Club V e-gaming

Pullman Saigon Centre / 148 Tran Hung Dao, D1, HCMC, Vietnam / +84 903 747 088 / Facebook

There are few places in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City where you can walk in with not much money and walk out with an underserved small fortune. Take the mirrored gold elevator doors at the Pullman Saigon Centre, which take visitors down to Club V. The doors open and the lucky guest finds 62 slot machines standing at attention in rows, each with a cream-colored, high-backed leather chair receiving a player.

Big Chances at Regular Prizes

The player vies for prizes from his or her individual slot machine as well as for a chance at the larger prizes, which are given to gamers randomly and regularly. In addition to the payouts from slot machines, just being in the building gets visitors a chance at a handsome prize, usually in the thousands. Let me state that more clearly: not thousands like the cost of your coffee—“thousands” as in a bevvy of Unites States greenbacks. Prizes worth tens of thousands of US dollars are given away in contests regularly.

Written in neon markers are the previous bounties teasing visitors with past prizes. Just a few days before I visited, the gaming club gave away three prizes in total worth nearly US$40,000. The size of the prize wows almost as much as the interior. The club’s four main games—blackjack, baccarat, roulette, and slots—are housed in a spacious, carpeted facility comparable to something you’d see in the club’s namesake US city, gaming capital Las Vegas. The facility’s evocative decor—like the light that spans nearly the entire roulette room ceiling—and novel, polished interior are a break from the Ho Chi Minh City that you know.

Food While You Play

Attendees are treated to the well-stocked bar and restaurant conveniently located inside Club V to minimize breaks between gaming sessions. The restaurant specializes in Chinese and Korean food. Players at rest can dine on Korean Gimbap—a bit-size sushi-like dish—or baked ribs served in a sweet and sour sauce with a side of rice. To keep spirits high, Club V serves a selection of wines and beer including Japanese import Asashi.

The Membership Program

Clients who play at Club V and wish to make it part of a regular thing are invited to become members. The club’s membership program offers members perks like free rooms at the Pullman Saigon Center hotel, airfare, and spa service when they do well. Membership and rewards are offered at levels with incentives of different sizes. If you’re on a winning streak, you’ll get access to higher membership status and bigger prizes.

Gambling has been provisionally legalized for Vietnamese, but Club V officials said their gamers are predominantly an international cohort. Stuck in Binh Duong? No sweat. A shuttle from Club V runs Saturday and Sunday evenings from Binh Duong and takes players to the Caravelle Hotel—which has the Vegas Club gaming center—and Club V. As you plan your visit, keep an eye on Club V’s social media page, where they regularly announce contests and promotions.

Before I get into the nitty-gritty of the rest of the casinos on our list, it’s important to establish a few things about gaming in Vietnam...

Firstly, all the games mentioned (roulette, blackjack, baccarat, poker) are electronic versions – table games with real croupiers are strictly forbidden in Saigon. Technically, it’s outside of Ho Chi Minh City and is purpose-built for Asian and Western players used to playing in Las Vegas and Macau. As such, the rules are a little more relaxed and there are live table games including blackjack, roulette, and baccarat.

You should also note that you can only gamble in US dollars, so bring some with you – the exchange rates you’ll get in the casinos from Vietnamese dong to USD are varied at best. Minimum bets start from 5 cents for slots and US$10 for blackjack. In this article, I’ll just be talking US Dollars to avoid confusion. It’s also essential to bring along your passport or other proof of your nationality – there are strict laws against Vietnamese citizens gambling and only foreigners are allowed to step foot in a casino.

Finally, good luck and happy gaming!