7 Packing Tips for your Golf Holidays in Vietnam and Indochina
July 8, 2023Packing properly can make or break your golf holidays, especially when you are traveling internationally. This article is our packing tips and…
If you’re planning on playing golf in Vietnam or are just curious about what it’s like, keep reading because there are a few tips to make it more enjoyable.
At the moment, there are approximately 60 golf courses in Vietnam and 60 more under construction. The courses are diverse in years of construction. There are older courses such as Da Lat Palace Golf Club, which were built by the French during their colonial era and finished in 1922, or the first northern golf club built in 1993 – King’s Insland Golf Club. On the other hand, there are newer courses such as Bana Hills Golf Club in Danang, Vin Pearl Golf Club in Phu Quoc … In the past several years, more and more golf are played by foreign visitors from America, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Australia … as well as Vietnamese people. This enthusiasm is the main driven force for rapid golf courses expansion in Vietnam.
During the Vietnam War, Da Lat and its golf resorts became a peaceful retreat point due to an agreement among the warring sides to set the area aside for rest and relaxation (This area was also one of the very first Vietnam golf resorts). As a result, golf back then was viewed as a sport of imperialism, and later on a bourgeois pursuits, and was banned by Vietnam government after the war. Early 1990s, Vietnam opened to international commerce, which brought many foreign businessmen and politicians flowing into the country. The demand for more golf courses raised, leading to more construction of new golf fields. As a result, Vietnam government developed a better appreciation for the game. Vietnam golf and country clubs became more and more well-known domestically and internationally. Nowadays, not only foreign visitors and local Vietnamese but also many Vietnam leaders play golf frequently.
There are various types of transportation in Vietnam. Golfers can travel around by renting a car with driver in Vietnam or using taxi. Other popular choices to travel between major cities are by train or air. At the moment, there are 10 international airports in Vietnam with regular Vietnam domestic flight routes to accommodate the high traffic of travelers in Vietnam.
Passport must be over 6 months of validity from the travel date. If you are from a country that is required to have visa to Vietnam, please be sure that you either have visa or letter of visa on arrival, you will need to print the letter and bring with you to get on your flight and get the visa stamped at arrival airport. Learn more about Vietnam visa exemption and application.
USD, Euro, AUD and GBP are quite popular accepted in main cities in our countries, but travelers should change to local currency at arrival airport, at the hotel or nearby banks. Visa & Master Cards are also popular accepted at big shops at main cities. Check for yourself the amount of money you are allowed to bring out of your country. Foreigners can bring US$ 5,000 to Vietnam. If the amount exceeds mentioned ones, it must be declared at arrival airport.
Popular electricity is 220 Volts/ 2-pins or 3-pins plug. It is recommended for you to bring an all-in-one travel adapter when travelling to Vietnam or any South-east Asia countries.
Mobile phone service in Vietnam is quite cheap. Phone & internet services and facilities in Vietnam is very developed. The three major providers in Vietnam are Viettel, Vinaphone, and Mobiphone. Wifi could be accessed in most hotels, cafes, and many other facilities in developed area. Just check with the employees there for the Wifi password.
Vietnam is famous for the diverse combination of healthy ingredients to make Vietnamese authentic and balance yet distinguished cuisines. For travelers, Vietnam Paradise Travel combines both local and Western food and changes menu day by day during your tour (Please note with us if you have certain inquiries, food allergies or if you request a special diet).
There is no doubt that weather is one of the most important factors for your golf vacation. Due to Vietnam’s stretching geography and its diverse topography, the country spans to different climate zones. In general, the North of Vietnam is cooler and experiences 4 seasons. Central and Southern Vietnam only have two season: dry and rainy seasons.
