6 Reasons Why Vietnam May be the Perfect Golf Getaway

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Golf in Vietnam is becoming an increasingly popular activity and it’s easy to see why with a diverse and picturesque landscape, five-star hotels at a fraction of the price, delicious award-winning dining options and a plentiful amount of stunning resorts and championship quality golf courses designed by all your favourite architects while featuring ocean and mountain views at every turn.

  1. The Landscape: Vietnam borders China to the North, Laos and Cambodia to the West and has a 2025-mile coastline along the Tonkin Gulf, the South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. Giving it an incredible topography from stacked rice fields, to mountain vistas, gorgeous beaches and the famous Halong Bay.
  2. The Food: The mouthwatering flavours of Vietnamese cuisine is literally a feast for your senses. Known for their limited use of dairy and oils combined and finding a perfect harmony between fresh ingredients, herbs and selective spices, Vietnamese dishes are considered to be some of the tastiest and healthiest in the world.
  3. Hotels and Resorts: No matter which area you decide to stay, there will be fine luxury hotels and resorts for a fraction of the price.  This coupled with the friendly staff and attention to detail towards the customer will make you want to extend any holiday in this magical land.
  4. The golf courses:  Vietnam currently boasts 35 stunning layouts, with another 65 in the works for the near future. From courses in the far south such as The Bluffs at Ho Tram Strip to central courses like Dalat at 1200 Country Club, island getaways of Vinpearl Golf Club, beachside courses Danang Golf Club to views like Halong Bay at Phoenix Golf Resort, Vietnam offers courses from your favourite designers with a variety of picturesque views.
  5. The People: The open heartedness of the people of Vietnam is prevalent everywhere. Known for wearing their Taditional Conical Hat (Non La), it is really the smiles and welcoming demeanor underneath the brim that will have you enchanted.  Their service levels at the resorts and golf courses is second to none, and will make you want to have a return visit soon.
  6. Stunning Beaches: With miles and miles of coastline, Vietnam offers some of the most picturesque beaches around and allowing you to choose from lively action spots to secluded private lagoons. A perfect way to unwind, relax and soak up the sun while feeling the salt water caress your skin after a long day on the links.

A Vietnam Golf Holiday may not be on the top of your list but it should be. This land of breathtaking natural beauty and its unique heritage will awaken all your senses on and off of the golf course.

AccorHotels Vietnam World Masters – The Golf Tournament Biggest Ever

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Danang, Vietnam 14 August 2017 — The third annual AccorHotels Vietnam World Masters Golf Championship welcomes over 160 participants to Danang in Central Vietnam from 13 to 19 August 2017.

This year’s tournament is the biggest ever and will bring together golfers and non-playing partners for the ultimate event and Vietnam golf holiday experience. The event is open to male and female golfers aged 35 plus and competition is played in divisions based on age and golf handicap. The event is supported by major tournament sponsors AccorHotels, Titleist and Nikon.

The all-inclusive tournament package boasts 6 nights’ accommodation, 4 rounds with caddies and carts, nightly social events with food, beverage and entertainment, welcome and presentation dinners, a player pack with tournament shirt, personalized caddie bib and country flag, US$20,000 in prizes and much more. There is also an attractive program of events and day tour options for non-players.

For the first time, BaNa Hills joins Montgomerie Links and BRG Da Nang as tournament host courses for this year’s event. Participants will play 2 rounds at Montgomerie Links and 1 round at both BRG Da Nang and BaNa Hills.

Tournament director Mark Hawley is excited by what is in store for golfers this week “We are bringing golfers together for the best time of their lives both on and off the courses. Our AccorHotels partner hotels will be staging various activities at golf courses, including on-site neck & shoulder massages and many more. The quality and value of our event activities are simply sensational.”

Tournament promoters Golfasian and Go Golfing both received top honors at the World Golf Awards in 2014, 2015, 2016 and are nominated in various categories for the 2017 awards. Golfasian were awarded Asia’s Best Golf Tour Operator while Australian based Go Golfing were recognized as Oceania’s best.

More than 19,000 club golfers from 30 countries have participated in past World Masters tournaments. Fundamental to the success of past World Masters tournaments is finding world class tourism destinations with premier golf courses, well priced luxury accommodation and a variety of cultural and tourism experiences that appeal to golfers and non-playing partners.

The tournament website www.VietnamWorldMasters.com has scores for all players and event photos.

