ASSOCIATED PRESS
4:03 a.m. December 29, 2003
HANOI, Vietnam – Vietnam's Ministry of Planning and Investment has said "Viva Las Vegas!" to a proposal for the communist country's largest-ever resort and casino – but now it's up to the prime minister to place his bet on the venture, an official said Monday.
The proposed $1 billion Las Vegas-style project would cover 1,112 acres, including 1.2 miles of beach on the Co Co River in Quang Nam province, 590 miles south of the capital, Hanoi, an official said.
The five-star Vina Las Vegas resort would be backed by U.S. companies Global C&D Inc. and Lehman Brothers Inc., said the official from the provincial department of planning and investment.
It would include 8,000 to 10,000 luxury hotel rooms, four casinos, a golf course, apartment complex and convention center, the official said on condition of anonymity.
The plan was submitted to the Ministry of Planning and Investment in September, and must get the green light from Prime Minister Phan Van Khai before studies for the project can be started, the official said.
Vietnam now has only one casino, in the northern resort town of Do Son, where limited gambling is offered only to foreigners. Most gambling is illegal in Vietnam.
Quang Nam is home to two UNESCO world cultural heritage sites – the ancient town of Hoi An and the ruins of the towers of Cham
4:03 a.m. December 29, 2003
HANOI, Vietnam – Vietnam's Ministry of Planning and Investment has said "Viva Las Vegas!" to a proposal for the communist country's largest-ever resort and casino – but now it's up to the prime minister to place his bet on the venture, an official said Monday.
The proposed $1 billion Las Vegas-style project would cover 1,112 acres, including 1.2 miles of beach on the Co Co River in Quang Nam province, 590 miles south of the capital, Hanoi, an official said.
The five-star Vina Las Vegas resort would be backed by U.S. companies Global C&D Inc. and Lehman Brothers Inc., said the official from the provincial department of planning and investment.
It would include 8,000 to 10,000 luxury hotel rooms, four casinos, a golf course, apartment complex and convention center, the official said on condition of anonymity.
The plan was submitted to the Ministry of Planning and Investment in September, and must get the green light from Prime Minister Phan Van Khai before studies for the project can be started, the official said.
Vietnam now has only one casino, in the northern resort town of Do Son, where limited gambling is offered only to foreigners. Most gambling is illegal in Vietnam.
Quang Nam is home to two UNESCO world cultural heritage sites – the ancient town of Hoi An and the ruins of the towers of Cham
