The best golf courses in Vietnam are no longer just Asia's best-kept secret - they're competing on a global stage. Vietnam has won Asia's Best Golf Destination for seven consecutive years at the World Golf Awards, and ranked courses are now appearing in Golf Digest's World's 100 Greatest lists. Yet the country still offers something rare: championship-quality layouts set against UNESCO heritage coastlines, misty mountain backdrops, and pristine dunes - all for a fraction of what you'd pay at Pebble Beach or Royal Melbourne.
For luxury travelers planning Vietnam tours, golf has become one of the most compelling ways to experience the country's diverse landscapes, world-class resorts, and cultural destinations in a single journey.
But with over 80 18-hole courses now operating across the country, choice creates its own problem. Not every course delivers the luxury experience high-end travelers expect. This guide cuts straight to the seven you shouldn't miss - selected on the basis of course pedigree, designer credentials, on-site resort quality, and real-world playing conditions.
1. The Bluffs Grand Ho Tram - Vietnam's #1 Luxury Golf Course
Location: Ho Tram, Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province (approx. 2–2.5 hours from Ho Chi Minh City) Designer: Greg Norman Par / Yardage: Par 71 / 7,017 yards Green fee range: ~$150–200 USD
If you play only one course in Vietnam, make it this one. The Bluffs Grand Ho Tram has been ranked #68 on Golf Digest's World's 100 Greatest Courses and has swept Vietnam's Best Golf Course award at the Vietnam Golf & Leisure Awards multiple years running. In 2024 and 2026 - 2027, it was also crowned Best Luxury Golf Destination in Southeast Asia by the Luxury Lifestyle Awards - the first and only Vietnamese course to hold this recognition.
Greg Norman, who spent 331 consecutive weeks at the top of the world golf rankings, has called this layout one of the finest he has ever designed - on par with his celebrated Doonbeg course in Ireland. The reason is geological: The Bluffs sits on coastal dunes that rise and fall up to 50 metres, creating dramatic elevation changes across all 18 holes. Ocean views dominate almost every tee box and fairway.
What Makes It Stand Out
- Links-style terrain that rewards strategic shot placement over raw power - fairway widths punish the wayward driver
- Holes 9 through 13 deliver back-to-back panoramic ocean views that rank among the most visually striking sequences in Asian golf
- The course is routed over two miles of white-sand beach coastline, with natural dune vegetation framing every hole
- The InterContinental Grand Ho Tram and Holiday Inn Resort Ho Tram Beach sit adjacent to the course, making this a full stay-and-play destination
Insider tip: Book a morning tee time - coastal winds pick up significantly in the afternoon, turning a demanding course into a genuine battle. Plan at least one night at the resort to avoid the 2.5-hour day-trip drive from Ho Chi Minh City.
2. Hoiana Shores Golf Club - The Finest Links Course Near Hoi An
Location: Duy Hai, Quang Nam Province (40 mins from Da Nang Airport, 20 mins from Hoi An) Designer: Robert Trent Jones Jr. Par / Yardage: Par 71 / 7,010 yards Green fee range: ~$140–180 USD (weekdays); higher on weekends
Hoiana Shores is the first Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed course in Vietnam and, by many accounts, the most technically demanding. Framed by the Eastern Sea and the Cham Islands, the course sits on rolling coastal dunes with four holes running directly along the waterline - creating shot-making scenarios where a misjudged club selection finds the South China Sea.
It consistently ranks among the Top 100 Golf Courses in Asia and Tripadvisor's long-term reviewers frequently place it as the best all-round golf experience in central Vietnam, ahead of every other course in the Da Nang corridor.
What Makes It Stand Out
- Holes 15 to 17 run parallel to the ocean - among the most photographed holes in Vietnamese golf
- Sandy waste areas stretch across multiple holes, penalising errant approach shots in a visually dramatic way
- Access is integrated with the Hoiana resort complex, which includes New World Hoiana Hotel and New World Hoiana Beach Resort - combining casino, beach, spa, and fine dining alongside golf
- The clubhouse and changing facilities are widely cited by visiting golfers as the most impressive in Vietnam
Insider tip: Tee times at Hoiana Shores are genuinely limited - the course does not oversell capacity. Book 8–10 weeks in advance for peak season (November to March). Stay-and-play packages through the Hoiana resort offer the best rate and priority access.
3. Laguna Lang Co Golf Club - Nick Faldo's Masterpiece in the Hills
Location: Lang Co, Phu Loc District, Hue Province (approx. 60 km north of Da Nang) Designer: Nick Faldo Par / Yardage: Par 71 / 7,040 yards Green fee range: ~$100–150 USD
Laguna Lang Co has been celebrated by Nick Faldo himself as among the finest of his 25+ worldwide designs. The course meanders through rice paddies, over natural streams, and past the lagoon that gives Lang Co its name - all within the Laguna resort complex on a strip of land flanked by mountains on one side and the East Sea on the other.
