The task of picking the best golf courses in Vietnam is a continuous one. Golf in Vietnam continues to evolve at a rapid pace with exceptional new courses added regularly. The target clientele for these courses varies by location. While the golf scene in Hanoi and Saigon continues to grow with both expats and locals, other locations are focused on tourists. The mix of the country’s stunning natural landscape with the imagination of the best designers has resulted in sensational layouts. Here’s the most current list of 5 incredible golf courses that any golfer visiting Vietnam must consider playing.
1. The Bluffs, Ho Tram ( near Ho Chi Minh City)
If on a Ho Chi Minh City golf tour, you skip The Bluffs, you have done yourself a disservice. The 2-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City may be long, but the reward far outweighs the effort. The Greg Norman designed Bluffs is a celebration of the distinct dunesy character of Vietnam’s coastline. The course is routed through and makes use of dunes, some of which rise upto 50 metres in height. The resulting layout is undulating with plenty of elevation change. The coastal winds change in intensity and direction all the time affording a distinct golf experience each time. Another reward comes in the form of outstanding views of the South China Sea from almost every hole. Much like a links golf course, The Bluffs arguably tops the list of golf courses in Vietnam.
As a quick tip – To reward yourself better for the trip, consider 2 rounds here, by staying overnight at The Grand, which has a casino. It will also allow you time to lounge on the beach
To plan a golf holiday in Ho Chi Minh City which includes The Bluffs, visit Ho Chi Minh Golf Holiday Packages | Golf Tours in Ho Chi Minh
2. Hoiana Shores, Danang
The global reputation of golf in Vietnam is strongly linked to the quality of golf courses in Danang. Danang along with neighbouring Hoi An and Lang Co has emerged as Vietnam’s premier golf destination with six world-class layouts. The latest of these six, the Robert Trent Jones Jr designed Hoiana Shores could well take golf in Danang into orbit. The course is visually stunning, giving an impression of blending with the beach and the sea. Golfers can expect challenges to suit their ability through an undulating dunesy layout. With the sea-breezes always a factor, the course can change nature quickly. All of these features combine to deliver very much a links golf experience, except that it is in a tropical country. No wonder, the term tropical links is gaining popularity. Hoiana Shores is a must in every golf itinerary in Danang.
3. KN Golf Links, Cam Ranh ( near Nha Trang)
As more golf courses in Vietnam open up, there is an overwhelming sense that the focus seems to be on outdoing the previous best. This augurs perfectly for golf in Vietnam, given how this spurs the quality of the visitor experience. One great example of the quality of Vietnam golf is the Greg Norman designed KN Golf Links. Here again, much like the Bluffs, Greg Norman has made use of the naturally undulating terrain and the dunes. The tees are beautifully placed, giving a perfect visual of the hole in front as well as delivering stunning sweeping vistas. The course condition is immaculate, with fairways seamlessly merging into the sandy wastes and bunkers. The expansive and undulating greens allow for plenty of excitement. Overall, KN Golf Links may well be the reason that Nha Trang becomes a golf destination in its own right.
There are 2 other golf courses in Nha Trang which help complete the Nha Trang golf experience – Vinpearl with its stunning sea views and the Andy Dye designed Diamond Bay.
To play KN Golf Links and the other Nha Trang golf courses visit Nha Trang Golf Courses | Book Nha Trang Golf Club & Tee Times
4. Van Tri , Hanoi
Van Tri in Hanoi, is one of the most exclusive golf clubs in Vietnam, with restricted albeit not impossible access. The golf course designed by Peter Rousseau is built on relatively flat land, but water is almost always in play. The combination of water and some clever dog-legs in the design constitute the key challenges on this golf course. Given the fairly exclusive nature of the club, the course remains in great condition all the time. There are plenty of quality tracks in and around Hanoi, but Van Tri may just have the edge from an overall experience point of view.
5. FLC Mountain Course, Quy Nhon
Situated between Nha Trang and Danang but with only a fraction of the tourists of either, Quy Nhon is yet another coastal Vietnam delight. And to add to the quantity and quality of coastal golf in Vietnam, Quy Nhon’s two golf courses stake their claim. It’s hard to tell which is the better of these 2 courses – the Nicklaus design Ocean Course or Schmidt-Curley Mountain Course. But that’s a good thing.
In the personal view of the author who played, the Mountain Course may just hold the edge. The course may start out gently, but gentle is the last thing you’d feel after you have played the full 18. The lasting memory is of constantly navigating the various slopes of a mountain with some stunning views of the Eastern Sea thrown in. The wind is a massive factor and can cause havoc with even well executed shots. It’s a good thing that the fairways are wide to accommodate the errors or it could prove to be a nightmare. The overall layout and design of the track and a cracking set of finishing holes makes this one of the must play golf courses in Vietnam. Together with the Ocean course, this calls for avid golfers to get on that plane to Quy Nhon.
