Vietnam has quietly become one of the world's most exciting golf destinations — and nowhere illustrates that rise more vividly than the stretch of coastline between Da Nang and Hoi An. Within a 30-minute drive you'll find courses designed by some of golf's most celebrated architects: Robert Trent Jones Jr., Colin Montgomerie, Luke Donald, and Greg Norman. Tee fees that would barely cover a round at your local club back home. And between rounds, a UNESCO World Heritage city, white-sand beaches, and some of the finest food in Southeast Asia. For Australian golfers seeking an exceptional golf holiday in Asia, Vietnam belongs at the very top of the list.
Why Da Nang is Vietnam's Golf Capital
Da Nang sits roughly in the middle of Vietnam's S-shaped coastline, just three hours by air from Sydney or Melbourne via a connection in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. The city itself is modern, well-serviced, and increasingly geared toward international tourism — but it's the golf infrastructure that truly sets it apart. Within a 50-kilometre radius, golfers have access to six world-class 18-hole courses, more concentrated quality than almost any comparable destination in Southeast Asia. The combination of reliable dry-season weather (October through April), dramatic coastal and mountain scenery, and competitive green fees has drawn serious golfers from Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Europe in rapidly growing numbers.
Hoiana Shores Golf Club — Vietnam's Coastal Masterpiece
Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and opened in 2020, Hoiana Shores is the course that put Vietnam firmly on the international golf map. Routed through dramatic sand dunes just metres from the South China Sea, it draws inevitable comparisons to the great links courses of Ireland and Scotland — except here you're playing in warm tropical sunshine with a caddie at your side and a cold Bia Hơi waiting at the 19th. The layout demands precision and imagination in equal measure: dune ridges, natural blowouts, and sea breezes make club selection a perpetual puzzle. The par-5 18th, playing along the beach into the prevailing wind, is one of the most memorable finishing holes in Asia.
Green fees for Hoiana Shores typically run between USD $120–$180, and caddies are included in the rate — a welcome norm across Vietnamese courses that Australian golfers quickly come to appreciate.
Montgomerie Links — Where Scotland Meets Central Vietnam
Designed by Colin Montgomerie and opened in 2009, Montgomerie Links Vietnam was one of the first international-standard courses to open in the Da Nang region and remains one of the finest. The layout is built on natural duneland alongside the Han River estuary, with wide fairways giving way to subtly undulating greens that punish any approach that misses the correct section of the putting surface. It's a more forgiving test than Hoiana Shores, which makes it an ideal warm-up or wind-down round for a multi-course itinerary.
The clubhouse is excellent — one of the better post-round facilities in Vietnam — and the views across the dunes toward the sea make for a fitting backdrop to a cold drink after the round. For groups organising golf tours in Vietnam, Montgomerie Links frequently features as the anchor course in a four or five-night Da Nang itinerary.
BRG Danang Golf Resort — Norman's Links Masterwork
Designed by Greg Norman and opened in 2016, BRG Danang sits on a dramatic stretch of coastline north of the city. Norman's design philosophy — reward bold play while providing bail-out options for the prudent — is on full display here. Several holes play directly alongside the sea, and the constant presence of the ocean, whether you're looking at it or just hearing the waves crash beyond the dunes, makes BRG one of Vietnam's most atmospheric golfing experiences. The greens are immaculate, the turf presentation first-class, and the staff-to-guest ratio ensures a luxury experience from the moment you arrive.
Ba Na Hills Golf Club — Golf Above the Clouds
For something completely different, Ba Na Hills Golf Club — designed by Luke Donald and situated at 1,500 metres above sea level in the Trường Sơn mountains behind Da Nang — offers a round unlike anything else in Vietnam. The cool mountain air (temperatures can be 10–15°C lower than the coast), misty views across forested peaks, and a parkland layout that winds through pristine jungle create an experience more akin to playing in the Scottish Highlands than tropical Asia. Distance judgement becomes an art form at altitude; expect your irons to fly further than usual.
Ba Na Hills is typically combined with a visit to the famous Golden Bridge — the stone-handed arch that has become one of Vietnam's most photographed landmarks — making for a day that satisfies both golfer and non-golfer travelling companions.
Laguna Lang Co — Nicklaus Design on a Lagoon
About an hour north of Da Nang, Laguna Lang Co Golf Club sits on a narrow strip of land between a sheltered lagoon and the sea, within the luxurious Laguna Lang Co resort complex. Designed by Sir Nick Faldo and opened in 2013, the course rewards precision over power — Faldo's hallmark. Several holes require carries over water, and the ever-present trade winds off the ocean add a layer of complexity that keeps even low-handicappers honest. The resort setting means golfers can combine a round with a spa day, beach time, or a day-trip to Hue (one of Vietnam's most historically significant cities, just 30 minutes away).
Danang Golf Club — The Tournament Venue
Designed by Greg Norman and operated by IMG, Danang Golf Club is the region's tournament course — it has hosted multiple Asian Tour events and provides the most rigorous test of the Da Nang cluster. The layout is carved through natural duneland with thick native grasses framing fairways and creating genuine peril for offline tee shots. The conditioning is consistently exceptional, and for competitive golfers who want to benchmark themselves against a professional tour venue, this is the round to play.
Beyond Da Nang: Golf in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi
While Da Nang dominates Vietnam's golf landscape, both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi offer solid course options for golfers extending their trip. HCMC's suburban fringe hosts several well-maintained parkland courses including Long Thanh Golf Club and Vietnam Golf & Country Club — the latter being a long-established Nick Faldo design that remains popular with business travellers. Hanoi's environs offer courses like BRG Kings Island, a Lake Course and Mountain Course combination that provides a different character to the coastal layouts further south.
Planning Your Vietnam Golf Tour
Most Australian golfers visiting Vietnam base themselves in Da Nang for 4–7 nights and play three to five courses during their stay. The city's hotel infrastructure — ranging from international five-star properties along My Khe Beach to boutique options in the city centre — has grown substantially in recent years, and transfers between hotels and courses typically take 15–40 minutes depending on your chosen layout.
The optimal season for golf in Da Nang runs from late October through to the end of April. The summer months (May–September) bring higher humidity and the risk of typhoons, while February and March offer the most consistently clear skies and moderate temperatures. Green fees across Vietnam's top courses range from approximately USD $80 to $180, with caddies included in virtually every case — a significant value proposition compared to comparable courses in Australia or New Zealand.
At ASEAN Links Golf, our Vietnam tours are built around the courses described above, combining tee times at the best layouts with curated off-course experiences — from lantern-lit evenings in Hoi An's Ancient Town to a cooking class on the banks of the Thu Bon River. We handle every logistical detail so you can focus on your game and your journey.