16 Best Golf Courses in Northern Vietnam for International Golfers

Northern Vietnam offers one of the country’s most varied golf regions, with city courses near Hanoi, mountain layouts around Tam Dao, limestone courses in Ninh Binh, coastal golf in Hai Phong, Ha Long Bay views and a far-northern course near the Hoang Lien Mountains. The strongest choice depends less on a single ranking and more on where you are traveling, how difficult a course you want and whether golf is the main purpose of the trip.

Hanoi is the practical hub for most Vietnam golf tours in the north. The capital won the World’s Best Golf City Destination title at the World Golf Awards in 2023 and 2024, while several established and recently opened courses can be reached from Hanoi by road. Golfers continuing to Ninh Binh, Hai Phong, Ha Long or Lao Cai can build multi-course trips without repeatedly returning to the capital.

This guide uses Vietnam’s administrative boundaries after the 2025 provincial reorganization. Older golf websites may still place Tam Dao and Dai Lai in Vinh Phuc, Chi Linh in Hai Duong and Stone Valley in Ha Nam. Those former provinces were reorganized into today’s Phu Tho, Hai Phong and Ninh Binh respectively. Thanh Hoa is treated as North Central Vietnam, so FLC Sam Son from the previous version of this article is not included in this Northern Vietnam list.

Quick Comparison of Northern Vietnam Golf Courses

When Is the Best Time to Play Golf in Northern Vietnam?

November to April is generally the most comfortable golf season in Northern Vietnam because temperatures are cooler and rainfall is lower than in summer. November and March are particularly practical for Hanoi-area golf, while January and February can bring cool temperatures, cloud, drizzle and reduced visibility.

May through September is hotter, more humid and more exposed to afternoon storms. Summer golf is still possible, especially with early tee times or at higher-elevation Thanh Lanh, but golfers should plan around heat and lightning rather than assuming a full day will remain dry.

Green fees also vary by weekday, weekend, tee time, residence status and package inclusions. Before paying, confirm whether the quoted rate includes the green fee, caddie, shared buggy, taxes and any compulsory surcharges. The practical advice in our Vietnam golfing tips is especially useful for first-time golfers in the country.

1. BRG Kings Island Golf Resort, Hanoi

• Location: Dong Mo, Son Tay area, Hanoi
• Scale: 54 regulation holes across three 18-hole courses
• Courses: Lakeside, Mountainview and Kings Course
• Key designer: Kings Course by Jack Nicklaus II
• Distance: Around 38 km west of central Hanoi
• Best for: Golfers wanting two or three different rounds from one base

BRG Kings Island Golf Resort suits golfers who want the widest course choice without leaving the Hanoi region. Lakeside opened in 1993, Mountainview followed in 2004 and Kings Course opened in 2018, bringing the resort to 54 regulation holes. An additional par-3 19th hole on Kings Course is used as a playoff or bonus hole rather than part of the normal 18-hole total.

The three courses should not be treated as interchangeable. Lakeside is the resort’s original layout and uses Dong Mo Lake as a strong visual and strategic element. Mountainview shifts attention toward hillier ground and views toward the Ba Vi area. Kings Course is the newest layout, created by Jack Nicklaus II and routed through more pronounced natural terrain.

Arrival is also distinctive. Golfers reach the resort from the mainland by a short boat transfer, which separates Kings Island from ordinary Hanoi day courses. This combination of three layouts, lake scenery and a dedicated golf environment makes the resort particularly suitable for groups planning two consecutive golf days rather than one isolated round.

2. Sky Lake Resort & Golf Club, Hanoi

• Location: Van Son Lake area, Chuong My, Hanoi
• Scale: 36 holes
• Courses: Sky Course and Lake Course
• Lake Course length: 7,557 yards from the longest tees
• Designer: Sky Course by Bori Golf Design, led by Ahn Moon Hwan
• Best for: Strong players and golfers prioritizing championship difficulty

Sky Lake is one of the strongest options near Hanoi for golfers who want a demanding full-length course rather than a convenient city round. The 36-hole property is divided between the Sky Course and Lake Course, with Van Son Lake and large elevation changes shaping much of the experience.

