Poker Club Ho Chi Minh City

• Poker Club Ho Chi Minh City Weather
• Poker Club Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam
• Ho Chi Minh City History
• Poker Club Ho Chi Minh City Menu

The Pro Poker Club is one of the many casinos in Ho Chi Minh City casinos. It has – of slot, video poker, and multi-game machines, 14 table games. From reel slots to the newest video slot releases the game floor is always up to date. There are 6 poker rooms in the Vietnam area, and we at PokerAtlas provide complete and up-to-date information about every room in every location including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The Pro Poker Club is one of the many casinos in Ho Chi Minh City casinos. It has – of slot, video poker, and multi-game machines, 14 table games. From reel slots to the newest video slot releases the game floor is always up to date.

View ScheduleThe first stop of the new season is WPT Vietnam taking place from September 3 to 11 at Pro Poker Club in Ho Chi Minh City.
The event comes with a very ambitious VND 15,000,000,000 (~US$ 641,000) guarantee. The Main Event will be quite special. It features a structure that is usually reserved for the main tour. Buy-in is VND 55,000,000 (~US$ 2,400), the largest buy-in of the WPT Asia Pacific season. The Main Event runs from September 6 to 11.

The WPT Asia Swing gives poker players of all levels the opportunity to compete on the World Poker Tour stage in three consecutive Asia-Pacific poker events in the incredible cities of Tokyo, Seoul, and Ho Chi Minh. The WPT Asia Swing started in mid-September and lasts 20 days.

I have been fortunate enough to have visited all three cities, and I cannot tell you how excited I am for the trio of World Poker Tour that will be taking place. As I understand many players will be new to these regions, I’m here to provide a few tips for those looking to play all or some of the WPT Asia Swing. For this blog, I’ll tackle WPT Vietnam, the final stop in the WPT Asia Swing, taking place September 26-October 4.

Vietnam Has a Thriving Poker Community

WPT Vietnam takes place September 28-October 2 at Pro Poker Club in Ho Chi Minh. Poker is thriving in Vietnam, and the Pro Poker Club in Ho Chi Minh (formerly Saigon) leads the way with some seriously big numbers for poker tournaments this year.

The World Poker Tour is making its first-ever trip to the venue for the WPT Vietnam series that starts September 26. The poker tournament festival lasts nine days and includes a solid variety for tournament poker. Headlining the schedule is the VND 8 billion guarantee (approx. $350,000) WPT Vietnam Main Event, with a buy-in of VND 22 million (approx. $950). I will be shocked if the field does not eclipse 500 entries. As I said, poker is thriving in Vietnam and it’s only going to grow from here.

WPT Vietnam side events start at around $100 and highlights outside of the Main Event are the VND 44 million (approx. $1,900) High Roller, the three-day VND 11 million (approx. $475) Pro Poker Club SuperStack Classic, and the WPT Vietnam Ladies Championship with a buy-in of VND 5.5 million (approx. $238).

Poker Club Ho Chi Minh City Weather

To get a feel of the poker in Vietnam, check out the leading Asian poker portal www.somuchpoker.com, co-founded by our Vietnam licensee Denis Pham and Loic Miller. Somuchpoker will be following all the action at WPT Vietnam.

Vietnam Travel Tips: Currency

The currency used in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). The conversion rate for US dollars is that $1 equals approximately VND 23,300.

Be careful not to get currency notes mixed up, too. It’s all paper currency, comprising of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000, 200,000, and 500,000 notes, so it can get tricky. Familiarize yourself with the currency when you first receive it and don’t be shy to double check the notes before paying for something. The US dollar is the best foreign currency to bring to Vietnam, with rates at the virtual market rate changing at banks. Pro Poker Club has very competitive exchange rates for the US dollar.

Vietnam Travel Tips: Transportation and Traffic

Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh is blessed with a multitude of direct flights globally, including from Seoul Incheon Airport if you happen to be playing WPT Korea that takes place before WPT Vietnam.

There is no Uber, unfortunately, but download the Grab app as a cheaper option to taxis. Grab cars are not plentiful, however, so at times you will need to wait. Taxis are in abundance throughout the city, but as many drivers speak little English it’s ideal to carry the business card or Vietnamese name of where you are traveling to. As for arriving in Ho Chi Minh airport, I recommend arranging airport pick up via your hotel for the most efficient service. That should cost around $10. You can order a private car pick-up as you pass customs, but they don’t appear to have fixed prices. Avoid taking any cars from private people approaching you at the airport, as is always the case when traveling.

Note that nearly all the traffic is motorcycles, and while these motorcyclists travel at normal speeds, most don’t stop at red lights or pedestrian crossings and often ride on footpaths to beat the long traffic queues. Don’t worry, you will get used to them quite quickly. Here is how you cross a major road in Ho Chi Minh.

Vietnam Travel Tips: Sights to See

I first visited Ho Chi Minh two years ago and quickly immersed myself in the history around the Vietnamese struggle for independence over many decades. The War Remnants Museum is a must, as is Independence Palace and maybe even a day trip to the Cu Chi tunnels and surroundings.

