Vietnam’s The Grand Ho Tram resort casino in Ba Ria–Vung Tau Province officially broke ground on a significant US$1 billion expansion project, marking a major milestone in the development of the southern coastal area as a luxury tourism and hospitality hub. The new addition, spread across 35 hectares in Xuyen Moc District, will feature more than 6,000 rooms and is expected to accommodate up to 18,000 guests daily upon completion.

Major investment aims to establish Vietnam’s premier integrated resort:

The expansion will introduce a five-star hotel complex, luxury villas, entertainment facilities, a casino, and an international convention and exhibition center. This development is a continuation of The Grand Ho Tram’s master plan to extend its total footprint to 164 hectares, growing from its original launch in 2013.

The project is a collaborative effort between Lodgis Hospitality Holdings—a joint venture of U.S.-based private equity firm Warburg Pincus and Vietnamese investment group VinaCapital—and VinaLiving, VinaCapital’s real estate development brand. Warburg Pincus acquired majority ownership of The Grand Ho Tram in 2019 and has actively supported the resort’s growth strategy.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by key government officials, including Nguyen Van Nen, Politburo member and Party secretary of Ho Chi Minh City, alongside provincial leaders and representatives from the development partners.

The Grand Ho Tram’s CEO, Walt Power, who brings extensive experience from Macau’s casino industry, expressed confidence in the project’s potential. He remarked, “We firmly believe that Ho Tram will not only be Vietnam’s leading integrated resort destination but will also be able to compete with top regional destinations such as Singapore, Manila, and Macau, particularly as we work closely with authorities at all levels to explore new growth drivers.”

Focus on luxury, events, and regional connectivity:

Currently, The Grand Ho Tram features a casino open exclusively to foreigners, alongside the golf course designed by Greg Norman, and several hotel facilities. The resort’s casino has yet to gain approval to allow local Vietnamese guests, a regulatory challenge it continues to address.

Power highlighted the resort’s strategy of leveraging events and conventions to attract a broad clientele, particularly from Ho Chi Minh City’s expatriate community and international visitors from Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. “We are an event-driven property,” he said, citing recent professional boxing matches, mixed martial arts events, VIP dinners, fashion shows, and beauty pageants as part of their regular offerings.

Ongoing infrastructure developments are poised to enhance the area’s accessibility. Several new expressways are underway or planned, connecting Ho Chi Minh City, Bien Hoa City, Long Thanh District, and Ho Tram Town, which will reduce travel times significantly. According to Tuổi Trẻ, one key project is the planned expressway linking Long Thanh International Airport with Ho Tram, slated to begin construction in September under a public-private partnership model.

Authorities also noted potential administrative changes that could integrate Ba Ria–Vung Tau Province more closely into the Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan region, further boosting the resort’s attractiveness to tourists.

Tourism remains a vital sector for Ba Ria–Vung Tau Province’s economy. Nguyen Van Tho, chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting large-scale investments in tourism and hospitality.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has set ambitious targets for the industry, aiming for tourism to contribute as much as 17 percent of the nation’s GDP by 2030. The Grand Ho Tram’s expansion is aligned with this vision, enhancing the country’s profile as a regional luxury resort destination.

With this new phase, The Grand Ho Tram aims to reach around 9,000 hotel keys, solidifying its position as a top contender in the Asian integrated resort market.