The Lake Course measures 7,557 yards from its longest tees and was recognized by the Vietnam Golf Association as Vietnam’s Most Challenging Course in 2012 and 2013. Long par 4s and par 5s, changes in elevation and repeated interaction with water make tee selection especially important. The white and blue tees reduce the required carries substantially, so mixed-handicap groups do not need to play the championship length.

Sky Course provides a useful second round at the same resort and gives a multi-day golf group more variety than returning to the same 18 holes. Golfers who care mainly about course challenge should compare Sky Lake with Thanh Lanh and Legend Valley rather than with Long Bien, whose main advantage is city access.

3. BRG Legend Hill Golf Resort, Hanoi

• Location: Phu Linh, Soc Son area, Hanoi
• Holes: 18
• Designer: Nicklaus Design
• Opened: 2015
• Distinctive feature: Two separate green complexes on every hole
• Best for: Design-focused golfers and rounds near Noi Bai Airport

BRG Legend Hill is most distinctive for its twin-green concept, not simply for carrying the Nicklaus name. It was the first Nicklaus Design golf course to open in Vietnam and the first Nicklaus Design project in Asia to use the twin-green concept. Each hole can play to two separate green complexes, allowing the club to change angles, approaches and pin environments without changing the overall 18-hole routing.

That design gives repeat players more variation than a conventional single-green layout. One approach may reward a different side of the fairway from the alternative green, which is particularly useful for tournaments and second rounds. The surrounding Soc Son landscape is rolling rather than dramatic mountain terrain, so the strategic interest comes from routing and green options rather than pure scenery.

Legend Hill also fits arrival or departure days better than many western Hanoi courses because it lies on the northern side of the capital toward Noi Bai International Airport. Golfers should still allow enough time for Hanoi traffic and check luggage-transfer arrangements before combining a round with an international flight.

4. Long Bien Golf Course, Hanoi

• Location: Long Bien, Hanoi
• Holes: 27, divided into A, B and C nine-hole loops
• Designer: Nelson & Haworth Golf Course Architects
• Lengths: A 3,635 yards, B 3,448 yards, C 3,083 yards
• Grass: Platinum Paspalum and TifEagle
• Best for: Business travelers, short stays and golfers prioritizing convenience

Long Bien Golf Course offers 27 holes close to central Hanoi, making it practical for golfers with limited time in the capital.

Long Bien Golf Course is the practical choice for golfers who want to play without committing several hours to a round-trip transfer from Hanoi. Nelson & Haworth designed the 27-hole property as three nine-hole loops. Courses A and B are par 36, while Course C is par 35.

The longest nine is Course A at 3,635 yards, while Course C is the shortest at 3,083 yards. Platinum Paspalum is used across playing surfaces with TifEagle on the greens, giving the course a consistent modern turf profile. The site uses gently changing ground rather than mountain-scale elevation, so course management and water positioning matter more than dramatic uphill shots.

An important correction to older versions of this article is geographic: Long Bien Golf Course is not surrounded by the Dong Nai River. The Dong Nai River is in southern Vietnam. Long Bien’s real advantage is that the club sits inside Hanoi’s urban area and can fit into a business or sightseeing itinerary far more easily than most resort courses.

5. Van Tri Golf Club, Hanoi

• Location: Tho Da area, Thien Loc Commune, Hanoi
• Holes: 18
• Par: 72
• Length: About 7,200 yards from championship tees
• Designer: Peter Rousseau of P+Z Design
• Access: Private-club model, confirm guest eligibility before booking

Van Tri is different from the other Hanoi selections because exclusivity is part of the product. The 18-hole Peter Rousseau layout opened in 2007 and was developed as a private golf club rather than a high-volume visitor course. Vietnam Tourism records the course at par 72 and approximately 7,200 yards from the championship tees.

The layout uses water, sand, mature planting and relatively generous visual space to create a parkland-style round. Van Tri is also convenient for the northern side of Hanoi, with tourism data placing it about 20 minutes from Noi Bai Airport under normal road conditions and about 40 minutes from the city center.

