It is one of the most common questions we receive. "I'm a 18 handicapper - is Vietnam golf too hard for me?" Or: "My mate plays off scratch and I'm a 24 - will I enjoy the same courses he does?" The short answer is yes, and yes. Vietnam's golf courses are built to be played at every level. Here is the honest, practical breakdown of what to expect, which courses suit which handicaps, and why the Vietnam golf difficulty question matters far less than most players assume.
The Short Answer: Vietnam Golf Suits All Handicaps
Every major course in Vietnam offers multiple tee positions - typically four to five options ranging from a forward tee that brings the course in at under 5,500 yards, through to a full championship tee that can stretch beyond 7,000. This range is not an afterthought. Vietnam's designers - names including Montgomerie, Nick Faldo, Robert Trent Jones Jr, Luke Donald, and Greg Norman - built courses that are accessible to recreational players while still challenging professionals from the back pegs.
The question is not whether you are good enough for Vietnam golf. The question is which tees you should play from - and that is a decision your caddie and your ASEAN Links guide will help you make before you step onto the first tee.
Montgomerie Links: Precision Over Power
Montgomerie Links in Hoi An is one of the best examples of a course that rewards precision more than length. Colin Montgomerie's design philosophy has always favoured accuracy - the Ryder Cup veteran was famously one of the straightest drivers on tour throughout his career, and that philosophy filters directly into his course design. Fairways are generous for the accurate player but punishing for the wayward one, regardless of handicap.
A 16-handicapper who keeps it in play at Montgomerie Links will score better and enjoy the round more than a 6-handicapper who misses left and right. This is genuinely one of those courses where the mid-handicapper who plays to their game - straight driving, conservative approach play, two-putt mindset - has a thoroughly enjoyable round. From the appropriate tees, the course is visually spectacular without being intimidating.
Hoiana Shores: When the Wind is Up, Everyone Suffers Equally
Hoiana Shores, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr, is the closest thing to a links course in Vietnam - and like all links golf, the wind changes everything. On a calm morning, the course is magnificent and entirely manageable for a 22-handicapper playing the right tees. When the wind comes off the South China Sea, even low-handicappers are taking double bogeys and feeling grateful for the caddie's local knowledge.
This is actually part of what makes Hoiana Shores so compelling. Wind is the great equaliser. The scratch player does not automatically dominate when a 20-knot headwind turns a 150-metre par three into a genuine two-club choice with margin for error measured in metres rather than yards. Playing Hoiana Shores in breezy conditions is an experience no golfer forgets - and the course's coastal setting makes even the frustrating holes visually stunning.
Ba Na Hills: The One That Genuinely Challenges Everyone
Ba Na Hills, designed by Luke Donald, is the outlier in the Vietnam course collection. Situated at altitude in the hills above Da Nang, it plays differently from the coastal courses in almost every respect - cooler temperatures, mountain air, elevation changes on almost every hole, and a routing that demands spatial awareness and altitude-adjusted club selection throughout.
This is Vietnam's most genuinely difficult course, and it is honest to say so. The ball does fly further in the thin mountain air, which helps length-limited players more than they expect. But the course demands shot-making that goes beyond "hit it straight." There are forced carries, dramatic uphill and downhill lies, and approach shots that require precise distance control in conditions most players from Australia, New Zealand, or Europe have never experienced.
For higher-handicap players, Ba Na Hills is entirely playable - but it is worth adjusting expectations. Your score here is going to be higher than at Montgomerie Links or Laguna Lang Co. That is completely fine. The experience of playing in those surroundings, with the mountain backdrop, the cooler air, and the extraordinary drama of the routing, is worth a few extra strokes on the card.
The Caddie: Your Best Asset Regardless of Handicap
Every green fee at Vietnam's premium courses includes a caddie. This is not a luxury add-on. It is integral to the experience, and for mid-to-high handicappers it is arguably the most valuable element of the entire round. A good Vietnamese caddie knows every slope, every break, every local wind pattern. They know which bunkers you can carry and which ones you cannot. They know the hole where every visitor tries to cut the corner and fails.
Listen to your caddie. This cannot be overstated. The players who get the most out of Vietnam golf are the ones who build a relationship with their caddie in the first two or three holes and then trust the club selection and line they are given for the remaining fifteen. A 20-handicapper with a good caddie will consistently outscore a 12-handicapper who is too proud to take advice.
Caddies in Vietnam are also an important part of the cultural experience. Most have worked at their courses for years and have an easy, warm rapport with international visitors. They are proud of their courses and love seeing players enjoy them. Tipping well is standard practice and genuinely appreciated - budget around 200,000 to 300,000 VND (approximately AUD $12-18) per round as a guideline.
Practical Tips for Mid and High Handicappers in Vietnam
Play the forward tees on your first round. This is not a compromise - it is good sense. When you are jet-lagged, unfamiliar with the course, and adjusting to humidity and heat (or altitude), playing from a shorter tee means you are in the game and scoring, rather than struggling through a layout that is too long. You can always move back on day two once you understand the course's character.
Don't worry about your score. This is genuine advice, not a platitude. Vietnam golf is about the experience as much as the scorecard. The round at Laguna Lang Co with Lang Co Bay glittering beyond the 18th green is not diminished because you made a triple on the par five. Let the experience land. The scenic moments, the caddie banter, the cold towel at the turn - these are what you will talk about when you get home, not the number on the card.
Hydrate and pace yourself. Central Vietnam is humid, particularly in August. Even in the more temperate conditions of March, the golf is more physically demanding than it looks. Drink water constantly, take the available shade at tee boxes, and do not skip the cold drinks cart when it comes around.
Accept the different ball flight. The humidity affects trajectory more than most recreational players expect. Balls fly slightly lower and run less than in drier conditions. At altitude on Ba Na Hills, the reverse applies. Your caddie will guide you - trust them.
Which Tours Work Best for Higher Handicappers?
All ASEAN Links tours are designed for golfers of all levels, and no minimum handicap applies. The Hoi An: Links & Lanterns tour (August 9-15, 2026, from $3,199pp) is an excellent entry point - seven days focused on Hoi An's premium courses with evenings in the UNESCO-listed Ancient Town. The courses here - Montgomerie Links and Vinpearl Golf Nam Hoi An - are accessible and rewarding for mid-handicappers.
The Da Nang: Dragon & Dunes tour (August 16-22, 2026, from $3,399pp) adds Ba Na Hills and Hoiana Shores to the mix - stepping up the challenge level while still providing the full guided support structure that means no player is left behind. The combined experience of these two tours across 14 days (from $5,999pp) covers the full range of what central Vietnam golf has to offer.
For questions about which itinerary best suits your group's handicap range, take a look at our FAQ page or reach out directly - we are happy to walk through the options and help you choose the right combination of courses and tours for your game.
The Bottom Line
There is no handicap threshold for playing golf in Vietnam. The courses are accessible, the caddies are exceptional, the tee options are generous, and the overall experience is one that genuinely transcends score. Players who arrive with the right mindset - here to enjoy world-class golf in an extraordinary country, rather than to post a career best round - consistently have the best time, regardless of whether their handicap is 4 or 36.
Vietnam golf is not a test. It is an experience. And it is one that every level of player can fully enjoy.