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For photos and more information, contact:
pr@vietnamworldmasters.com

Visit Golf Rich Vietnam

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Vietnam is a hugely popular destination, and now there is even more of a reason to take the plunge and go for a visit. The country is already both culturally and historically rich, but now it’s golf rich. Vietnam golf is growing stronger and stronger. It’s my favorite place to golf right now. As you’re most probably aware, Vietnam is the fastest growing golf destination in South East Asia, most probably the world.  This is clearly evident in the beautiful coastal city of Danang. Danang golfing holidays are fun for the whole family, so why not give it a try. Infrastructure problems are a thing of the past, making it easy and stress free getting around. Airport transfers to most of the beach front hotels are 20 minutes, which is fantastic news if you’re traveling with the family. Brand new resorts, such as the Hyatt Regency, the Fusion Maia Danang and the Vinpearl Danang Resort and Villas, all right on Danang beach, make for the perfect 5 star getaways. All these resorts have plenty to see and do. The beaches are simply stunning, giving you all the more reason to bring the whole family. I found some of the local restaurants and cafés in the town were really first class, allowing you to taste some of the local traditional food, and I found myself being drawn to them night after night.

The likes of Luke Donald, Colin Montgomerie and Sir Nick Faldo have all put their names, and vast design experience, to the courses in Danang, giving you the championship experience. Sir Nick Faldo, who won six Major championships, is renowned as a tactician with an innate ability to think his way around a course. He has ensured that guile rather than grunt are the key elements to mastering his par-71 Laguna Lang Co Golf Club. Colin Montgomerie has the Montgomerie Links Vietnam and Luke Donald has his Ba Na Hills Golf Club there. There are more on the way, Ernie Els is getting into the act with his club at Phu Quoc, construction is well under way. None of these golfers would do this if they didn’t believe in the area. Aesthetically these clubs are all spectacular, offering all golfers, of all abilities, the chance to play on their dream courses.  The club facilities are also 5 star, which allow you to wind down after, before heading back to your hotel.

So, why not enjoy the sites, sounds, tastes and, of course, the golf, in Danang. Golfasian can take care of everything. For a full and comprehensive quote, or just for some advice, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Golf in Vietnam Is All About the Walk (Or Ride)

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One thing I really like about golf in Vietnam is that all Vietnam golf courses have the same system with respect to golf carts (buggies). That is they are always optional, and when used golf carts can be shared between 2 golfers.

This choice of whether to walk or ride not only helps keep costs down for those who prefer the exercise, but it is in stark contrast to other competing destinations like golf in Thailand or golf in Malaysia. Read more →

Vietnam Golf Becomes More Popular

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Having traveled to golf in Vietnam on and off for the last 8 years I have seen a huge increase in golf popularity, both among local Vietnamese and visiting golfers. According to the Vietnam Golf Association there are around 35,000 Vietnamese that golf and close to 80,000 expatriate golfers, the latter mostly Korean and Japanese working in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Add to this around 50,000 golf tourists who visit Vietnam each year and play on the 35 or so golf courses in Vietnam and you have the makings of some busy days. Read more →

Arrange Your Own Vietnam Golf Holiday

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Here are some tips I came up with to help anyone who is interested in arranging a Vietnam golf holiday.

There are a number of areas you must carefully think about before arranging your own Vietnam golf tour. The biggest advantage of booking yourself is “potential cost savings”. However, any savings must be weighed against the time required to do things yourself and on-the-ground logistical problems that will arise. Read more →

Vietnam Golf Caddies

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Have you ever golfed with a caddie? If not, you are in for a real treat golfing in Vietnam. I often try to explain about this with golf buddies and everyone agrees, golfing with a caddie in Vietnam adds another dimension to of golf and is a must experience for all Vietnam golf visitors.

The Vietnam caddies will be of the unique experiences of your golf holiday. However, be forewarned you may like having a caddie in Vietnam, but it won’t be until you return home that you really miss the Vietnamese caddies! Read more →

Why Is Golf in Vietnam Lagging?

