Asia's Newest Golf Star
Vietnam was named IAGTO's Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year in 2012, and in the decade since has grown from hidden gem to one of Asia's most compelling golf destinations. The country now has 80+ courses, many from the game's best-known designers — Greg Norman, Nick Faldo, Luke Donald, Colin Montgomerie, Sir Nick Faldo, Brian Curley, and Jack Nicklaus have all built signatures here, and the design density keeps growing.
The epicentre is Danang & the Central Coast — a 30-mile stretch where Greg Norman's The Dunes (Southeast Asia's first true links), Colin Montgomerie's Montgomerie Links, Nick Faldo's Laguna Lang Co, and the mountain spectacle of Luke Donald's Ba Na Hills sit within a half-hour drive. Add the UNESCO-listed ancient town of Hoi An, the imperial city of Hue, and forty miles of beaches on one side — and this is Asia's most concentrated luxury golf cluster.
The country splits into three natural golf hubs. Hanoi & the North offers parkland courses around the capital plus day trips to Halong Bay and the rice-terrace mountains of Sapa. Danang & Central is the headline region. Saigon & the South adds The Bluffs at Ho Tram (Greg Norman links-style on the coast) and the Long Thanh parkland complex. Pair golf with street food tours in pre-war alleys, a boat through Halong Bay's limestone karsts, and French-colonial dinners for a trip unlike anywhere else.
Vietnam Itineraries
Our signature Vietnam itineraries — each a distinct way to experience Vietnamese golf and culture. Every trip is fully customizable.
Vietnam's Greatest Courses
Greg Norman's first links in SE Asia, Montgomerie's finest Asian design, Faldo's lagoon masterpiece at Laguna Lang Co — Vietnam has gone from zero to world-class in two decades.
Three Golf Hubs
Vietnam's golf clusters around three major cities from north to south. Each offers a distinct experience and base.
Danang, Hoi An & Hue — The Golf Coast
The 30-mile coastline from Danang south through Hoi An is Vietnam's golf coast — and arguably Asia's most concentrated luxury cluster. BRG Danang Golf Club's Dunes Course (Greg Norman, 2010) was the first true links in Southeast Asia. Five minutes south, Montgomerie Links routes along Ha My Beach. Another twenty minutes down the coast brings you to the Nick Faldo-designed Laguna Lang Co sitting between a lagoon and a jungle mountain range.
Off the course: the lantern-lit ancient town of Hoi An (UNESCO), the imperial tombs of Hue, the Marble Mountains, and long evenings of street-food banh mi sandwiches and Vietnamese coffee. The best 5-7 night single-base trip in Southeast Asian golf.
Top Attractions
- Hoi An Ancient Town (UNESCO)
- Imperial Citadel, Hue
- My Son Sanctuary (UNESCO)
- Marble Mountains
- Ba Na Hills cable car
- Non Nuoc Beach
- Hoi An lantern festival
- Linh Ung Pagoda
Hanoi & Halong Bay — The Cultural North
The Vietnamese capital is a millennium-old city of narrow alleys, street-food carts, and French-colonial architecture. Golf-wise, Skylake Resort, Legend Hill (Kyle Phillips), and the 36-hole Kings Island offer parkland rounds within an hour. But the headline isn't the golf — it's the pairing with Halong Bay, a UNESCO-listed seascape of 1,600 limestone karsts cruised by traditional junk boat.
Add a day to the old quarter's 36 streets, a walking food tour, the Temple of Literature, and potentially a rice-terrace excursion to Sapa in the north. Hanoi is a 3-4 night cultural add-on for any Vietnam trip, not a golf destination in itself.
Top Attractions
- Halong Bay junk cruise
- Hoan Kiem Lake
- Old Quarter (36 Streets)
- Temple of Literature
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- Water Puppet Theatre
- Sapa rice terraces
- Night train to Sapa
Saigon & Ho Tram — The Energetic South
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is Vietnam at full tilt — French-colonial mansions next to glass towers, scooter chaos, and the best street food on Earth. The city's own courses — the 36-hole Long Thanh, Tan Son Nhat — are convenient and well-maintained. But the local showpiece is a two-hour drive east at The Bluffs at Ho Tram: a Greg Norman links routed over dunes on the South China Sea.
Pair with day trips to the Cu Chi Tunnels (the Vietcong's underground network), the Mekong Delta's floating markets, and evenings at rooftop bars overlooking the Saigon River. A 3-5 night base at the start or end of a north-to-south trip.
Top Attractions
- Cu Chi Tunnels
- War Remnants Museum
- Notre-Dame Basilica Saigon
- Ben Thanh Market
- Mekong Delta day trip
- Saigon Central Post Office
- Cao Dai Temple
- Ho Tram beach
Featured Accommodations
From the Four Seasons on Nam Hai Beach to The Grand Ho Tram's integrated resort — Vietnam sets a new Asian standard for golf-hotel value.
Best Time to Play Vietnam
North (Hanoi): October – April
The north has a distinct cool season — 60-75°F with low rainfall from October through April. Summer is hot and humid with monsoon storms. Halong Bay is lovely October-December.
Central (Danang): February – August
Best February-August, dry and 75-90°F. September-January brings the worst of Vietnam's rain to the central coast with occasional typhoons. Plan Danang trips in the dry window.
South (Saigon): December – April
The south is hot year-round (80-90°F). The dry season December-April is best for golf. Monsoon rains May-November bring short, intense afternoon storms but mornings usually stay playable.
Travel Tips
Visas are now electronic for most nationalities — apply online a week before travel. Vietnam is 2-3× cheaper than comparable golf trips in Thailand. Tip caddies in USD; 100,000 VND is standard for an 18-hole round. Packing: light layers plus a good rain jacket.