Saigon Race Track

When South Vietnam was liberated in 1975, one of Hanoi's policies was to ban debauched, capitalistic pastimes such as gambling. Horse-racing tracks mostly found in the Saigon area - were shut down. However, the government's need for hard cash has caused a rethink. The Saigon Race Track (Cau Lac Bo TDTT), which dates from around 1900, reopened in 1989.

Like the state lottery, the race track is extremely lucrative. But grumbling about just where the money is going has been coupled with widespread allegations about the drugging of horses. The minimum legal age for jockeys is 14 years; most look like they are about 10.
 
The overwhelming majority of gamblers are Vietnamese though there is no rule prohibiting foreigners from joining in. The maximum legal bet is US$2. High rollers can win a million dong (about US$90). Races are held Saturday and Sunday afternoons starting at 1 pm. Plans to introduce off-track betting have so fat not materialized. However, illegal book-making (bets can be placed in gold!) offers one form of competition to the government-owned monopoly.
 
The Saigon Race Track is in District 11 at 2 D Le Dai Hanh.