International visitors should not assume they can arrive and purchase a standard public tee time. Van Tri has historically operated around members and invited guests, and current access arrangements should be confirmed through the club or an authorized booking channel. That limitation makes Long Bien or Legend Hill easier for golfers who need a guaranteed visitor round.

6. Thanh Lanh Golf Club, Phu Tho

• Location: Thanh Lanh Lake and Tam Dao mountain area, Phu Tho
• Holes: 18
• Designer: Sir Nick Faldo
• Length: More than 7,000 yards
• Elevation: About 1,000 m above sea level
• Published average temperature: 18-25°C

Thanh Lanh Golf Club is the clearest high-elevation golf option within practical reach of Hanoi. The club sits about 1,000 meters above sea level near Thanh Lanh Lake and the Tam Dao range. The course itself publishes an average temperature of 18-25°C, giving it a meaningful climate advantage during periods when Hanoi is hotter.

Sir Nick Faldo’s 18-hole design stretches beyond 7,000 yards and provides five sets of tees. Mountain slopes and the lake influence both sightlines and strategy, while the cooler setting makes a four-to-five-hour round more comfortable than lowland golf on some summer days.

Older Northern Vietnam golf articles often attribute an altitude of 1,000 meters to Tam Dao Golf & Resort. The verified figure belongs to Thanh Lanh, so the two courses should be differentiated clearly. Choose Thanh Lanh for altitude, lake scenery and a Faldo design. Choose Tam Dao for an older, established IMG layout built around streams, water features and strategic bunkering.

7. Tam Dao Golf & Resort, Phu Tho

• Location: Tam Dao mountain foothills, Phu Tho
• Distance from Hanoi: About 65 km
• Distance from Noi Bai Airport: About 45 km
• Holes: 18
• Designer: IMG
• Length: More than 7,200 yards

Tam Dao Golf & Resort uses streams, lakes, waterfalls and strategic bunkering across an 18-hole IMG-designed layout.

Tam Dao Golf & Resort is a mature mountain-foot course for golfers who prefer strategic water and bunker placement over extreme elevation. The IMG-designed 18-hole layout extends beyond 7,200 yards and offers four principal tee positions, allowing the same routing to serve both experienced and recreational players.

Streams, lakes, waterfalls and strategically positioned bunkers appear throughout the course. The club uses Paspalum Sea Isle 2000 turf, and its foothill location gives many holes mountain views without requiring golfers to play at the 1,000-meter elevation associated with nearby Thanh Lanh.

Tam Dao is about 65 km from central Hanoi and 45 km from Noi Bai International Airport. The first nine holes opened in 2005, with the complete 18-hole course operating by early 2007. The club continues to publish active 2026 tee-time and pricing programs, including weekday, weekend and late-day options. Exact rates change by date and tee time, so use the current club tariff rather than an old fixed price from a travel blog.

8. Dai Lai Golf Club, Phu Tho

• Location: Xuan Hoa Ward, Phu Tho
• Distance from Hanoi: Under 40 km according to the club
• Holes: 27
• Setting: Ngoc Thanh mountain foothills and Dai Lai Lake
• Facilities: Hotel, driving range, restaurant, pro shop and clubhouse
• Best for: Mixed groups, lake scenery and a shorter transfer from Hanoi

Dai Lai Golf Club now operates 27 holes in a lake-and-mountain setting less than 40 km from central Hanoi.

Dai Lai Golf Club works well for golfers who want more than 18 holes without making the longer journey to some western or coastal courses. The club’s current information confirms 27 holes, correcting older references that still describe Dai Lai as an 18-hole course.

Dai Lai Lake and the foothills of Ngoc Thanh Mountain shape the visual character. Water influences several holes directly, while changes in terrain force golfers to consider elevation and landing position rather than relying only on distance. The additional nine holes also give groups more routing combinations for repeat play.

After Vietnam’s 2025 provincial reorganization, the club now lists its address in Xuan Hoa Ward, Phu Tho. Older maps and golf articles may still refer to Vinh Phuc. The location remains less than 40 km from central Hanoi according to the operator, making Dai Lai a realistic day round rather than an overnight golf destination.

