According to GGRAsia, a soft launch of the first phase of a new multi-billion dollar casino resort being backed by Suncity Group Holdings in Vietnam is coming this fall. The resort, called Hoiana, is located in Hoi An on Vietnam’s central coast and phase one includes three hotels, a condo-hotel complex with 270 units dubbed the Hoiana Residence and an 18-hole golf course.

Suncity Executive Director Andrew Lo Kai Bong told GGRAsia, “We expect it [the first phase] to open in October, and by then basically 90 percent of the first-phase content will be launched – such as the golf course, and hotels. But that should be a soft opening. We’ve aimed a grand [full] opening of it before the Chinese New Year period in 2020.”

The complex is being built by VinaCapital Group, an asset management firm belonging to Vietnam-based Hoi An South Development Ltd., and a subsidiary of Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Ltd. out of Hong Kong. Suncity became involved last August when it acquired a 34% stake in the project.

When the casino opens, locals will unfortunately not be allowed. Vietnam is currently running a pilot program at one casino, the Corona Resort in the country – with one more to be added – that allows locals to gamble. However, Hoiana will have to wait until the end of the two-year trial ends before a determination is made if locals will be allowed to gamble in casinos.