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Vietnam now has 35 golf courses in every corner of the country from north to south. Several of the Vietnam golf courses like Danang Golf Club, Montgomerie Links Vietnam, and Laguna Lang Co Golf Club are world-class standard. However, only a few locals and foreigners know this. The sport’s penetration among locals is a paltry 0.01% (10,000 golfers out of a population of 90,000,000) and foreign golf tourists number less than 30,000 per year. Why is this so? Read more →

Vietnam Golf Holidays Add to Vietnam’s History

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Vietnam is a country that is full of history, but it is only recently that Vietnam golf holidays have been added the country’s rich stories. Its long history includes revolutions, wars, and unpredictable economies. However, since 1997 foreign tourists have been able to travel freely in the country and golf course development and golf tourism has been on a steady rise. This year Vietnam will host over 7 Million visitors, of which some 50,000 golf holidaymakers in the know will experience Asia’s fastest growing golf destination. It seemed entirely fitting, therefore, for me to detail my own adventure covering some 30 golf courses and more than 1,000 kilometers. Read more →

Golf in Vietnam Pros and Cons of Night Golf

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Golf in Vietnam can be played day or night as more  Vietnam golf courses are being built with lights or are having lights installed. For example Van Tri Golf Club in Hanoi and Twin Doves Golf Club in Saigon both offer night golf starting at 3:30PM and finishing around 11:00 each weekday night. The front nine is played in daylight and the lights come on just as you would make the turn. Then the the back nine is played under spot lights. The new Diamond Bay Resort & Golf Club is also installing lights, albeit they not completely functional yet. Read more →

Sky Lake Golf Postpones Vietnam’s Asian Tour Event

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Hanoi’s newest golf course is the Korean owned and designed Sky Lake Golf & Resort. The largest-ever golf tournament in Vietnam was scheduled to be held there September 19, 2013. However, the Asian Tour event is now postponed until next year.

Fortunately for me, I was able to play the course last week. Located just 20 kilometers from town, I travelled to the Hanoi golf course by new 4-lane super-highway. The journey to Sky Lake took only 45 minutes. Driving up to the club I passed what looked like an active quarry on the left. This was in fact another 18-hole course (Lake Course) under construction. A modern clubhouse with fresh caddies greets visitors upon arrival and the existing course (Sky Course) is located directly behind the clubhouse. Read more →

Golf In Saigon Gets Better

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Up until recently golf in Saigon was mainly played by local Vietnamese or foreign expatriates.  The original 4 Ho Chi Minh City golf courses (Vietnam Golf & Country Club, Song Be Golf Resort, Dong Nai Golf Club, and Long Thanh Golf Club) either were only of average quality or limited tee times for visitors as demand was high and availability was low.

Nowadays, with the opening more courses such as Twin Doves Golf Club, Jeongsan Country Club, and Royal Island Golf Club more choices are available for Saigon golfers. More competition and choice has resulted in improved course maintenance standards and better availability as each of the Saigon golf courses all try to differentiate and stand out from the others. Read more →

Golf in Nha Trang Is On The Upswing

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Nha Trang is best known for its beaches and as the windsurfing capital of the world. With only one golf course, Vin Pearl Golf Club, it was a hard sell to get any foreigners to travel there solely for golf.
Now however, with the opening of the full 18 holes at Diamond Bay, Nha Trang emerges as Vietnam’s second premier golf destination; the other being the Vietnam Golf Coast centered in Danang. Read more →

Golf In Phan Thiet Is Over Par

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For years Phan Thiet has been Vietnam’s only seaside golf holiday destination. The golf at the Nick Faldo designed Ocean Dunes Golf Club was excellent and the addition of Sea Links Golf & Country Club in 2008 made golf at Vietnam’s sole golf resort even better. However, travel to and from Phan Thiet was always an issue as five or more hours is needed for the grueling overland journey from Ho Chi Minh City. This in fact led to the creation of the southern leg of the Vietnam Golf Trail whereby combining golf in Phan Thiet with golf in Dalat  one could make their way back to Ho Chi Minh City by air to complete the round trip journey. Read more →

Golf In Hanoi

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The capital of Vietnam is a contradictory city where ancient culture meets modern golf in Hanoi. To the new visitor Hanoi appears very chaotic. The streets are packed with bicycles, trishaws, motorcycles, cars and pedestrians. The one tip I give golfers is walk slowly and steady when crossing the streets and everything will be fine.

Beyond the crowdedness Hanoi maintains planned order. The main tourist area is the historic old quarter where golfers can find many shops built from well-preserved architecture of old times selling Vietnamese handicrafts and delicacies. The most interesting sites are the Temple of Literature, the Ethnology Museum and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex. Read more →