There is a moment on the 13th hole at Angkor Golf Resort when the fairway opens up and the ancient stone spires of a Khmer temple appear just beyond the tree line. It is the kind of scene that stops golfers mid-backswing. Nowhere else on earth will you find championship golf in such immediate proximity to a UNESCO World Heritage site of this scale and antiquity.
Siem Reap is one of Asia's best-kept golf secrets. While Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia have long dominated the Asian golf travel conversation, Cambodia has been quietly developing a circuit of genuinely excellent courses - and pairing them with one of the most extraordinary cultural experiences on the planet. Here is what you need to know.
The Courses: Cambodia's Siem Reap Golf Circuit
Siem Reap hosts several courses worthy of any serious golf itinerary, with two standing out as the centrepieces of any visit.
Angkor Golf Resort is the flagship course and one of the most distinctive layouts in Southeast Asia. Designed with wide, sculpted fairways and generous greens, the course weaves through lush tropical scenery with views toward the Angkor temple complex. Signature holes include the demanding par-4 13th, where water and ancient ruins combine to create one of the region's most memorable risk-reward decisions. The conditioning is exceptional for the region, and the course plays host to the country's most prestigious pro-am events.
Phokeethra Country Club sits just minutes from Angkor Golf Resort and offers a contrasting experience - a tighter, more technical layout that rewards accurate iron play over power. The clubhouse facilities are excellent, and the club has become a favourite among expat golfers and visiting tour groups alike for its consistent presentation and welcoming atmosphere.
Beyond Siem Reap, the broader Cambodia golf circuit includes Vattanac Golf Resort and Garden City Golf Club near Phnom Penh - both worthy inclusions in a longer Cambodia itinerary that pairs the temples of Angkor with the capital's emerging restaurant and arts scene.
Angkor Wat: Why the Experience Is Unlike Anything Else
Most visitors to Siem Reap spend one morning at Angkor Wat and consider the temple complex covered. Golf travellers who know better structure their itinerary differently. The Angkor Archaeological Park contains hundreds of temples spread across more than 400 square kilometres, and the range of experiences - from the iconic Angkor Wat sunrise reflection to the jungle-enveloped Ta Prohm, where tree roots have consumed entire stone corridors - justifies multiple visits across different times of day.
Watching the sun rise over Angkor Wat from the reflection pool is one of Asia's great travel experiences. The combination of arriving before dawn, watching the temple transition from silhouette to gold in the morning light, then heading out for an 8am tee time at Angkor Golf Resort is the kind of day that defines a trip. No other golf destination in the world offers this specific juxtaposition.
Tonle Sap Lake - the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia - sits a short drive south of Siem Reap and offers another dimension to the experience. A late-afternoon boat tour on the lake, watching local fishermen work the same waterways their ancestors have worked for a thousand years, is a reminder of how much depth Cambodia holds beyond the temples.
Why Siem Reap Makes the Perfect Gateway Before Vietnam
Logistically, Siem Reap is superbly positioned as a lead-in destination before a Vietnam golf tour. Direct flights connect Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang, making it easy to start in Cambodia and move seamlessly north or east into Vietnam without backtracking.
The contrast between the two destinations is part of the appeal. Cambodia offers a quieter, more contemplative experience - smaller crowds at the courses, more open countryside, deeper cultural immersion. Vietnam, particularly Da Nang and Hoi An, delivers a livelier coastal atmosphere, beach access and perhaps the highest concentration of world-class golf courses in Southeast Asia. Together, they form a complementary pairing that covers multiple dimensions of what Asia has to offer.
The Grand ASEAN Tour 2027 is built around exactly this logic: beginning in Siem Reap for four days of Cambodia golf and temple exploration, then moving through Vietnam for ten days of coastal championship golf from Da Nang down through Hoi An, finishing with the North to Coast journey through Hanoi and Ha Long Bay. At AUD $9,498 per person for 19 days and 18 nights, it is the most comprehensive golf experience in the ASEAN region available as a guided package.
The Cambodia Golf Experience: What ASEAN Links Offers
The Cambodia Golf Experience (Feb 22 - Mar 1, 2027 - 8 days/7 nights - AUD $3,999 per person) was built specifically around the Siem Reap golf circuit and the Angkor temple experience. The itinerary includes rounds at Angkor Golf Resort and Phokeethra Country Club, guided temple visits, and the full logistical support that makes the difference between a holiday and an ordeal when navigating a new destination.
Guided by PGA of Australia professionals with 20+ years of golf industry experience, the tour is designed for golfers who want to play outstanding courses without spending their evenings on hold with hotel booking services. ASEAN Links handles tee times, transfers, accommodation and daily logistics - leaving guests free to focus on the golf, the temples and the extraordinary Khmer cuisine that Siem Reap's restaurant scene has quietly become famous for.
Practical Information for Visiting Golfers
Entry to Cambodia is straightforward for visitors from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the US and Europe. An e-visa is available online for most nationalities at USD $36, valid for 30 days. The process typically takes 3 business days online.
The Cambodian Riel is the local currency, but US dollars are universally accepted and preferred for most transactions including green fees, hotels and restaurants. ATMs are readily available in Siem Reap. Tipping is expected and appreciated - USD $2 - $5 per caddie per round is standard.
Equipment-wise, Vietnam and Cambodia both have well-stocked club rental options at major courses, but most serious golfers prefer to travel with their own sticks. Bag storage and club cleaning services are excellent at both Angkor Golf Resort and Phokeethra.
Questions about the Cambodia tour, availability or what to expect on the ground? Contact the ASEAN Links team on WhatsApp or at aseanlinksgolf@gmail.com. Guided by Golfers. Not Travel Agents.