9. Legend Valley Country Club, Ninh Binh

• Location: Nguyen Uy area, Ninh Binh
• Approximate distance from Hanoi: Around 60 km
• Designer: Nicklaus Design
• Courses: Rose Course and Canyon Course
• Major 2026 update: Canyon Course opened on May 16, 2026
• Best for: Golfers seeking a newer karst-and-valley destination

Legend Valley is one of the most important additions to Northern Vietnam golf because the Canyon Course expansion changed it from a single-course stop into a larger golf destination. BRG officially opened Canyon Course on May 16, 2026, three years after Rose Course entered operation.

Nicklaus Design uses the area’s limestone mountains, valleys and water rather than separating the course from the surrounding Ninh Binh landscape. Canyon Course is positioned as the more tactical new addition, while Rose Course established the club’s original golf identity. The combined development is moving toward a 36-hole international-standard facility.

Legend Valley also changes how golfers can plan Ninh Binh. Instead of visiting the province only for Trang An or Tam Coc, golfers can stay overnight, play Legend Valley and combine a second round at Stone Valley. A longer itinerary can then add the region’s limestone scenery through a Ninh Binh tour without returning to Hanoi between activities.

10. Stone Valley Golf Resort, Ninh Binh

• Location: Kim Bang area, Ninh Binh
• Distance from Hanoi: About 65 km
• Holes: 27
• Par and length: Par 72, up to 7,280 yards
• Designer: Brian Curley of Schmidt-Curley
• Area: About 280 hectares

Stone Valley Golf Resort is suited to golfers who enjoy using slopes and green contours rather than simply hitting toward obvious targets. Brian Curley routed the 27-hole course through 280 hectares of hills, lakes and streams. The full championship configuration reaches 7,280 yards at par 72.

Curley’s design philosophy is visible around the greens, where slopes, ridges and hollows can feed a correctly positioned approach toward the target or push a poorly judged shot farther away. That makes Stone Valley a useful contrast to water-dominated Dai Lai or the exposed coastal character of Dragon Golf Links.

Stone Valley is also one of the easier courses in this list to price transparently because the operator publishes monthly rates. For September 2026, standard prices range from about 1.65 million VND during lower-priced weekday periods to 2.9 million VND during prime weekend periods. Because promotional and seasonal tariffs change frequently, treat those figures as a September 2026 snapshot rather than an evergreen rate.

11. Chi Linh Golf Club, Hai Phong

• Current location: Chu Van An Ward, Hai Phong
• Distance from Hanoi: About 70 km
• Holes: 27
• Designer: Independent Golf Course Services (IGCS), Australia
• First 18 holes: Opened in November 2003
• Additional nine: Opened in 2008

Chi Linh Golf Club follows natural hills and a central lake across a 27-hole IGCS-designed property east of Hanoi.

Chi Linh remains one of Northern Vietnam’s established golf courses, but its current scale is 27 holes rather than the 36 holes stated in many older articles. The club opened its first 18 holes in November 2003 and added another nine in 2008. Its own company history confirms 27 operating holes.

Australian company IGCS designed the course around a natural valley, lake and green hills rather than imposing a flat layout. The property covers about 325 hectares, giving the three nine-hole sections room to use existing changes in terrain. The club also received a “most beautiful golf course in Vietnam” recognition in 2009, but that award should be presented with its year rather than as a current ranking.

Administrative information has also changed. Chi Linh was formerly in Hai Duong Province, but Hai Duong and Hai Phong were merged in 2025. Current club material lists Chi Linh in Hai Phong City. Its position on the Hanoi-Ha Long corridor makes the course useful before continuing east toward Hai Phong or Quang Ninh.

12. Vinpearl Golf Hai Phong

• Location: Vu Yen Island, Hai Phong
• Holes: 36
• Designer: IMG Worldwide
• Lake Course: 7,318 yards, par 72
• Marsh Course: 7,508 yards, par 72
• Night lighting: Installed across 27 holes

Vinpearl Golf Hai Phong is a strong multi-round choice for golfers who want two full-length courses without leaving one island resort environment. IMG Worldwide designed the property as two contrasting 18-hole layouts on Vu Yen Island, around 15 minutes by car from central Hai Phong according to the operator.

