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After many years of neglect, Do Son Casino—once a symbol of the city’s tourism appeal—will receive a new “face” and be transformed into the Haiphong International Convention, Trade and Tourism Center.
Do Son Casino, the first casino permitted to operate in Vietnam, is located in Van Hoa Castle, inaugurated in 1995 with total investment of 34 million USD. In 1992, the castle was handed over to the Hai Phong International Tourism Joint Venture.
According to Thanh Niên newspaper, after Hai Phong was liberated, the City Party Committee of Hai Phong nationalized Van Hoa Castle, which had been owned by a Hai Phong woman who married a French husband. The castle was then assigned to Van Hoa Tourism Joint Venture to manage and operate as a tourism complex.
In 1992, Van Hoa Castle fell under the Hai Phong International Tourism Joint Venture—a joint venture between Hai Phong’s Van Hoa Company and United International Business Ltd (Hong Kong)—with a 30-year term, performing tourism and entertainment functions. This entity was also the investor of Do Son Casino.
According to the Do Son Ward People’s Committee, for many years Do Son Casino has ceased operations, with many facilities degraded. The glass roof on the first floor was torn; the iron framework rusted. Exterior sections were damaged, and management had to place safety warnings in the main lobby.
The entire Do Son Casino site is now included in the Haiphong International Conference, Trade and Tourism Center project, expected to commence construction on the occasion of the 71st anniversary of Hai Phong’s liberation (13/5/1955 – 13/5/2026). The project has total investment of over VND 2,110 billion, with Hai Phong International Tourism Joint Venture as the investor.
The project covers nearly 25 hectares in Do Son Ward and is planned to combine new construction with renovation. It includes building a new 5-star hotel and a Trade Center on Van Hoa Hill, and renovating and restoring the Van Hoa Castle, the current hotel, and the hill’s landscape.
The highlight is a 9-story, about 180-room 5-star hotel integrated with a conference center with a capacity of about 1,000 seats and a casino with around 600 gaming machines.
The architectural design draws inspiration from the image of a “gold bar.” The space is open, enhancing the connection between interiors and the natural landscape and leveraging the sea view as a key advantage of Do Son.
The Trade Center on Van Hoa Hill will host luxury two-story kiosks directly connected to the hotel, creating a seamless experiential chain. The complex will use a unified architectural language with curves intended to harmonize with the hillside and sea.
The project aims to preserve existing values rather than demolish them. The Van Hoa Castle, the current hotel, and the hillside landscape will be renovated, with added walking paths, green spaces, and high-end shops integrated into the natural environment, preserving the memory of the space while upgrading the overall experience.
According to business registration records, Hai Phong International Tourism Joint Venture was established in December 2007, headquartered in Do Son Ward, Hai Phong. Its main business is casino operations for foreign nationals. The general director and legal representative is Mr. To San Tio, an Indonesian national.
In July 2021, United International Business Ltd transferred 80% of the stake of Hai Phong International Tourism Joint Venture to Ms. Doan Tuyet Lan.
The company’s charter capital is nearly VND 944 billion. Ms. Lan contributed nearly VND 888.6 billion, owning 90.26% of the shares. Hai Phong Van Hoa Haiphong Joint Venture contributed VND 55 billion, owning 9.74%.
Hai Phong Van Hoa Haiphong Joint Venture is one of the companies under the Hai Phong City Party Committee. As of January 2026, the company reduced its charter capital from VND 84 billion to VND 59.25 billion.
Ms. Doan Tuyet Lan is known as the Chairwoman of Kim Long Group, owner of the Kim Long brand.
She currently serves as Chairwoman of Kim Long Infrastructure Investment JSC, the investor of Minh Hai 1 and 2 industrial parks in Hung Yen. She is also the Chief Executive Officer of Hong Van K&Q, the investor of the Hong Van K&Q hotel on a land plot within the villa and hotel area west of the Bai Chay bridge in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh, with an investment of VND 1.486 trillion.
Ms. Lan has also been Chairwoman of Hong Van Hotel JSC, the developer and operator of the 5-star Hong Van Grand hotel and casino in Mong Cai (Quang Ninh) since 2019.
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