VIETNAM SET TO SWING

The sport of golf first came to Vietnam in the 1920s, when the last emperor, Bao Dai, hand a nine-hole course built in the central mountain town of Dalat. The course was abandoned in the 1950s, then resurrected in the 1960s by a desperate golf enthusiast, who substituted a mixture of sand and engine oil for grass. In 1975 the course was officially closed.

Today, the emperor himself would be impressed with the quality and range of choices of golf course in Vietnam. The country now boasts seven courses, set in some of Vietnam’s most spectacular natural surroundings.

Three popular options lie within easy reach of ho Chi Minh City: the 36-hole Vietnam Golf and Country Club, the Song be Golf Resort and the Bochang Dong Nai Resort. Their convenient locations and well-maintained greens make them ideal bets for a free afternoon or weekend. Further afield, in the beach town of Vung Tau, 125km south-east of Ho Chi Minh City, lies a 27-hole, seaside course. Another popular sporting destination is Phan Thiet, a beach resort, which lies three hours from Ho Chi Minh City. After playing at Phan Thiet’s Ocean Dunes Golf Club, an attractive, link-style seaside course, designed by nick Faldo, you can take advantage of PhanThiet’s varied water-sports and the beach. The final southern course, the Dalat Palace Golf Club, is the expanded and redesigned version of Emperor Bao Dai’s little course. Today, golfers in Dalat are presented with a beautiful, rolling 18-hole course with fine lake views. Meanwhile, in Vietnam’s north, about an hour out of Hanoi lies King’s Island – 18-holes of lakeside golf, set in a gorgeous, green valley.
What you won’t find on Vietnamese golf courses are long waits and crowds. What you will find are professionals, international managers and trainers, knowledgeable staff and courses designed by the world’s best-known golf professionals. Come and experience Asia’s hottest new golf destination and you’ll have a chance to play on some of the region’s newest and most exciting courses.