Resort is not playing its cards right

Under the investment licence No.2581/GP dated June 21, 2006 by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), Silver Shores Hoang Dat Exceptional International Entertainment Joint Venture Company (Silver Shores Hoang Dat), owner of the resort, was allowed to build an entertainment facility for foreigners, but not a casino.

The entertainment facility could include slot machines and eight table games of blackjack, roulette and baccarat. However, outside the resort it is advertised as a casino under the name of Crowne International Casino. Inside the facility, Silver Shores Hoang Dat set up more than 10 tables of blackjack, roulette and baccarat.

An MPI source said the investor could only run an entertainment facility for foreigners, but not a casino.

“Using the name casino instead of exceptional entertainment facility for foreigners is against the business content permitted under its investment certification. We have inspected the resort and see some wrong things at this foreign-invested project. The investor is seriously breaking Vietnamese law,” the source said.

The $168 million resort has a 600-room hotel, high-end villas, a convention centre and an exceptional entertainment facility. In January, it launched its exceptional entertainment facility and put around 200 hotel rooms into operation.

Most of the tourists staying at Silver Shores International Resort come from Guangzhou, China through China Southern Airlines’ new twice-weekly service between Danang and Guangzhou.

The MPI source said the launching of the exceptional entertainment facility also make Silver Shores Hoang Dat violate regulations written in investment licence.

According to the investment licence, Silver Shores Hoang Dat cannot operate the exceptional entertainment facility before completing the hotel, villas and a convention centre.

The MPI recently sent documents urging Danang People’s Committee to inspect and ask Silver Shores Hoang Dat to stop operating the entertainment facility until the construction of other facilities like the hotel, convention centre and villas are completed.

Vietnam Investment Review

Tags: Vietnam resorts