The Asian Poker Tour Vietnam will be held live at the Corona Resort & Casino on the island of Phú Quốc. The series will run from March 17th to March 28th, 2021.
Vietnam has handled the pandemic well, so you can play there with relative confidence in your safety from the virus. However, make sure you take all possible precautions while traveling.
The full schedule for the APT Vietnam's events will be ironed out in the next few weeks. Keep checking the Asian Poker Tour's site for details.
The venue
The Corona Resort comes with a slew of on-site amenities including a theatre, safari park, golf course, seven restaurants, two pubs, and of course, the island has beaches galore.
The Casino Corona has around 1,000 slots and 100 tables for blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker, and sic bo (a little like craps but with three die).
At standard capacity, the casino runs twelve poker tables with USD blinds running from 1-3 to 10-20 with the option to put on tables for VIPs of 20-40 and 40-80. This may be adjusted up, during the APT series to accommodate the influx of poker players.
Note: It is worth purchasing USD as well as VND before traveling. Vietnam often uses U.S. currency (for example Visa fees on arrival are in USD).
If you are Vietnamese, you are allowed to gamble at the Corona Resort, but will also need to be over 21 and prove you have an income of over VND 10 million per month.
Getting there
Phú Quốc sits just off the coast where the beaches of Vietnam transition into the beaches of Cambodia. It has its own international airport, though it may be worth checking the prices for flying into Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City and getting a local flight for the last leg.
Alternatively, there are plenty of tour operators who will be happy to organize your travel down the country from Ho Chi Minh City.
You will most likely need a visa if coming from abroad. Apply early as Vietnamese bureaucracy can move slowly.
The Corona Resort is a large island complex made up of two hotels, the VinOasis Resort Phu Quoc and Radisson Blu Resort Phu Quoc. Visitors can shop around for accommodation though as the island is a major tourist trap with hotels on almost every beach.
Travel up and down the 30-mile long island should be factored into any poker player's hotel decisions as the Casino Corona is in the North West corner of the island.
As always, check for COVID regulations at both departure and arrival locations.
Safe travels and good luck!
Image source: Twitter