Vietnam now operates roughly 100 golf courses and has been named Asia’s Best Golf Destination for eight consecutive years, from 2017 to 2024. Backed by a national plan to double that course count by 2030, the country has moved from a niche stop on the Asian golf map to one of its fastest-growing markets. Here is what is driving that growth, and why Central Vietnam sits at the center of it.
How Vietnam Became One of Asia’s Fastest-Growing Golf Markets
A decade ago, Vietnam had a handful of golf courses concentrated around Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Today the country counts close to 100 courses nationwide, with five new courses opening in the past year alone as part of a national Vision 2030 plan targeting 200 courses by the end of the decade.
More than a third of those courses now meet international five-star standards, built by well-known architects and increasingly hosting regional professional events. That combination of speed and quality is unusual — most emerging golf markets grow one or the other first.
| Metric | Vietnam (2026) |
|---|---|
| Golf courses today | Approximately 100 courses nationwide |
| Vision 2030 target | 200 courses by 2030 |
| New courses (past year) | 5 new courses opened |
| Asia’s Best Golf Destination | Won 8 consecutive years (2017-2024) |
| Golf tourism revenue target | US$1 billion by 2025 |
Central Vietnam Leads the Country’s Golf Boom
While golf courses are spreading nationwide, Central Vietnam, anchored by Da Nang, Hoi An and Hue, has emerged as the country’s most concentrated golf region. Within roughly an hour of Da Nang, golfers can play championship courses that range from links-style seaside layouts to mountain-foothill courses framed by limestone peaks.
According to GoGolfVietnam, a Da Nang-based golf tour operator, more than a third of Vietnam’s roughly 100 courses now meet international five-star standards, and a disproportionate share of them sit within this Central Vietnam cluster — one reason the region has become the default starting point for a first golf trip to the country.
International Recognition on the World Stage
Vietnam has not just added courses — it has been recognized for the quality of them. The country has won the World Golf Awards title of Asia’s Best Golf Destination every year from 2017 through 2024, and has twice been named World’s Best Golf Destination outright, putting it ahead of longer-established markets in the same category.
- Course design. Several courses were designed by internationally known architects, a factor World Golf Awards judges weigh heavily.
- Value. Green fees remain lower than comparable courses in Thailand or Singapore, even as course quality has caught up.
- Variety of terrain. Coastal links, mountain-foothill courses and river-valley layouts all exist within a few hours of each other.
Golf Tourism Revenue Is Rising Fast
Golf tourism revenue in Vietnam is expected to reach roughly US$1 billion by 2025, up from an estimated US$600 million just a few years earlier. GoGolfVietnam notes that this growth is being driven less by any single mega-resort and more by a broader base of international golfers choosing Vietnam over more established regional destinations for multi-round trips.
We cover exactly what that revenue growth means for individual golfers, including pricing trends and where the investment is going, in our breakdown of Vietnam’s push toward $1 billion in golf tourism revenue.
Homegrown Talent Is Putting Vietnam on the Map
Course growth is not the only story. Vietnam is also producing golfers who are competing, and winning, on the international stage — a sign that the country’s golf development goes beyond building courses for visitors. Our profile of Vietnam’s next generation of golf talent looks at how a new wave of Vietnamese amateurs is shaping the sport’s future in Asia, both on and off the course.
Planning a Golf Trip to Vietnam
For visiting golfers, the practical question is usually less “should I go” and more “where do I start.” Most first-time visitors base themselves in Central Vietnam and build a multi-round itinerary around Da Nang, Hoi An and Hue, since the region concentrates so much of the country’s best golf within a short transfer of each other.
Our team can help you build a 5-day golf itinerary across Da Nang, Hoi An and Hue, which is a common starting point for golfers visiting Vietnam for the first time.
Getting Started
If Vietnam’s rise as a golf destination has you thinking about a trip, our team can help you arrange a Vietnam golf trip built around Central Vietnam’s top courses, from course selection and tee times to transport and accommodation.
Last updated: July 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is Vietnam considered a rising golf destination in Asia?›
Vietnam has expanded from a handful of courses a decade ago to roughly 100 today, with a national target of 200 by 2030. The country has also won Asia’s Best Golf Destination at the World Golf Awards for eight consecutive years, from 2017 to 2024.
2. How many golf courses does Vietnam have?›
Vietnam operates approximately 100 golf courses nationwide as of 2026, with five new courses opened in the past year and a national plan targeting 200 courses by 2030.
3. Has Vietnam won any golf tourism awards?›
Yes. Vietnam has been named Asia’s Best Golf Destination at the World Golf Awards for eight consecutive years, from 2017 through 2024, and has twice been named World’s Best Golf Destination outright.
4. Is Central Vietnam the best region for golf in Vietnam?›
Central Vietnam, centered on Da Nang, Hoi An and Hue, has the country’s highest concentration of five-star courses within a short transfer of each other, which is why most first-time visitors base a golf trip there.
5. Is golf tourism revenue in Vietnam actually growing?›
Yes. Golf tourism revenue in Vietnam is projected to reach roughly US$1 billion by 2025, up from an estimated US$600 million a few years earlier, driven by a broadening base of international visitors rather than one single resort.
6. Are Vietnamese golfers competing internationally?›
Yes. A new generation of Vietnamese amateur golfers is competing on international junior and amateur circuits, reflecting a golf development push that goes beyond building courses for visiting tourists.
7. What is the best way to plan a golf trip to Vietnam?›
Most first-time visitors build a multi-round itinerary around Central Vietnam, basing themselves in Da Nang or Hoi An and combining several championship courses into one trip rather than playing a single course in isolation.
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