The Lake Course measures 7,318 yards and uses constructed lakes as its main visual and strategic feature. The longer 7,508-yard Marsh Course takes advantage of the island’s natural marsh terrain, creating a different hazard pattern and playing character. Both are par 72.

The facility also has one of the clearest night-golf advantages in Northern Vietnam, with lighting across 27 holes. A 16-bay driving range extends to 300 yards, and the clubhouse includes nearly 300 lockers and steam-room facilities. Golfers planning a Hai Phong stay can pair Vinpearl with Dragon Golf Links rather than using the city only as a transit stop.

13. Dragon Golf Links Do Son, Hai Phong

• Location: Van Huong, Do Son, Hai Phong
• Holes: 27
• Designer: Greg Norman
• Course type: Exposed coastal golf
• Night golf: Available with a separate surcharge
• 2026 visitor rate: 2.2 million VND weekday, 2.7 million VND weekend through October 31

Dragon Golf Links provides the clearest coastal-golf contrast to Northern Vietnam’s lake and mountain courses. The Greg Norman-designed 27-hole complex sits directly in the Do Son coastal environment, where wind direction and speed can change club selection more dramatically than at sheltered inland courses.

The club describes itself as Vietnam’s first golf course built on the sea. Regardless of that marketing label, the important playing attribute is exposure. The same hole can play differently when the coastal wind strengthens, and golfers accustomed to tree-lined parkland courses should expect to control trajectory rather than rely only on carry distance.

Dragon is also unusually transparent about current pricing. Its published rate valid from April 1 through October 31, 2026 lists visitor 18-hole rounds at 2.2 million VND on weekdays and 2.7 million VND on weekends, including green fee and shared buggy. A caddie booking fee is listed separately, and night golf carries an additional 100,000 VND surcharge. Confirm the next tariff if playing after October 2026.

14. Silk Path Dong Trieu Golf & Country Club, Quang Ninh

• Location: Tam Hong area, An Sinh Ward, Quang Ninh
• Holes: 27
• Designer: Sir Nick Faldo / Faldo Design
• Opened: Officially opened as a 27-hole course in October 2024
• Terrain: Mature pine areas and pronounced elevation changes
• Best for: Experienced golfers traveling between Hanoi and Quang Ninh

Silk Path Dong Trieu is one of the newer Northern Vietnam golf courses with enough design character to justify a dedicated stop. Faldo Design worked with the rugged terrain rather than flattening it, preserving mature pine areas and creating substantial changes in elevation across the 27-hole property.

The course’s own description highlights repeated river crossings, bunkers protecting greens and strongly undulating putting surfaces. These features make approach placement important, especially for golfers who are comfortable driving the ball but less confident controlling distance into sloping greens.

Dong Trieu also strengthens the eastern golf route. A golfer can leave Hanoi, play Chi Linh or Silk Path, continue toward Ha Long and then play FLC Ha Long before or after a bay cruise. This is a more coherent itinerary than driving back to Hanoi after each round. Travelers combining golf with sightseeing can connect the final round naturally with Ha Long Bay tours.

15. FLC Ha Long Golf Club, Quang Ninh

• Location: Ha Long, Quang Ninh
• Holes: 18
• Designer: Schmidt-Curley Design
• Setting: Elevated hillside above Ha Long
• Resort scale: Part of a 157-hectare integrated complex
• Best for: Combining golf with Ha Long Bay

FLC Ha Long Golf Club is primarily valuable because the course and the destination reinforce each other. Schmidt-Curley designed the 18-hole course across high ground overlooking Ha Long, allowing golfers to see the coastal city and sections of the limestone bay from elevated parts of the property.

Elevation change is a real playing attribute rather than just a viewpoint. Uphill and downhill shots alter effective yardage, while exposed positions can bring wind into approach-club decisions. Golfers should therefore avoid choosing clubs solely from the scorecard distance on holes with strong vertical change.

The course forms part of the larger FLC Ha Long complex, which includes hotel accommodation, villas, clubhouse facilities and a convention center. It is therefore better suited to an overnight Ha Long itinerary than a rushed out-and-back round from Hanoi. A practical route is Hanoi golf first, followed by Dong Trieu or Chi Linh, Ha Long golf and an overnight bay experience.