This is the best time to golf anywhere in Vietnam and is when the temperature is mild and the weather is dry. Golfers could expect some sunlight but it will not be long nor get too hot in the North, dry and warmer in the Central and the South
The time frame is good for golfing in Danang and the Central area. Down to Southern area, the weather gets hotter, especially in Saigon while getting humid with high rainfall in the North. Golfing in these areas will get the players sweat badly or the game to be delayed during that time.
It is quite hot in the central area, temperatures can hit the mid 30°Cs; whilst high levels of rainfall can occur further in September, October, and November. In North and South Vietnam, players should expect sudden quick rain frequently which will stop within 30 minutes, but at the same time, that the rain will make the atmosphere cooler. Hence, players could take a short break before continue the round.
Throughout the country, the weather is unpredictable due to typhoon or sea storm affecting the coast, which could delay a golf tour 5-7 days. However, golfers could still play in Hanoi or Northern golf courses (Flamingo Golf Club, BRG Kings Island Golf Resort, BRG Legend Hill Golf Resort…). Make sure to check with your booking agent or local tour operator to keep yourself updated with the weather condition.
During Vietnam holidays, golf courses in Vietnam open for players with weekend fees. Golf courses during these days will have more players than usual. For that reason, if you plan to play on this period of time, make sure you check with your local tour operator for booking and further advises.
In sum, Vietnam has such diverse climate that golfers could play in Vietnam at any time of year. Commonly, based on the length of your stay, you should plan to catch the best possible weather and places. Share your golf tour idea with our travel experts to plan the best possible golf tour. Furthermore, take a look at our Vietnam golf packages 2024 – 2025 for more inspiration.
Vietnam is recently one of the golf destinations in Southeast Asia. There are a variety of well-designed golf courses to choose from North to South. The average cost of golf in Vietnam range from $70 to $150 depends on location and time of the week. The best part is that players could play cheap golf in Vietnam on world-class quality golf courses. Even though golf courses on weekends tend to be busy with members and their guests playing but during mid-week or early in the week, there usually are special golf deals for best-money-value. Here are best golf courses in Vietnam for 2024 – 2025.
Sky Lake Resort & Golf Club, Hanoi is located 45 kilometers from central Hanoi. It was twice voted the most difficult golf course in Vietnam by the Vietnam Golf Association as well as awarded as the best championship course in Vietnam. The whole complex golfing is made up by two courses: the 18-hole Sky Course and 18-hole Lake Course.
BRG Kings Island Golf Resort, Hanoi is rated as one of the most beautiful golf courses in Southeast Asia. The course located in Dong Mo, Son Tay, which is 50 km from Hanoi (1.5 hour drive). This There are two 18-hole courses, which are the Lakeside course and the Mountainview course. Beside featuring an excellent restaurant serving a wide range of cuisines, the Resort also offers a wide range of activities including sailing, fishing, and swimming.
Chi Linh Star Golf & Country Club, Hai Duong would make a great choice for golfers who want to experience UNESCO world heritage Halong Bay. It is in the middle between Hanoi and Halong Bay and one of the newest golf club opened in Vietnam. The field was designed by Independent Golf Course Services and features 27 holes of challenging international standard golfing. It is laid in a beautiful valley, surrounded with forests, hills with natural water hazards, creeks, and lakes.
Danang Golf club, Danang is another wonderful link-style course designed by Greg Norman and certainly is the best golf course in Danang. It is also recognized as one of the 15 best new courses in the world by USA GOLF magazine. The course is built on the rolling sand dunes which are typical of this part of Vietnam. It is sometimes difficult to recognize where the course ends since it blends so well with the surrounding countryside. Together with Montgomerie Links Danang, these two fields hold an ideal location for playing golf in Hoi An and Danang.
Montgomerie Links, Danang is located 15-20 minutes of driving from center of Danang. Built in the shadows of the famous Marble Mountains, the course is a wonderful championship golf course named after Colin Montgomerie, champion golfer and Ryder cup hero. It was rated as one of Asia’s 10 most elite courses by Forbes Travel Guide in 2012, as well as was reviewed positively by golf writers and journalists around the world.
