other side of the spectrum but kinda lawless and no hospital worth a damn, bad services and utilities, roads etc.. Seems to me Vietnam along with all its other booming economics really is in a position to take that much desired 'quality tourist' right from under Thailands nose. However the reports people give me is it needs a little more 'fun' to crack that. All said tho booming countries can become fun very quickly, disposable income and population feeling like they are getting richer seems a combo that often leads to high social activity.

ATMwalking · #15 15-04-2007, 09:10

I guess I would say you need at least the party vibe to draw people in. Compare Samui with Phuket and there was a lot less P4P on Samui but still has a solid party feel. Malaysia (in my experience) has some clubs and all, but doesn't have a party feel. That is why I think Malaysia will pick up from Thailand but won't.

Thailand will keep riding off inertia for the next 5 years.

LivinLOS · #16 15-04-2007, 09:16

its a funny thing trying to work out how much of the party vibe is the fact there are young willing women around.. its something that lifts everyones spirits.. It lets people let thier hair down kinda thing.. So even if its not the P4P aspect it may be the fact that there is a P4P aspect that has an effect..

Also my mind may be clouded by being in a P4P area for so long that you start to think its not needed as its become so normal.. Maybe take it away and i would miss it more than I think I would. Certainly I have had some experiences and nights playing the rockstar angle that would be hard to duplicate.

Then theres also the aspect of 'sanuk' being so deeply ingrained in the thai psyche.. Maybe thats unique (dont really think so.. Have seen it elsewhere too)..

ATMwalking · #17 15-04-2007, 10:24

I think you are hitting on something. If you go to Phuket town, it is still very fun, but there are rules in effect. In Patong you get the feeling of no rules and total mayhem party mode. Then they make you feel like the party is for you. You don't get that in town. So any other country would need to replicate that feeling.

randy1 · #18 16-04-2007, 08:07

Sef, what do you attribute the decline of the "party feel" in los to?

LivinLOS · #19 16-04-2007, 10:23

The biggest change happened in the Purachi era when the first closing time scene came in.. Also the demographic of visitors was very different..

IIRC my fist Thai tours were only +- 7 / 8 years ago.. The shark club was rocking, Soi easy was a dark cavelike place where you got mobbed in the shadows, there was no dragon above it, the area behind Tai Pan had a warren of bars (and a pizza slice joint you often found yourself at at 6am).. Valhallas pool parties in those days are a thing of Legend.. I dont even think Soi Tiger existed on my first tour.. You were eating BBQ fish and Issan salad (where have all the good 'real' Thai food stalls gone.. I miss them) after the bars not burgers.. There wasnt the brightly lit formica western fast food places..

Theres a good chance part of it was the 'new factor' of Thailand but it was much more 3rd world, more home built looking, that bit shabbier.. But it was more rocking until dawn, mad gogo's, etc.. The demographic of the visitor was more adventurous, maybe that bit crazier..

Living here is much easier these days.. I sit here with broadband that while I complain mostly works.. We have cinemas and malls.. The hospitals are better than the public ones back in the UK.. There is a selection of brightly lit formica western fast food chains.. But the influx of the couples, families, package tourists etc and the ease with which people can get here and be catered to means the type of visitor is not so nuts... Just feels much more sanitized and western than it did then.

Mr Lucky · #20 16-04-2007, 13:10

Damn! Sorry I missed the old days. Sounds awesome!

You're right about Thai hospitals...my wife is working in a US hospital now. She came home one day and said, "If I ever get sick, take me back to Thailand!"