If you are planning a golf holiday in southern Vietnam, golf courses in Ho Chi Minh City offer an impressive combination of convenience, championship layouts, tropical scenery, and high-quality hospitality. Formerly known as Saigon, the city is not only Vietnam’s commercial hub but also one of the country’s most practical bases for a golf-focused itinerary.
For golfers who want to combine time on the fairway with sightseeing, cultural experiences and carefully planned day trips, Saigon tours can also be incorporated into a wider southern Vietnam itinerary.
This guide covers the best Saigon golf courses and nearby golf destinations, explains what makes each one different, and helps international golfers decide where to play based on location, course character, convenience and overall experience.
Why Play Golf in Ho Chi Minh City?
Ho Chi Minh City has developed into one of southern Vietnam’s most accessible golf destinations. The city itself is densely urban, but some of the region’s best golf courses are located within a manageable driving distance of the central districts.
This gives international visitors considerable flexibility. A business traveler staying in District 1 may have time for an early morning or afternoon round without committing an entire day to transportation. A leisure traveler staying for several nights can combine two or three different courses. Golfers taking a longer Vietnam holiday can also use Ho Chi Minh City as a starting point for a wider southern golf itinerary.
Another advantage is the climate. Ho Chi Minh City has a tropical climate, meaning golf is possible throughout much of the year. The dry season, generally from December through April, is often the most comfortable period for visitors who prefer lower rainfall and more predictable playing conditions. The wet season can still offer excellent golfing opportunities, although afternoon showers may influence tee-time planning.
The surrounding landscape also creates variety. Some courses are designed around lakes and mature trees, while others use rolling terrain, expansive fairways, strategic bunkering or coastal sand dunes to create a very different golfing experience.
For international golfers, this combination of accessibility, course diversity and tourism infrastructure makes Ho Chi Minh City an excellent addition to a Vietnam golf itinerary.
The Best 5+ Golf Courses in Ho Chi Minh City at a Glance
There is no single course that is perfect for every golfer. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize convenience, course challenge, scenery, club facilities, playing time or the opportunity to experience a destination course.
For golfers staying in central Ho Chi Minh City, Tan Son Nhat Golf Course is one of the most convenient choices. Vietnam Golf & Country Club is ideal for golfers looking for an established club with two distinct 18-hole courses. Long Thanh Golf Club is particularly appealing to players who want variety and a full-day golf experience outside the urban center.
For those willing to travel farther, The Bluffs Ho Tram offers a dramatically different coastal experience, while Twin Doves Golf Club and Song Be Golf Resort provide additional options around the wider metropolitan area.
The following courses are among the strongest options to consider when planning golf in Saigon and its surrounding region.
1. Tan Son Nhat Golf Course – Best for Convenience and City Access
For international visitors who value convenience, Tan Son Nhat Golf Course is one of the easiest choices among the golf courses in Ho Chi Minh City.
Located close to Tan Son Nhat International Airport, the course is particularly practical for travelers with limited time. It is possible to combine a round of golf with an overnight stay in the city without spending hours traveling to a remote destination.
Tan Son Nhat Golf Course was designed by Nelson & Haworth Golf Course Architects and features 36 holes divided into four nine-hole layouts. The course is built to international standards and offers a mixture of water hazards, bunkers, landscaped fairways and varying levels of difficulty.
One of its most distinctive characteristics is its urban setting. Unlike many resort-style courses that require a long drive from the city, Tan Son Nhat allows golfers to remain within Ho Chi Minh City while still enjoying a substantial golf facility.
The official course information describes four nine-hole courses, A, B, C and D, with a combined 36 holes and full-course lighting. This also makes the venue interesting for golfers who prefer playing later in the day, particularly when daytime temperatures are high.
Who Should Play Tan Son Nhat?
Tan Son Nhat is especially suitable for business travelers, first-time visitors and golfers who want to maximize their time in Ho Chi Minh City.
It is also a strong option for travelers arriving or departing through Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Instead of losing a large portion of the day to transportation, golfers can plan a round around their broader travel schedule.
The course can accommodate different levels of golfing experience, making it useful for mixed groups where not every player has the same handicap.
For a first round of golf in Saigon, Tan Son Nhat is arguably the easiest course to integrate into a city itinerary.
2. Vietnam Golf & Country Club – Best for Traditional Championship Golf
Vietnam Golf & Country Club is one of the most established names among Saigon golf courses and remains a strong choice for golfers who want a classic country-club environment.