Bana Hills Golf Club, Danang is located 40 minutes of driving from center of Danang. Despite its young age, the course is rapidly earning a reputation as one of the best golf courses in the area. This is the first and only course in Danang that has floodlights covering all 18 holes that allows for night golf. The course sits at the foot of a towering mountain range, on a hilly piece of terrain covered with lakes, streams and lush vegetation.
Laguna Lang Co Golf Club,Danang resides near beautiful Lang Co Bay. The course is designed by 6-time Major winner – Sir Nick Faldo, who has earned himself a reputation for building difficult courses. Located 90 minutes of driving from center of Danang, Laguna Lang Co course is set in a beautiful valley between the mountain and the sea. It is a great choice to combine your Vietnam golf tour with beach holiday.
List of all best golf courses in Danang and Central Vietnam: Golf courses in Danang, Hoi An, Hue, Nghe An, Quy Nhon, Nha Trang
Dalat Palace Golf Club, Dalat is situated in the South-western highlands of Vietnam and was originally built by the French in 1920s at the height of their colonial era. This is also one of the most famous golf courses in Vietnam for many reasons: it is the oldest and only golf courses in Vietnam with Bent Grass greens that thrives perfectly in the cooler climate of Dalat. Another bonus is that the field location is 10 minutes of driving from Dalat center.
The Bluff Ho Tram is located 125 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh city (about 3 hours drive). This course is recommended as one of the must-play if you are looking for Ho Chi Minh golf courses. It was designed to replicate the type of Scotland links golf. A feature of this courses are the dramatic ocean views from many of the holes.
Taekwang Jeongsan Country Club, Dong Nai is a 18-hole course located on Dai Phuoc ecological island, surrounded by Dong Nai river and it takes about 25 minutes by boat from Ho Chi Minh City. A special and unique factor about golf courses located on island is how to get there. Golfers can experience playing golf on island through wavy Fairways, heavy bunkers along the holes and fresh breeze wind from one of the major river in the South of Viet Nam.
Twin doves golf resort, Binh Duong is a world-class private golf club within a resort and villa estate, which is envisaged to be the first international residence resort in Vietnam. The club offers 27-hole international championship golf course, luxurious Club House with a variety of sport facilities and services, choice of restaurants of international cuisine and unsurpassed personalized service. This is a “Members Only Club” which will offer only a limited number of memberships to ensure the enjoyment of the Members and exclusiveness of the Club.
Vin Pearl Golf Club, Phu Quoc island is located on Phu Quoc island and 1 hour flight from Ho Chi Minh city, this is an international airport on the island, which means players could fly directly from several major Asian cities to here. The three of nines here present the golfers with different challenges resulting in a wonderful 18 holes. The highlights of this facility include outstanding services and well-trained caddies.
The majority of golf courses are located nearby major cities of Vietnam. Golfers in their free time could go on half day or full day city tour to explore the history, culture, and local’s lifestyle of beautiful Vietnam. In the north, travelers could visit Hanoi, the capital as well as ancient city of Vietnam, or visit nearby handicraft village such as Bat Trang Pottery village or Van Phuc Silk village. Hanoi is also a good base for further excursion to Halong Bay, Sapa, Mai Chau, or Moc Chau. In central area of Vietnam, travelers could visits royal Hue city, major port Danang city or world heritage ancient Hoi An town. In the south, travelers could visit the “eternal spring” Dalat city or bustling Ho Chi Minh city.
Vietnamese cuisine is well-known for its various combinations of diverse fresh and healthy ingredients to create harmonious and well-balance dishes. For dinning, beside many options of Western dishes, golfers could explore famous Vietnamese dishes such as Pho noddle, Bun Bo hue noodle, Bun Cha, Banh mi, Nem eggroll, egg coffee…
Vietnam’s majestic countryside is a remarkable place to cycle as it offers stunning natural vistas, amazing culture and some of the most beautiful and friendly people in the world. Golfers on their free day could rent a bike, go with a group tour or a tour guide to explore the fantastic sceneries of Vietnam.