It has been ranked #75 in Asia's Top 100 Golf Courses and occupies a unique niche in the Vietnamese golf landscape: quieter and more scenic than the Da Nang cluster, yet within an hour's drive for golfers based in the city.
What Makes It Stand Out
- Fairways that weave through rice paddies - a playing experience you won't find anywhere else in Asia
- The Banyan Tree Lang Co and Angsana Lang Co resorts are integrated into the same complex, offering exceptional post-round dining and spa facilities
- Course conditions are consistently rated at the top tier in central Vietnam, benefiting from lower visitor numbers than the Da Nang courses
- Ideal for golfers who want to combine a round with a cultural day trip to Hue's imperial citadel (45 minutes north)
Insider tip: The stretch from holes 12 to 15 offers the most dramatic mountain-meets-lagoon scenery on the course. If you only have one afternoon for photography between holes, this is where to linger.
4. BRG Da Nang Golf Resort - Two World-Class Golf Courses, One Address
Location: Bac My An Beach, Da Nang City Designers: Greg Norman (Dunes Course); Jack Nicklaus (Nicklaus Course) Par / Yardage: Dunes Course - Par 72 / 7,166 yards; Nicklaus Course - Par 72 / 7,017 yards Green fee range: ~$100–160 USD per course
BRG Da Nang is unique in Vietnam's golf landscape: it's the only resort that gives you two designer layouts - a Greg Norman and a Jack Nicklaus - side by side on the beach. This makes it a natural home base for golfers spending multiple days in Da Nang, eliminating the need to transfer between venues for variety.
The Dunes Course is a links-style layout that plays to its coastal setting, with natural sand dunes, fast greens, and ocean wind as the primary obstacles. The Nicklaus Course offers a more resort-friendly experience - strategic rather than punishing, with wider fairways and carefully placed hazards.
What Makes It Stand Out
- 36 holes at one address - ideal for multi-day golf itineraries or corporate golf events
- The resort is positioned directly on Da Nang's most prestigious beach corridor, with the four-star BRG Golf Hotel on-site
- Access to both courses under one booking, making logistics for groups and corporate incentive trips straightforward
- Walking distance from several of Da Nang's best beachfront restaurants
Insider tip: Play the Dunes Course in the morning and the Nicklaus Course in the afternoon for a full comparison. Morning rounds on the Dunes benefit from calmer wind and dew-fresh fairways.
5. Montgomerie Links - The Marble Mountains Backdrop Golf Course
Location: Dien Ngoc Ward, Dien Ban Town, Quang Nam Province (between Da Nang and Hoi An) Designer: Colin Montgomerie Par / Yardage: Par 72 / 7,090 yards Green fee range: ~$80–130 USD
The Montgomerie Links occupies prime real estate between Da Nang's beach and the UNESCO Ancient Town of Hoi An, with the iconic Marble Mountains providing the visual backdrop from multiple fairways. Designed by eight-time European Tour Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie, the course is characterised by open fairways, significant elevation changes, and a layout that rewards intelligent course management over brute force.
It's consistently ranked among Vietnam's best golf courses and serves as a natural pairing with Hoiana Shores for golfers spending 3–4 days in the Da Nang/Hoi An corridor.
What Makes It Stand Out
- Views of the Marble Mountains from multiple holes - the most culturally distinctive backdrop of any course near Da Nang
- Montgomerie's design ethos - wide off the tee, more demanding on approach - makes this an accessible yet intellectually satisfying layout
- Located just 15 minutes from Hoi An Ancient Town, making cultural sightseeing easy to combine with a golf itinerary
- A well-regarded golf academy and practice facility on-site, suited to golfers looking to improve during their trip
Insider tip: The 10th through 14th holes are the most strategically interesting stretch on the course - multiple doglegs and a par-3 over water that plays differently at every wind direction.
6. Ba Na Hills Golf Club - Vietnam's Most Unique Elevated Course
Location: Hoa Ninh Commune, Hoa Vang District, Da Nang (25 minutes from Da Nang City) Designer: Luke Donald Par / Yardage: Par 72 / 7,178 yards Green fee range: ~$80–120 USD
Ba Na Hills occupies territory that no other course in Vietnam can claim: a mountain setting at elevation, in the foothills of the Ba Na National Forest, with fairways that wind through native woodland and knolls covered in twice-yearly monsoon-fed vegetation. Designed by six-time European Tour winner and former World Number 1 Luke Donald, the course emphasises accuracy through tight tree-lined corridors.
It is the only course in Vietnam to offer night golf, with full fairway and green illumination allowing evening rounds - an experience increasingly popular with golfers staying in Da Nang who want a post-dinner activity distinct from anything else in Southeast Asia.
