Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved the development of tourism projects that include casino components on Phu Quoc Island, which is under the administration of southern Kien Giang province, local Tuoi Tre News reported Tuesday.

The prime minister has assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment to coordinate with the provincial authorities and relevant state agencies to explore the details for the establishment of such projects in accordance with regulations.

In its plan for developing Phu Quoc island into a special economic zone, the province has set aside an area of 30,000 square meters for building casinos with 200 to 400 roulette tables and 2, 000 gaming machines, in addition to conference centers and an international five-star hotel with 3,000 rooms.

Phu Quoc Island is located off the western coast of the Mekong Delta Kien Giang province, and also situated at the heart of Southeast Asia and an economic belt between Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.

Vietnam has seven licensed casinos, six of which are operating in Quang Ninh, Hai Phong and Lao Cai in the north, Da Nang in the central region, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau in the south.

The only casino that is still inactive is the South Hoi An casino in central Quang Nam province.

Besides, there are 50 entertainment centers with small-scale casinos for foreigners that have been licensed for four to five star hotels throughout the country, according to the Ministry of Finance.

In a draft submitted to the government in August 2014, the Ministry of Finance proposed that Vietnamese people from 21 years of age have sufficient behavioral and financial capacities to gamble in domestic casinos, but it has not been adopted by the country's lawmakers. Endi

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