Halong Bay is another Unesco World Heritage Site in Vietnam. A day cruise or over night cruise at Halong Bay in the middle of crystal blue waters scattered with limestone peaks surely is a memorable experience for visitors. On the other hand, Mekong Delta is a vital ecosystem of the region. Cruising on Mekong Delta and exploring many attractions on the way such as floating markets, flower or fruit orchards, temples and pagodas… is a great combination with your Vietnam luxury golf tour.
This is a different way to discover Halong Bay. Halong Bay seaplane is an unique and luxurious experience of UNESCO World Heritage Halong Bay. This tour will offer you a bird-eye view from the sky above emerald water where you could watch majestic limestone islands. You will get to visit the most attractive destinations in the bay such as Cua Van Fishing Village, Surprise Cave or Heaven Cave.
Vietnam is a coastal country with over hundred beautiful beaches. From North to South of Vietnam, there are many beautiful beaches nearby golf courses such as Bai Chay, Cat Ba, or Sam Son beach nearby Hanoi, My Khe Beach in Danang, Nha Trang beach nearby Dalat, Ho Coc beach in Vung Tau… It is a great idea to combine your Vietnam golf tour with beach holiday in Vietnam. Check out ideas for beach holiday in Vietnam.
Vietnam has many temples and pagodas that worship Eastern entities and reflect the belief as well as the philosophy of Easterners. If beside golf, your interests are philosophy, religions, or spiritual subjects, you could visit the temples and pagodas in Vietnam. Many famous and beautiful spiritual constructions are Perfume pagoda, One pillar pagoda, Thien Mu pagoda, Linh Ung pagoda, Linh Phuoc pagoda, Van Hanh pagoda…
Local souvenir could be a great source to reflect one country’s culture and history as well as souvenir shopping is a great activities if your tour time is restricted. Vietnam is famous for its handicraft products, hence, some souvenir ideas for visitors are: straw hat, tradition dress Ao Dai, silk, bamboo and wooden products, lacquer ware…
Dear Tracey,
This is to let you know that we are both very pleased with our driver and our guide during our holiday tour in Vietnam.
Our driver was safe, helpful and reliable, our guide was always friendly, helpful and informative.
We would highly recommend them to other visitors from overseas.
With best regards,
Alexander and Angelika
Due to the diverse weather, it is different from the North to the South. But overall, the best weather will be during Spring (February-April) and Fall (August-October).
For a broader view, you could check out the Vietnam weather table on our top Vietnam tours part
Weighing both the pros and cons of bringing your own golf clubs to Indochina, my advice is that if your trip is mainly for golf, you will be happier using your own full set of 14 clubs. You will feel more comfortable, confident and not have to get used to anything new, thus promoting better scores in the process. On the other hand, if you are travelling more for sightseeing, business, or have arranged your own golf and transfers, then I would suggest renting clubs at each course.
Vietnam in general is a hot and humid tropical country, especially in the months of May to September. So prepare your golf outfit accordingly. Sun screen, sun glasses, or umbrella could be purchased with good price when you are here so there is no need for packing those. You could learn more about what to pack from our Golf travel tips blog.
Yes, travelers should change money on arrival to pay for incidentals, gratuities, and small items at stores that do not accept credit cards. All major airports have money changing kiosks, banks, and ATM machines where local currency can be purchased at competitive rates.
The advantage of using a local golf tour operator like us is that we will take all the responsibility of securing your accommodation, golf course bookings, and transport arrangements during your holiday. With the expertise of knowing how local business works, together with the potential language complications, this will ensure that from the moment you arrive, you will have the maximum free time to enjoy every aspect of your golf tour, without any worries and concerns.
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