If you want to experience parts of Ho Chi Minh City in one day, here is my recommendation. It’s very walkable, although you can take a taxi or a Grab car if you are not so inclined to exercise. Assuming you are staying at the recommended Sila Urban Living hotel, take a morning stroll to the War Remnants Museum (pictured) first.

The museum was a total eye-opener for me, as it portrays the Vietnam War from Vietnam’s perspective. I found it fascinating to read about the history of it all and also check out various planes, tanks, and more on the grounds. You could easily spend three hours there, as there’s that much to take in.

The next stop I recommend is the close-by Independence Palace. First, take a stroll around the perimeter to get an appreciation for the property and then make sure you visit all the floors of the main palace, including the bunker area below and the rooftop.

From there, walk a few hundred meters to take in Notre Dame Square (pictured) where you can see the beautiful church and the historic Post Office Building (pictured below).

By now it will be well into the afternoon, so walk or taxi to Saigon Tower in the heart of District 1. The World of Heineken has recently opened and is part of Saigon Skytower. Going late afternoon, you will experience both the day and night lights of Ho Chi Minh. Don’t take the standard VND 200,000 (approx. $9) Skytower visit.

Instead, look to the left for the World of Heineken door (pictured) and pay VND 250,000 (approx. $11) to experience both the Skytower plus a great Heineken museum tour. Here you will be given some great history about the beer, a VR experience, some fun games, pour your own ice-cold beer, and then enjoy two more beers and nibbles as you watch the sun go down and night lights come alive. Before you leave, make sure to collect your own personalized Heineken bottle of beer. It’s a tremendous value, especially if you’re like me and enjoy a beer, or two.

Now you are on the home stretch, so take a walk up the wide walking promenade of Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street towards City Hall. You’ll probably want to take a short diversion to see the Opera House on the right and then take a picture under the large General Ho Chi Minh Statue (pictured) in front of City Hall.

Enjoy dinner at one of a huge variety of restaurants in the area or head back to Pro Poker Club for some evening poker action. Whatever you fancy, it’s hard to go wrong!

Vietnam Travel Tips: Food

Memories of the best-ever banh mi and pho soups ever tasted stay strong with me from my first visit. When I recently returned last month for a WPT-focused visit, all of the delightful smells and flavors quickly returned and I was not disappointed. The quality and prices of both Vietnamese and international cuisine will delight you, I promise.

For a special dinner close to Sila Urban Living, make sure you pre-book Chopsticks Saigon (pictured), set in a beautiful property just 250 meters away. Two courses, three beers, and a cocktail came to a very reasonable $55 for two people.

Alternatively, you can get a great pho or banh mi at many street cafes for just $2 or $3 dollars.

Pro Poker Club Location and Accommodation

Pro Poker Club has a great setup for poker, with space spread out across two floors that can easily fit up to 40 poker tables.

Pro Poker Club (pictured) is located at 147 Trương Định, P9, Q3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, which is just about a 3km walk from the heart of Ho Chi Minh. The venue has ample food and beverage options in close proximity, plus its own kitchen.

If convenience to the venue is a must and you are not too fussy on accommodation, around $50 will set you up at New Pacific Hotel just a two-minute walk away. I will be staying there with a couple of my fellow staff members for the event, but do note this hotel is old school and the only persons allowed into rooms are those people with their passport noted against the room. Rooms are a little dated but sizeable and clean.

For an excellent mid-range accommodation, you should look at Sila Urban Living. It’s located just over 1km from Pro Poker Club and quite close to the War Remnants Museum. This is where WPT event staff and talent will be staying. You can choose from a studio, one-, or two-bedroom apartments starting from $80 per night and there is a great pool and large gymnasium on site, plus a variety of bars and restaurants within 100 meters.

For those that want a little luxury, the highest rated are the Intercontinental, located on the right side of District 1, and the Park Hyatt, located in the heart of District 1. You’ll be about 4km by taxi from the Pro Poker Club.

For options and competitive prices on where to stay, go to Poker Tour Bookings.

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Table Of Contents

What exactly is Men Nguyen the master of these days? His reputation is far from stellar, as rumors of cheating and dealer abuse abound. Before 2018, he hadn’t had a six-figure year since 2010, so you wouldn’t be chastised for thinking he was washed up.

On the flip side, love him or hate him, Nguyen is a legend of the game. He’s amassed nearly $11 million in tournament earnings dating back to 1987, captured seven World Series of Poker bracelets, and has been named Card Player Magazine’s Player of the Year on four different occasions (1997, 2001, 2003 and 2005).

I considered all of his when presented the opportunity to accompany Nguyen and his longtime friend, Greg Grivas, on a charity mission. Over the summer, Grivas, a floor at Planet Hollywood and winner of the 1996 WSOP $1,500 Chinese Poker Event, extended the offer to join Nguyen as he returned home to Vietnam. The hope was that I would not only document the experience but also offer the poker world a glimpse into Men Nguyen as a person.