Located in the eastern part of Ho Chi Minh City, the club offers 36 holes divided between the East Course and West Course. Its mature trees, established landscaping and traditional course character give it a sense of history that newer developments cannot easily reproduce.
The club has hosted major golf events, including Vietnam Masters events, contributing to its reputation within the country's golfing community. Current official information places the club in the Long Thanh My area of Ho Chi Minh City and provides dedicated booking and caddie services for golfers.
The two courses provide some useful variation. Golfers looking for a more strategic challenge may prefer the East Course, while the West Course can offer a somewhat different rhythm and playing experience.
One of the biggest strengths of Vietnam Golf & Country Club is its mature environment. The trees and established fairways create a more traditional atmosphere compared with newer, highly engineered golf developments.
Why Choose Vietnam Golf & Country Club?
This course is particularly attractive for experienced golfers who appreciate established layouts rather than choosing a course purely for visual spectacle.
It is also a good choice for golfers who want to experience one of the historic pillars of southern Vietnam’s golf scene.
If your itinerary allows two rounds in the region, combining Vietnam Golf & Country Club with Tan Son Nhat can provide a useful contrast: one course offers maximum city convenience, while the other delivers a more traditional country-club experience.
3. Long Thanh Golf Club – Best for a Full Golf Day
Long Thanh Golf Club is another major destination to consider when comparing golf courses in Ho Chi Minh City and the surrounding metropolitan area.
Located outside the central city, Long Thanh is known for its 36 holes, divided between the Hill Course and Lake Course. The additional travel time is rewarded with a more spacious setting and a different atmosphere from the urban courses.
The Hill Course uses naturally rolling terrain to create elevation changes and strategic variety, while the Lake Course provides a different visual and playing character. Together, the two courses allow golfers to experience considerably more variety than a single 18-hole layout.
Recent golf guides place Long Thanh at roughly 45 minutes from central Ho Chi Minh City under favorable traffic conditions, although actual journey times can vary considerably depending on departure point and traffic.
What Makes Long Thanh Different?
The appeal of Long Thanh is not simply the number of holes. It is the combination of space, variety and accessibility.
For golfers staying several nights in Ho Chi Minh City, Long Thanh works particularly well as a dedicated golf day. Rather than trying to fit a round between sightseeing activities, you can treat the course as the main experience of the day.
The Hill Course tends to appeal to golfers who enjoy elevation changes and strategic positioning, while the Lake Course offers its own combination of water features and landscaped surroundings.
Long Thanh is therefore a strong choice for intermediate and experienced golfers who want a substantial round outside the city center without traveling all the way to a coastal resort.
4. The Bluffs Grand Ho Tram – Best Luxury Golf Experience Near Ho Chi Minh City
Strictly speaking, The Bluffs Grand Ho Tram is not a golf course in central Ho Chi Minh City. However, no serious discussion of the best Saigon golf courses and nearby golf destinations would be complete without mentioning it.
Located on Vietnam’s southern coast at Ho Tram, The Bluffs is approximately a two-hour drive from central Ho Chi Minh City, depending on traffic and road conditions.
Designed by Greg Norman, the course is famous for its dramatic coastal setting. Rather than relying on dense tropical vegetation, the layout uses sand dunes, elevation changes, exposed terrain and ocean views to create a links-style experience.
The difference is immediately apparent. A round at Tan Son Nhat feels like urban golf. Vietnam Golf & Country Club feels like traditional parkland golf. The Bluffs, by comparison, feels like a destination golf experience.
Golf travel specialists regularly highlight The Bluffs for its coastal dunes, elevation changes, ocean views and challenging winds. It is also frequently included among Vietnam’s highest-profile golf courses.
Is The Bluffs Worth the Drive?
For serious golfers, often yes.
If golf is an important part of your Vietnam holiday, the journey to Ho Tram can be worthwhile because the experience is substantially different from playing a course within the city.
The course is particularly attractive to golfers who enjoy links-style golf and dramatic natural landscapes. Wind can become an important factor, and the exposed coastal setting means golfers need to think carefully about club selection and shot placement.
For travelers with a higher budget, staying overnight in Ho Tram can make the experience even more enjoyable. This removes the pressure of returning to Ho Chi Minh City immediately after the round and turns the trip into a genuine golf-and-resort escape.
