Da Lat plans to build casino to boost nighttime economy

Under a plan that is awaiting approval from Lam Dong Province authorities, the casino will be built in the Valley of Love, a popular tourist attraction.

A 900-meter-long food hub is scheduled to be set up near Hoang Van Thu Lake, and a 1.6-kilometer walking-only street will connect the intersection of Dinh Tien Hoang and Tran Quoc Toan Street with the Da Lat Flower Garden in the downtown area.

A new night market will be to replace the existing one, known as ‘Hell Market,’ which is crowded during weekends and national holidays.

Da Lat is not the only locality in Vietnam seeking to develop the nighttime economy. Other popular tourist destinations like Hanoi, HCMC, Ha Long, Nha Trang, and Can Tho in fact already offer entertainment, cultural and shopping experiences until late at night.

Though Da Lat is famous for its French colonial heritage and year-round cool climate in a tropical country, it is not too popular with foreign visitors due to limited transport and tourism services.

Last year CNN named the town among "18 most underrated places in Asia."