Golfing in the Ho Chi Minh City area seems to be gaining popularity as I seemed to discover in my recent golf holiday there. While the existing golf courses around the area have been there for a while (even Twin Doves started about 4 years ago), it seems clear that the stage is now set for a rapid movement in the golf scene in Vietnam.
Having found myself a comfortable stay option in the heart of District 1 (the action packed district in the heart of the bustling city, close to the choicest restaurants, bars and nightlife), I was set for another shot at golf around Ho Chi Minh City. In my mind I had been carrying a particular order for the best golf courses in the Ho Chi Minh City area. With 3 rounds to play – I was quite clear that it would have to be a golf round each at Twin Doves, Long Thanh and Vietnam Golf & Country Club – And although Twin Doves has 3 x 9 holes (Stella, Luna and Sole courses), Long Thanh – 2 x18 holes (The Mountain & Lake Courses) and Vietnam Golf & Country Golf Club – 2 x 18 holes (the East & the West Course), enough for five and a half rounds of 18 hole golf, I guess I was after the order of the clubs as opposed to the golf courses.
I played the Sole and Luna golf courses at Twin Doves (having played Stella and Luna on my previous visit) and although I still think that Stella is the best and most dramatic of the three, I was not disappointed at all and would still believe that Twin Doves is the best golf course in the Ho Chi Minh City area. The golf course maintenance is as good as it has always been as is on evidence on the fairways, tee boxes and particularly the greens which are slick and true.
Next day at the Vietnam Golf & Country Club was neither my best round of golf nor the best-golfing experience I had as a reference from my previous trip. While the clubhouse, locker rooms are still amongst the best you’d find in the golf courses in Vietnam, I noticed that the golf course condition had slipped remarkably. The tee boxes seemed to have taken a big beating and the fairways seem to be in a state of disrepair with many bald patches and plenty of un-replaced divots. The roughs in the trees were also disappointing as on many occasions I found my ball in a trough of sorts. The redeeming factor though was the greens, which remained true and quick. Overall I am not sure if it will remain amongst the best 3 golf courses or the best 3 golfing experiences in the Ho Chi Minh City area, even as the classic parkland layout gives one plenty to think about.
The last round was at the fabulous Long Thanh Golf Club – we played the two nines of the Lakes Course, one of which I seemed to be playing for the first time. A very different layout to the mountain course of the same club, I have to say that with both the mountain and lake courses put together Long Thanh has to feature amongst the best golf clubs in Vietnam and goes a long way in making Ho Chi Minh City the golf destination that it already is. Both the Lakes and Mountain courses are highly recommended in a golf holiday in Ho Chi Minh City. An ideal combination with 3 rounds of golf could be the 2 courses of Long Thanh and the fabulous Twin Doves. For more, play at the rustic Dong Nai or the now popular Jeong Son. If you are willing to go on a long drive I am told that the Bluff Ho Tram Links designed by Greg Norman and located near Vung Tau is fabulous.
Overall Ho Chi Minh City, while not comparable in quantity of golf courses to other neighbors like Bangkok, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur, makes for a superb golf destination, with the quality of its best golf courses right up with the best in any of these cities. With a culture and cuisine which stands out on its own, you are guaranteed to have a memorable golf holiday in Ho Chi Minh City.