5. Twin Doves Golf Club – Best for a Relaxed Premium Round
Twin Doves Golf Club is another option for golfers exploring the wider Saigon golf courses network.
Located outside central Ho Chi Minh City, the club provides a quieter environment than the city-based courses. Its layout and landscaping are designed around a more spacious country-club setting, making it a suitable choice for golfers who prefer to escape the urban environment.
The club is known for its multiple nine-hole combinations, allowing golfers to experience different layouts depending on the day's arrangements.
Recent regional golf guides have highlighted Twin Doves as an increasingly attractive option for golfers seeking quality golf outside the center without traveling as far as Ho Tram.
Who Is Twin Doves Best For?
Twin Doves works particularly well for golfers who have already played the most famous courses and want another quality option for a second or third round.
It can also suit corporate golf groups and travelers looking for a quieter environment away from the traffic and density of central Ho Chi Minh City.
The overall experience is more about comfortable, well-maintained golf than about a single dramatic signature feature.
6. Song Be Golf Resort – Best for Variety and Character
Song Be Golf Resort is another established choice within the broader Ho Chi Minh City golf region.
Its multi-nine format gives golfers variety, while the course environment combines traditional parkland characteristics with areas that feel more distinctive and visually different.
One of Song Be's most interesting features is the variation between its different nine-hole sections. The Desert, Palm and Lotus nines create different playing environments, meaning golfers can experience a change of rhythm during a single round.
Recent regional golf guides continue to include Song Be among the established golf options within practical driving distance of Ho Chi Minh City.
For golfers who enjoy variety rather than playing the same type of hole repeatedly, Song Be can be a rewarding addition to a southern Vietnam golf itinerary.
7. Harmonie Golf Park – Best for a Modern Golfing Experience
Harmonie Golf Park is another course worth considering when researching golf in Saigon and the wider Ho Chi Minh City area.
Located in the Binh Duong area of the expanded Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan region, the course provides a modern alternative to some of the area's older golf clubs.
The layout is associated with Jack Nicklaus II and offers a more contemporary golf environment. Its location can also make it attractive to travelers who are staying in the northern or eastern parts of the metropolitan area.
While it may not have the same international profile as The Bluffs or the historical reputation of Vietnam Golf & Country Club, Harmonie can be a practical choice for golfers building a multi-course itinerary.
The important point is that "best" should not always mean "most famous." A course that fits your location, available time and preferred playing style can provide a better experience than a highly ranked course that requires an unnecessarily long transfer.
When Is the Best Time to Play Golf in Ho Chi Minh City?
Ho Chi Minh City is a year-round golf destination, but different seasons offer different advantages.
The drier months from December to April are generally attractive to international visitors because rainfall is lower and conditions are more predictable. Temperatures can still be warm, but morning tee times are usually comfortable for golfers accustomed to tropical climates.
From May onward, rainfall becomes more frequent. However, this does not necessarily make golf impossible. Rain often arrives as a heavy but relatively short afternoon shower, so an early morning tee time can still work very well.
For golfers traveling during the wetter months, flexibility is useful. Check the forecast shortly before playing and avoid building an overly tight schedule around a single afternoon round.
The best strategy is often to play early, stay hydrated and leave enough time between golf and other activities.
How to Build a Ho Chi Minh City Golf Itinerary
A short golf holiday in Ho Chi Minh City can be surprisingly diverse.
For a two-round itinerary, Tan Son Nhat and Vietnam Golf & Country Club make a practical combination. One gives you convenience and an urban setting, while the other offers a more established country-club experience.
For a three-round itinerary, Long Thanh can be added to introduce another style of course and a dedicated day outside the city.
For a premium four- or five-round golf holiday, consider extending the itinerary toward Ho Tram. This allows you to combine city golf with a coastal resort experience and The Bluffs.
Golf does not have to occupy every day. Ho Chi Minh City is one of the best places in Vietnam to combine golf with culture, cuisine and leisure.
A morning round can be followed by a relaxed lunch, hotel spa treatment or evening dining experience. On non-golf days, travelers can explore the city's historic architecture, local markets, museums and culinary scene.
This balance is particularly attractive to couples and mixed-interest groups where one traveler may be a passionate golfer while another prefers cultural or culinary experiences.
Golf and Sightseeing - Combining the Fairway with Saigon
One of the biggest advantages of choosing Ho Chi Minh City as a golf destination is the range of activities available outside the golf course.
