Vietnam Golf Travel Guide: 9 Courses in 2 Weeks — The Real Do’s and Don’ts

elliott7612
May 25
5 min read

Vietnam has quickly become one of the hottest golf destinations in Asia and after spending two weeks travelling from the south of the country all the way up to Hanoi, playing nine courses along the way, it’s easy to see why.

The golf is world-class, the food is excellent, the nightlife is chaotic in the best possible way, and compared to many established golf destinations, Vietnam still feels like an adventure.

But after covering so much ground in a short time, there are definitely some things I would do again… and a few things I wouldn’t.

If you’re planning a golf trip to Vietnam, here are the biggest do’s and don’ts from someone who has just done it properly.

DO: Prioritise the Must-Play Courses

Vietnam now has a huge number of quality golf courses, but a few genuinely stand above the rest.

Hoiana Shores Is a Must

If someone asked me which course they absolutely must play in Vietnam, it would probably be Hoiana Shores.

It is sensational.

The conditioning, layout, coastal setting and overall experience are as good as anything I’ve played in Asia. It manages to feel challenging without being unfair, and visually it’s stunning from the first hole to the last.

The entire Hoi An / Da Nang region is arguably the best golf base in Vietnam because you can stay in one area and access multiple top-tier courses within short driving distances.

If you only play one course in Vietnam, make it Hoiana Shores.

Ba Na Hills Is Worth the Hype

Ba Na Hills was excellent.

The only downside for us was that the course had been set up brutally difficult ahead of a tournament the next day, which made it a long and demanding round. That can happen anywhere though, and it shouldn’t take away from how good the course is.

The mountain setting gives it a completely different feel to the coastal courses around Da Nang, and the layout is fantastic.

If you’re building a Vietnam golf itinerary, this should absolutely be included.

Laguna Lang Co Delivers Incredible Scenery

Laguna Lang Co may have had the best scenery of the entire trip.

The course moves through jungle, rice paddies, streams and coastline with mountains surrounding almost every hole. It feels remote and dramatic in the best way possible.

The only frustration was that it was cart-path-only during our round. In the Vietnamese heat and humidity, that can turn a round into a pretty exhausting day very quickly.

Still, the visuals alone make it worth playing.

BRG Kings Island Is Worth the Trip to Hanoi

Golf in northern Vietnam feels completely different from the south and central regions.

BRG Kings Island was one of the biggest surprises of the trip. You take a boat across the water to reach the course, which instantly makes the day feel special before you’ve even hit a shot.

The Kings Course itself was excellent - peaceful, scenic and incredibly enjoyable to play.

If your golf trip includes Hanoi, this is the course I’d prioritise.

DON’T: Try to Play Everything

One of the biggest mistakes people can make in Vietnam is trying to cram too much golf into too little time.

Yes, there are loads of good courses, but Vietnam is a long country, and travelling between destinations takes longer than many people expect.

Some courses are excellent additions for longer itineraries, but probably not essential for shorter trips.

Courses for Longer Golf Tours

Montgomerie Links
Vinpearl Golf Nam Hoi An
Legend Danang Golf Resort

All were enjoyable courses and definitely worth playing if you’re doing a long golf tour with lots of rounds.

But if you only have five to seven days in Vietnam, I would focus on:

Hoiana Shores
Ba Na Hills
Laguna Lang Co
BRG Kings Island (if visiting Hanoi)

I’d also personally recommend the Nicklaus Course over the Norman Course at Da Nang Golf Resort.

DO: Base Yourself Properly

Where you stay makes a huge difference to the overall trip experience.

Hoi An & Da Nang for Atmosphere

We split our stay between Hoi An and Da Nang, spending three nights in each.

Hoi An was probably my favourite overall destination in Vietnam.

The old town is beautiful, the food scene is brilliant, and it feels far more unique and memorable than many beach resort areas in Asia. It has great nightlife too - not massive clubs, but busy bars, restaurants and an atmosphere that’s genuinely fun every night.

Da Nang is more modern and spread out. We stayed at Hilton Da Nang by the river, which was a great hotel with a view of the river and bridges. For groups focused on nightlife or beach clubs in between golf rounds, there is a lot of fun to be had in Da Nang.

DON’T: Underestimate Travel Times

The Bluffs Is Amazing… But Remote

The Bluffs was a fantastic golf course.

The problem is logistics.

It’s a long drive from Ho Chi Minh City, and there isn’t a huge amount happening in the surrounding area unless you’re specifically looking for a resort-style golf escape.

For many golf groups, it effectively becomes a full day of travel for one round of golf.

If you’re on a shorter trip, I’d seriously consider whether the time investment is worth it.

For longer itineraries though, the course itself is absolutely top quality.

DO: Visit Hanoi

Hanoi completely exceeded expectations.

It’s hectic, chaotic, noisy and unbelievably fun.

The nightlife was probably the best we experienced anywhere in Vietnam, with endless bars, live music venues, street food spots and energy everywhere you go.

The food was also exceptional – we highly recommend doing a food tour to experience all the hidden local gems you’d likely miss otherwise. Reach out to us for our recommended companies.

If your Vietnam golf trip is purely beach resorts and golf courses, you miss a huge part of what makes the country special. Hanoi adds culture, nightlife and personality to the trip.

DON’T: Stay in Ha Long City Too Long

FLC Ha Long golf course had probably the best views I’ve ever seen from a course.

Absolutely breathtaking.

The course itself is dramatic, mountainous and very memorable, although at times it feels slightly wild and unconventional. Fun, but definitely challenging.

However, where the course is situated is the bigger issue.

Ha Long didn’t feel like somewhere you’d necessarily want to spend multiple nights unless you were specifically doing the famous Halong Bay cruise experience.

My recommendation would be:

Stay in Hanoi and day-trip to Ha Long for golf
Or combine the golf with one of the incredible overnight bay cruises

That gives you the best of both worlds.

Final Thoughts: Vietnam Might Be Asia’s Best Emerging Golf Destination

Vietnam feels different from more established golf destinations like Thailand.

It’s less polished in places, more chaotic, and travelling around can be tiring, but that’s also what makes it memorable.

The quality of golf is now exceptional.

Courses like Hoiana Shores, Ba Na Hills and Laguna Lang Co can compete with almost anything in Asia, while cities like Hanoi and Hoi An make the overall trip far more than just a golf holiday.

If I was planning a first Vietnam golf trip today, I’d probably recommend:

7-Day Vietnam Golf Itinerary