Vista Gold Corp. Exercises Option to Purchase Awak Mas Gold Deposit, Indonesia

DENVER, April 18 /CNW/ -- Vista Gold Corp.
(Amex: VGZ; Toronto) is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has
approved the exercise of the purchase option for the Awak Mas gold deposit
located in Sulawesi, Indonesia.  As previously reported, in November 2004
Vista entered into an option agreement to acquire the Awak Mas deposit for a
purchase price of U.S. $1,500,000.  Under the terms of the agreement, Vista
had a six-month option period in which to conduct due diligence while paying
the owners U.S. $15,000 per month.  The monthly option payments, as well as
costs up to U.S. $150,000 expended to correct any deficiencies in asset
standing, will be credited towards the purchase price.  The closing is
anticipated to occur on or before May 6, 2005.
Also as previously reported by the Corporation, an October 2004 resource
analysis prepared by RSG Global Pty Ltd of West Perth, Australia, an
independent consulting firm, in accordance with Canadian National Instrument
43-101 guidelines under the supervision of Brett Gossage, a Qualified Person,
showed the known deposit, at a reported cutoff grade of 0.5 grams gold per
ton, to contain measured and indicated resources of 52,580,000 short tons at a
grade of 0.032 ounces per ton containing 1,656,000 gold ounces(1) and inferred
resources of 8,250,000 short tons at a grade of 0.032 ounces per ton
containing 259,000 gold ounces(2).  The Corporation believes the potential to
expand the resources is good, based on preliminary exploration results of
previous operators.
Vista President and CEO Mike Richings stated "Acquiring measured and
indicated resources of 1.7 million gold ounces plus an inferred resource of
0.3 million gold ounces at a cost of U.S. $1.5 million, in a project whose
previous operators spent over AUD $46 million and completed a final
feasibility study, is very attractive to Vista.  We will be attempting to
expand the gold resources by strategic exploration over the next several years
and to enhance the economics of the project through engineering studies."

Vista Gold Corp., based in Littleton, Colorado, evaluates and acquires
gold projects with defined gold resources.  Additional exploration and
technical studies are undertaken to maximize the value of the projects for
eventual development.  The Corporation's holdings include the Maverick
Springs, Mountain View, Hasbrouck, Three Hills, Wildcat projects and Hycroft
mine, all in Nevada, the Long Valley project in California, the Yellow Pine
project in Idaho, the Paredones Amarillos and Guadalupe de los Reyes projects
in Mexico, the Amayapampa project in Bolivia, and the Awak Mas deposit in
Indonesia.

(1)  Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Measured
and Indicated Resources: This press release uses the term "measured and
indicated resources."  We advise U.S. investors that while this term is
recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission does not recognize it.  U.S. investors are cautioned not
to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in this category will ever
be converted into reserves.

(2)  Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Inferred
Resources: This press release uses the term "inferred resources."  We advise
U.S. investors that while this term is recognized and required by Canadian
regulations, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize
it.  "Inferred resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their
existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility.
It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will
ever be upgraded to a higher category.  Under Canadian rules, estimates of
inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of a feasibility study or
other economic study.  U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any
part or all of an inferred resource exists or is economically or legally
minable.

 The statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking
statements involving known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to vary materially from targeted results.  Such risks and
uncertainties include those described from time to time in the Corporation's
periodic reports, including the annual report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Corporation assumes no obligation to
publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.

For further information, please contact Greg Marlier at (720) 981-1185, or
visit the Vista Gold Corp. website at www.vistagold.com.