Inside Asian Gaming

May 2010 | INSIDE ASIAN GAMING 39 The fact the USD168 million “facility” complete with a 600-room hotel, high-end villas, and a convention centre also reportedly contains ten plus tables for blackjack, roulette and baccarat and flies in Chinese tourists from Guangzhou twice a week to be“entertained” is neither here nor there. The resort operators have—according to a report in VietNamNet Bridge —recently upset lawmakers in the country (not to mention an Australian casino company) by allowing it to be advertised to the outside world under the name ‘Crowne International Casino’. As comical as this hair splitting is for outsiders, it does hint at the internal debate still going on in Vietnam about the very concept of casinos. Our sources say the Vietnamese government doesn’t yet have a draft law on allowing locals in casinos. And some of the communist old guard within the government are reportedly strongly against it. It may be a question of waiting for these senior veterans of the Vietnam War to die or retire from politics before much can happen. The fact Hồ Chí Minh—credited with founding the current Vietnamese state—was 79 when he died in office (as president of then North Vietnam) means the casino liberalisation lobby could be in for a considerable wait. Feature MGM Grand Ho Tram Resort and Casino MGM Grand Resort and Casino, Ho Tram will be a five- star integrated resort and entertainment destination offering guests a premier hospitality experience. The MGM Grand Ho Tram, slated to be among Vietnam’s most luxurious resorts, will be constructed in two phases over the course of approximately three years. The spectacular luxury hotel rooms will be enhanced by a variety of retail, upscale food and beverage establishments, luxurious spa facility and state-of-the-art gaming facilities, creating an unrivalled vacation experience. In 2012, the five-star MGM Grand Ho Tram plans to open its doors offering 550 luxury guest rooms, a full spectrum of world- class amenities, a conference center and a fully operational gaming area consisting of 90 live table games and 500 electronic games. The initial stage of the MGM Grand Ho Tram will include the first tower of 492 deluxe rooms, 52 executive and one- bedroom suites, 4 luxury suites and 2 presidential suites in a contemporary Asian design blending traditional serenity with modern luxury. It is planned that by 2013, MGM Grand Ho Tram will open a new tower containing an additional 550 guest rooms, along with 14 high-end private villas. Also to be added will be 500 electronic table games, bringing that total to 1,000 when the second stage of the resort is complete. In total, the MGM Grand Ho Tram will offer 1,114 five-star hotel rooms, including suites and villas. MGM Grand Resort and Casino, Ho Tram Amenities • Five-star luxury hotel with 492 rooms and 58 suites • High-end retail shopping • Food and beverage facilities that are a destination unto themselves, including a combination of contemporary restaurants along with celebrity chef restaurants • Live entertainment • Landscaped gardens and spectacular water features • Exclusive pool with beach cabanas and pool bar • Gaming floor with approximately 10,000 square metres of public area featuring: • 90 table games providing Baccarat, Blackjack, Sic Bo, Pai Gow, and Poker • 500 slot machines/electronic table games • An exclusive VIP area, serviced by tour groups and junket operators, with private lounges and terrace gaming rooms. • Loyalty VIP lounge and registration facility MGM Grand Ho Tram Resort and Casino renderings