What Makes It Stand Out
- Night golf under full course lighting - one of the very few courses in Asia offering this format
- Mountain elevation means temperatures run 3–5°C cooler than the Da Nang coastline - a meaningful advantage for summer rounds
- The course is 25 minutes from central Da Nang and can be combined with a daytime visit to the famous Ba Na Hills cable car and French Village
- Lush, heavily wooded fairways that contrast sharply with the coastal links courses near Hoi An - adds diversity to a multi-round Da Nang itinerary
Insider tip: If playing night golf, book the last daylight tee time (typically 4:30–5:00 PM) and experience the transition from natural to artificial light mid-round - the shift in atmosphere is remarkable.
7. BRG Legend Hill Golf Resort - The Standout Course Near Hanoi
Location: Phu Linh Commune, Soc Son District, Hanoi (approx. 35 km north of central Hanoi) Designer: Jack Nicklaus Par / Yardage: Par 72 / 7,108 yards Green fee range: ~$80–130 USD
For golfers building a northern Vietnam itinerary around Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, BRG Legend Hill is the non-negotiable golf stop. This Jack Nicklaus Signature design occupies a rolling hillside in Soc Son district with dramatic changes in elevation and panoramic views across Hanoi's northern countryside that no other course in the region can match.
The Nicklaus design language is evident throughout: wide landing zones that become more demanding the closer you play to the flag, greens with subtle false edges, and a closing stretch that builds in difficulty through holes 16 to 18.
What Makes It Stand Out
- The only Jack Nicklaus Signature course in northern Vietnam, giving Hanoi-based itineraries a genuine anchor layout
- Dramatic elevation changes across a hillside site - more topographic variety than the flat parkland courses typical of northern Vietnam
- Positioned logistically between Hanoi and the route to Ha Long Bay - easily added to a Hanoi + Ha Long itinerary without backtracking
- The on-site resort facilities are among the most developed in the northern region, including quality dining and accommodation
Insider tip: The best time to play Legend Hill is October to early December - Hanoi's autumn brings lower humidity, clear skies, and course conditions at their peak after the summer rains.
How These 7 Golf Courses Compare at a Glance
| Course | Designer | Region | Style | Best For |
| The Bluffs Grand Ho Tram | Greg Norman | South | Links / Dunes | Bucket-list luxury |
| Hoiana Shores Golf Club | Robert Trent Jones Jr. | Central | Links / Coastal | Best conditions, best facilities |
| Laguna Lang Co Golf Club | Nick Faldo | Central | Parkland / Scenic | Scenic beauty + resort pairing |
| BRG Da Nang Golf Resort | Norman + Nicklaus | Central | Links + Resort | Multi-day, 36-hole flexibility |
| Montgomerie Links | Colin Montgomerie | Central | Links / Open | Hoi An cultural combo |
| Ba Na Hills Golf Club | Luke Donald | Central | Mountain / Woodland | Night golf + elevation |
| BRG Legend Hill | Jack Nicklaus | North | Hillside Parkland | Hanoi anchor course |
Key Logistics for Visiting the Best Golf Courses in Vietnam
Green fee budgeting: Expect $80–200 USD per round at the courses above. Caddie fees ($15–25 USD) are standard and non-negotiable at most venues. Budget approximately $250 per person per day of golf including caddie, cart, and a post-round meal.
Tee time access: Hoiana Shores and The Bluffs are the hardest to book last-minute. Both courses limit daily visitor numbers. For travel between November and March, 8–10 weeks' advance booking is the safe minimum.
Stay-and-play packages: Courses like Hoiana Shores, The Bluffs, and Laguna Lang Co offer their best rates and guaranteed tee times through their own resort packages. Independent booking through a Vietnam golf specialist typically unlocks an additional 15–20% discount on rack rates.
The Da Nang hub strategy: Five of the seven courses listed above sit within 90 minutes of Da Nang International Airport. Using Da Nang as a base and adding day-trip rounds to Laguna Lang Co and Hoiana Shores gives you five world-class layouts from a single accommodation address - the most efficient structure for a luxury golf holiday in Vietnam.
Vietnam's best golf courses are now genuinely world-class. The Bluffs is ranked in Golf Digest's global top 100. Hoiana Shores holds a place in Asia's top 100. Laguna Lang Co is widely considered Nick Faldo's finest design anywhere in the world. These are not emerging-market courses that trade on novelty - they are layouts that compete on design, conditioning, and experience with the best Asia has to offer.
The luxury infrastructure around them - five-star beach resorts, private transfer services, caddie academies, post-round spa facilities - has matured to match. For the golf traveller who wants competitive challenge, spectacular scenery, and five-star comfort at a price point well below comparable experiences in Japan or Australia, Vietnam has no direct rival in Asia.