'I expected to discuss all the controversies surrounding Nguyen.'

Not long after, Nguyen made headlines in the World Poker Tour Gardens Poker Festival $5,000 Main Event, not only because he finished third for $270,430 – his biggest score in eight years – but also from some antics at the table, including falling asleep, or passing out depending on your perspective.

With Nguyen back in the public eye I decided to join him on his journey, but under the condition that I wouldn’t be writing a fluff piece. On the contrary, I would write about my experience and offer my honest take on the man. In exchange, I expected to discuss all the controversies surrounding Nguyen, from his recent behavior at The Gardens to rumors that he colluded with former students. They agreed.

Making My Way to Vietnam

In early October I stood on the curb outside the LAX baggage claim. I’d just flown in from Chicago, but given our overnight flight across the Pacific wouldn’t depart for another 12 hours, I was to be picked up to kill some time in the city.

Before long, a car driven by Grivas pulled up with Nguyen sitting in the back seat, his small frame mostly hidden by luggage and boxes destined to join us on our journey. I was instructed to sit shotgun, got in, and we were off to Nguyen's favorite Vietnamese seafood restaurant.

Men Nguyen: 'All you can eat, baby!'

It was there Nguyen held court with various friends and acquaintances, some of whom gave him money to take back to their shared homeland. Throughout that lunch, Nguyen displayed the energy of a man half his age, which I learned throughout the week, was par for the course for the 63-year-old.

It was at that restaurant that I received my first experience with his insatiable appetite. I don’t know where he put it all, but boy could he eat, and this is coming from someone more than twice his size. I remember the WSOP on ESPN episode where Nguyen moves in and says, 'All you can eat, baby!' It was not only a classic clip, but apparently accurately described his relationship with food.

From there, we headed over to The Gardens to waste time. Nguyen jumped in a $12/$24 O8/Big O game where he played an interesting hand I previously wrote about for my Hold’em with Holloway series. During this time, I explored the property, played a little $5/$5 cash, and watched Poker Hall of Famer Johnny Chan playing two tables over.

Smuggling Alaskan King Crab

Eventually, we made our way back to LAX where we unloaded numerous boxes and pieces of luggage. I’d packed light, but it was apparent Nguyen was taking a bunch of items back home. Out of all the items, a little red cooler intrigued me most.

Poker Club Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam

“I bring back for my girlfriend,” Nguyen told me after I’d inquired. “She loves Alaska king crab.”

My mind was blown. Was he really going to try to get what I guessed to be 5 lbs of crab through an international airport? It wasn’t just meat either; these were still in the shell as if plucked straight from the sea.

“It’s ok, no problem,” Nguyen told us. Grivas was just as skeptical as I.

'I still feel that if I tried something like that, I’d certainly be questioned and maybe even arrested.'

It took some time, but eventually, all the boxes and bags got checked thanks to a little greasing of the wheels from Nguyen. As it turns out, Nguyen is a liberal tipper, at least when it comes to those who can make his life easier. At the airport, that included the porter and lady at check-in. It worked too as he didn't pay a penny in excess baggage fees.

That said, one bag that didn’t get checked was that little red cooler. Not because of its contents, but because Nguyen planned to carry it onto the plane. Grivas and I shot each other a look as if to say, “Good luck getting that through security.”

I’ll never understand how he did it, but I’ll be damned if that Alaskan king crab didn’t make it through security and onto the plane. I still feel that if I tried something like that, I’d certainly be questioned and maybe even arrested. They didn't so much as look inside.

I lost track of the little red cooler after that, but I later learned it did make its way to Men’s girlfriend. However, by that time it’d gone bad and had to be thrown in the trash.

Ho Chi Minh City History

Poker in Ho Chi Minh City

Poker Club Ho Chi Minh City Menu

It’s hard to describe the ordered chaos in Ho Chi Minh City. The roads are dominated by thousands of scooters, each seemingly going their own way with no regard to rules or each other. To an outsider like myself, it was pure chaos, but those in the thick of it seemed to know what they were doing.

That evening, we paid a visit to the WPT Vietnam, which was just wrapping up its Main Event. Unsurprisingly, Nguyen was a celebrity in the poker club, which at the time was housing poker pros Sam Cohen and Marvin Rettenmaier.

After, we headed to another seafood restaurant, one with aquariums full of different creatures available ala carte. I couldn’t help but look at the crab and laugh. At the dinner, Men was joined by family members, his much younger girlfriend, and some reporters from the socialist newspaper. Apparently, I wasn’t the only journalist tagging along on the charity expedition.

You see, Nguyen may not be well liked in the States, but in Vietnam, he is a beloved celebrity.

Be sure to come back tomorrow for Part II of this five-part series on Men “The Master” Nguyen where you’ll learn of his escape from Vietnam, introduction to poker, and his charitable endeavors.

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