Most golfers visiting Central Vietnam should stay in Da Nang. It offers the best combination of golf course access, hotel choices, restaurants, beaches, and evening entertainment. However, Hoi An can be the better choice for golfers seeking a quieter resort atmosphere, particularly those who want to combine golf with culture, relaxation, and time at Hoiana Shores Golf Club.

The reality is that there is no single right answer for every golfer. The best choice depends on the type of golf holiday you want to have.

For most golf trips, Da Nang is the easiest and most practical choice. For golfers seeking a more relaxed and immersive holiday experience, Hoi An can be equally rewarding.

Why Most Golfers Stay in Da Nang

For most golfers, Da Nang offers the easiest combination of golf, accommodation, dining, and nightlife in Central Vietnam.

The city sits within convenient reach of several of the region’s most popular courses, including BRG Da Nang Golf Resort, Montgomerie Links, Ba Na Hills Golf Club, and Hoiana Shores Golf Club. This makes it particularly attractive for golfers planning to play multiple courses during a short trip.

Accommodation is another major advantage. From beachfront resorts along My Khe Beach to international hotel brands and boutique properties, Da Nang offers options for almost every budget and travel style. If you’re still deciding where to stay, our guide to (recommended hotels for golfers in Da Nang) compares some of the most popular options based on location, golf course access, and overall value.

Beyond golf, Da Nang offers plenty to do after the round. Many visitors enjoy seafood dinners, rooftop bars, cafés, beach walks, or simply relaxing by the ocean before the next tee time.

For golfers visiting Central Vietnam for three to five nights, Da Nang is usually the most practical base.

If you’re considering one of our multi-course golf holidays in Da Nang and Hoi An, Da Nang is where most golfers choose to stay.

Why Some Golfers Prefer Hoi An

While Da Nang is often the practical choice, Hoi An is frequently the more memorable one.

Many golfers arrive expecting to spend only a few hours in Hoi An and quickly realise they wish they had allowed more time. The atmosphere is completely different from Da Nang. Instead of a modern beach city, Hoi An offers historic streets, riverside cafés, boutique resorts, and a slower pace of life.

For golfers staying near Hoiana Resort, the experience becomes even more appealing. A morning round at Hoiana Shores Golf Club can easily be followed by an afternoon at the beach, a spa treatment, or an evening exploring the lantern-lit Ancient Town.

For many travellers, golf is only one part of the holiday. They also want culture, relaxation, local food, and experiences away from the course.

Golfers who view their trip as a complete holiday rather than purely a golf trip often find Hoi An more rewarding.

Many visitors choosing golf holidays based in Hoi An are attracted by this combination of world-class golf and local culture.

One Important Difference: Asian Golfers vs Western Golfers

One trend we regularly notice is that Asian golfers and Western golfers often make different accommodation choices.

Golfers from Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other Asian markets generally prefer Da Nang. They tend to value convenience, beachfront hotels, dining options, shopping, and easy access to multiple golf courses. Many of these visitors enjoy spending an afternoon or evening in Hoi An but prefer to return to Da Nang afterwards.

For these golfers, Da Nang feels more dynamic and practical.

Western golfers often take a different approach.

Visitors from Australia, Europe, the United Kingdom, and North America frequently place greater importance on cultural experiences. Many are willing to spend additional nights in Hoi An because they appreciate the atmosphere of the Ancient Town, the walkable environment, local cafés, and the slower pace of life.

It is not unusual for Western golfers to stay their entire trip in Hoi An or spend more nights there than in Da Nang.

In our experience, most Asian golfers choose Da Nang, while many Western golfers are happy to spend longer in Hoi An because of its unique character and cultural appeal.

Our Recommendation

If you’re visiting Central Vietnam for the first time, we generally recommend staying in Da Nang.

It offers the best balance of golf, accommodation, restaurants, nightlife, and convenience. Most golfers playing multiple courses over three to five days will find Da Nang the easiest and most flexible base.

Hoi An becomes more attractive in specific situations. Couples often prefer the atmosphere of Hoi An, while golfers planning to spend significant time at Hoiana Shores Golf Club may appreciate staying closer to the resort.

For longer holidays, many golfers choose to experience both destinations. Spending the first few nights in Da Nang before finishing the trip in Hoi An allows visitors to enjoy the strengths of each location.

If you’re unsure, choose Da Nang. If you’re looking for a more distinctive holiday experience beyond golf, consider Hoi An.

Practical Recommendations Based on Trip Type

For a first golf trip to Central Vietnam, Da Nang is usually the safest recommendation.

For golf groups, Da Nang is also the most popular choice because of its hotel selection, dining scene, and evening entertainment options.

For couples, the decision becomes more balanced. Many couples enjoy staying in Hoi An because it offers a stronger sense of place and a more relaxed atmosphere when one partner is not playing golf.

Golfers planning to play Hoiana Shores Golf Club multiple times may find it worthwhile staying in Hoi An or Hoiana Resort.

For longer holidays of five nights or more, a split stay can work very well, allowing golfers to experience both destinations without feeling rushed.

Golfers following a popular 4-day golf itinerary will generally find Da Nang the most efficient base, while longer trips provide greater flexibility.

If you’re still deciding how to structure your trip, start with (our recommended Central Vietnam golf itinerary) for practical planning ideas.

Common Mistakes Golfers Make

One of the most common mistakes is trying to fit too much into a short trip.

Many golfers arrive with plans to play every famous course, visit Hoi An, explore Ba Na Hills, and even take a day trip to Hue within four days. The result is often more time spent moving around than actually enjoying the experience.

Another mistake is assuming that accommodation should be chosen based only on golf. In reality, where you spend your evenings often has just as much impact on the overall holiday as the golf itself.

Perhaps the biggest mistake is choosing accommodation based solely on price. The cheapest hotel is not always the best choice if it means sacrificing comfort, location, or the overall holiday experience.

A successful golf trip is rarely about playing the most golf. It is about creating the right balance between golf, relaxation, and travel experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

For most golfers, Da Nang remains the best overall base for a golf trip to Central Vietnam.

Its combination of golf course access, accommodation choices, restaurants, nightlife, and convenience makes it the easiest recommendation for the majority of visitors.

However, Hoi An offers something different. Golfers seeking a quieter atmosphere, a stronger cultural experience, or a holiday built around Hoiana Shores Golf Club may find it even more rewarding.

The good news is that both destinations work well for golfers, and many visitors enjoy experiencing both during the same trip.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on what you want your golf holiday to feel like once you step off the course.