16. Sapa Grand Golf Course, Lao Cai

• Location: Bat Xat, Lao Cai
• Holes: 18
• Par: 71
• Length: 6,656 yards
• 2026 weekday 18-hole rate: 1.8 million VND
• 2026 weekend and holiday 18-hole rate: 2.5 million VND

Sapa Grand Golf Course is the outlier in this list because it is a Northwest Vietnam destination rather than a realistic Hanoi day trip. Despite the name, the course is located in Bat Xat, Lao Cai, not in central Sa Pa town. The 18-hole layout plays to par 71 over 6,656 yards.

The mountain context gives the course an identity that Hanoi-area clubs cannot reproduce. Official hole descriptions reference the Hoang Lien landscape, views toward the China border, rice-terrace-inspired bunker shapes and a highest point around the 17th hole. That makes the round especially relevant for golfers already traveling through northern Lao Cai.

The club currently publishes unusually clear prices. An 18-hole round costs 1.8 million VND on weekdays and 2.5 million VND on weekends and holidays, including green fee, caddie fee and half a shared buggy. Golfers should build the course into a broader Lao Cai journey rather than travel from Hanoi only for one round. The Sapa travel guide can help plan the non-golf portion of the trip.

Which Northern Vietnam Golf Area Should You Choose?

Hanoi is the most flexible base for a first Northern Vietnam golf holiday, but moving between regions becomes more efficient once a trip includes four or more rounds. For example, staying overnight in Ninh Binh makes Legend Valley plus Stone Valley more practical than two separate transfers from Hanoi. The same logic applies to Vinpearl and Dragon in Hai Phong or Silk Path and FLC Ha Long in Quang Ninh.

Golfers comparing the northern region with Da Nang, Ho Tram or other parts of the country can use our overview of the top golf courses in Vietnam. Northern Vietnam stands out more for variety of inland terrain and multi-destination touring than for the continuous beachfront golf found on the central coast.

Practical Tips for Golfing in Northern Vietnam

• Confirm what the rate includes: Green fee, caddie and shared buggy may be packaged together at one club and itemized separately at another.
• Book weekends early: Saturday and Sunday tee times fill faster, especially around Hanoi and during the November-April golf season.
• Choose the correct tees: Courses such as Sky Lake exceed 7,500 yards from the back tees, but shorter tees substantially change the required carries.
• Allow for traffic: A distance that looks short on a map can take much longer during Hanoi commuter periods.
• Check the weather before leaving: Summer thunderstorms can affect tee times even when the morning starts clear.
• Carry light rain protection: Northern winter can bring drizzle even during the generally drier golf season.
• Reserve rental equipment: Club availability varies by course, shaft flex and handedness.
• Use golf clothing: Collared shirts, golf trousers or tailored shorts and suitable golf shoes are safer choices than casual travel clothing.

International travelers carrying their own clubs should also check airline sports-baggage allowances before flying domestically. Our guide to packing for a Vietnam golf trip covers equipment, clothing and practical preparation in more detail.

Plan Your Northern Vietnam Golf Trip with Paradise Travel

Paradise Travel is a licensed international tour operator and destination management company headquartered in Hanoi. The company has operated tours across Vietnam and neighboring Southeast Asian destinations since the early 2000s and holds TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice recognition for 2018, 2019 and 2024.

A Northern Vietnam golf itinerary can combine Hanoi courses with the mountain corridor around Tam Dao, the limestone landscapes of Ninh Binh, coastal rounds in Hai Phong or a golf-and-cruise stay in Ha Long. Our Vietnam golf tours can include tee-time coordination, private transport, hotels and non-golf activities for golfers and accompanying travelers.

Travelers who want to extend the journey beyond the fairways can also combine golf with a broader Northern Vietnam trip. Contact our Hanoi team with your travel dates, handicap range, preferred number of rounds and destination interests so the route can be planned around realistic transfer times and current tee-time availability.

Address: 81 Alley 12 Dao Tan Street, Giang Vo Ward, Hanoi, Vietnam

Hotline: 0989391076

Email: sales@vietnamparadisetravel.com