The only casino in Vietnam that permits locals to gamble alongside foreign tourists has reportedly partially re-opened after being temporarily shuttered on March 31 in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to a Sunday report from Inside Asian Gaming, the 3,000-room Corona Resort and Casino began welcoming customers again on April 21 following a three-week coronavirus-related lockdown but is now only able to operate for twelve hours a day beginning from six o’clock every evening.

Revised regulations:

Inside Asian Gaming cited Goran Milosheski, General Manager for the 211-acre Corona Resort and Casino, as detailing that his venue is also currently required to abide by new government social distancing rules that prohibit any more than 30 people from simultaneously occupying the same general area of an establishment.

Optimistic outlook:

However, Vietnam has suffered only 288 recorded cases of coronavirus infections with Milosheski reportedly declaring that the property located on the southern tropical island of Phu Quoc is now ‘waiting for more information from the government’ but expects the verdict on its post-pandemic re-opening ‘to be positive.’

Pilot program:

The $2.1 billion Corona Resort and Casino was reportedly opened in January of last year and is currently operated by Dutch firm Uppfinity Gaming Management BV. The venue is purportedly one of three to have been selected to take part in a special three-year trial that sees Vietnamese nationals permitted to gamble so long as they can meet a range of strict criteria including a minimum monthly salary of $433.

The remaining pair of Vietnamese-friendly casinos, which include one being developed near Hanoi alongside a second for the Van Don Special Administrative Economic Zone, have yet to open while the nation’s foreigner-only Aristo International Hotel from Sydney-listed Donaco International Limited is said to have extended its coronavirus-induced closure period ‘until further notice.’