The city offers French colonial architecture, historic landmarks, contemporary restaurants, rooftop bars and traditional markets. Nearby destinations such as the Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta can also be incorporated into a longer stay.
For international travelers, this makes it possible to design a holiday where golf is one part of a broader Vietnam experience rather than the sole focus.
A typical day might begin with an early tee time, followed by lunch and a relaxed afternoon in the city. Another day could be dedicated entirely to sightseeing before returning to the hotel for an evening of fine dining.
Travelers who prefer private, locally guided experiences can also combine their golf schedule with customized sightseeing. Saigon Local Tour, for example, offers tailor-made Ho Chi Minh City experiences and day trips for international visitors, making it possible to coordinate cultural activities around a golf itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions About Golf Courses in Ho Chi Minh City
How many golf courses are there in Ho Chi Minh City?
The exact number depends on how "Ho Chi Minh City" is defined because several major courses historically located in neighboring provinces are now considered part of the expanded metropolitan golf market. Current golf guides list a broad selection of courses across the city and surrounding areas.
For travelers, the more useful question is usually how far each course is from their hotel and how long the transfer is likely to take.
What is the best golf course in Ho Chi Minh City?
There is no universal answer. Tan Son Nhat is one of the best choices for convenience, Vietnam Golf & Country Club is strong for traditional championship golf, and Long Thanh is excellent for golfers looking for a full 36-hole experience.
If you are willing to travel outside the city, The Bluffs Ho Tram is one of the strongest luxury golf experiences within reach of Ho Chi Minh City.
Is golf expensive in Ho Chi Minh City?
Golf costs vary according to the course, time of play, season, weekday or weekend and services included in the package.
Premium courses and destination resorts generally cost more than local courses. International visitors should also consider transportation, caddie fees, club rental and other possible charges when calculating the total cost of a round.
Can beginners play golf in Ho Chi Minh City?
Yes. Several golf courses around Ho Chi Minh City cater to different skill levels. Beginners should choose a course based on comfort, available practice facilities and whether they want a relaxed introduction or a more challenging championship experience.
Tan Son Nhat, in particular, describes its facility as suitable for golfers ranging from beginners to professionals.
How far is The Bluffs from Ho Chi Minh City?
The Bluffs Ho Tram is generally around two hours from central Ho Chi Minh City, although actual travel time depends on traffic and road conditions. It is best treated as a dedicated golf excursion or overnight coastal experience rather than a quick city round.
What should I wear when playing golf in Saigon?
Lightweight, breathable golf clothing is recommended because Ho Chi Minh City can be hot and humid. A hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and sufficient drinking water are also useful.
Early morning tee times are often more comfortable than playing during the hottest part of the day.
Can I rent golf clubs in Ho Chi Minh City?
Many established golf clubs offer club rental and related services, but availability and equipment specifications vary. International golfers should confirm rental options with the individual course before traveling, particularly if they require left-handed clubs or specific brands.
Final Thoughts: Finding Your Best Golf Experience in Saigon
The best golf courses in Ho Chi Minh City are not defined by a single ranking. They offer different experiences for different travelers.
Tan Son Nhat Golf Course is the obvious choice when convenience matters most. Vietnam Golf & Country Club provides an established and traditional golf environment. Long Thanh delivers variety and space, while Twin Doves and Song Be offer additional options for golfers building a longer itinerary.
And for travelers willing to go beyond the city, The Bluffs Ho Tram provides a spectacular coastal experience that can turn a standard golf holiday into a genuine luxury escape.
Ultimately, Saigon golf courses work particularly well for international travelers because golf can be combined so easily with everything else that makes southern Vietnam appealing. You can play a championship round in the morning, enjoy Vietnamese cuisine at lunch, explore the city's history in the afternoon and finish the day at a sophisticated rooftop bar or luxury hotel.
That flexibility is what makes golf in Saigon more than simply a collection of golf courses. It is an opportunity to combine high-quality golf with culture, cuisine, hospitality and the energy of one of Southeast Asia's most dynamic cities.
For golfers planning a premium Vietnam itinerary, the ideal approach is to select courses according to your playing style, hotel location and available travel time rather than attempting to visit every famous course. With the right planning, even a three- or four-day stay in Ho Chi Minh City can deliver an excellent mix of championship golf and authentic southern Vietnamese experiences.