Planning a Vietnam Golf Holiday from Australia: Flights, Timing and Budget

Flights

At the time of writing, there are no direct flights from Australia to Da Nang. Direct services fly to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and you connect to Da Nang on a domestic flight of a little over an hour.

• Vietnam Airlines flies direct from Sydney and Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and from Perth to Ho Chi Minh City.
• Vietjet flies direct to Ho Chi Minh City from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, and has announced a Western Sydney service from January 2027.
• One-stop options via Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok or Hong Kong fly straight into Da Nang. Singapore Airlines, for example, quotes about 11½ to 12 hours in total from Sydney and about 8½ hours from Perth.

Which is better depends on where you live and where the trip starts. For a Central Vietnam holiday, a one-stop flight straight into Da Nang is often simpler than a direct flight followed by a domestic connection. For a trip that starts in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, the direct flights are hard to beat.

Check the baggage allowance on every sector, including the domestic one. Low-cost fares often exclude checked bags, and golf bags are sometimes charged separately.

When to go

For Da Nang and Hoi An, the dry season runs roughly February to August, with March to July the most reliable. That lines up well with the Australian autumn and winter. October and November are the wettest months on the central coast.

Hanoi and the north are at their best from October to April, and Ho Chi Minh City from December to April. If you can only travel during Australian school holidays, choose the region that suits those dates. Our guide to choosing a Vietnam golf region compares all three.

Avoid Tet, the Lunar New Year in late January or February, unless you book well ahead. Many businesses close for several days and domestic travel is very busy.

Visas and entry

Australian passport holders need a visa for Vietnam. The e-visa is applied for online, can be valid for up to 90 days, and should be done through the official government portal rather than an agent's website. Leave enough time before departure. Our visa guide covers the steps. Entry rules can change, so check the official portal and the Australian Government's Smartraveller advice before you travel.

Taking your clubs

Most golfers bring their own clubs. Use a hard case or a well-padded travel bag, take the driver head off, and put a stiff arm or broom handle in the bag to protect the shafts. Hire clubs are available at the main courses if you prefer to travel light. Our golf clubs travel guide has a full checklist.

Tell us your airline and the number of bags. Golf bags take up a lot of room, so vehicle size is planned around them.

Budget and money

Holiday prices are set in both US and Australian dollars. Use the currency switch at the top of the page. All prices are per person, twin share. They start at US$695 for the four-day LINKS Escape and US$1,645 for the seven-day LINKS Central, with four-star hotels. International flights, travel insurance, caddie tips and meals not listed are extra.

On the ground, the local currency is the Vietnamese dong. Caddie tips are paid in cash directly to the caddie. Allow roughly VND 300,000 to 500,000 per round. Meals out cost much less than in Australia. The cost guide has a full breakdown, and the caddie and tipping guide explains what is customary.

Booking in the right order

1. Choose your dates and region.
2. Confirm the golf and hotels. Good tee times and beachfront rooms book out first in the dry season.
3. Book flights once the land arrangements are confirmed, or ask us to work around flights you already hold.
4. Apply for the e-visa and arrange travel insurance that covers golf equipment.