Last updated: 21 October 2026 · By the GoGolfVietnam team
Hanoi suits Australian golfers best in the Australian autumn and spring, not over Christmas. Vietnam Airlines flies nonstop from Sydney and Melbourne in about 9½–10 hours, you need a USD 25 e-visa, and twelve courses sit within reach of the city. Come in March–April or October–November for 20s-degree days.
Quick Answer
- Flights: Vietnam Airlines nonstop from Sydney (about 10h) and Melbourne (about 9h40), four times a week each.
- Visa: e-visa required, USD 25, up to 90 days.
- Best timing: Easter and Anzac Day (March–April) or the September–October school holidays.
- December–January: playable but cool, about 14–21°C with morning fog.
- Courses: 12 near the city; Long Bien is 20–30 minutes from the Old Quarter.
Can you fly nonstop from Australia to Hanoi?
Yes, from Sydney and Melbourne with Vietnam Airlines. Both routes went from three to four flights a week in March 2026, on A350s. There is no nonstop service from Perth or Brisbane; those cities connect through Ho Chi Minh City, and other carriers route through Southeast Asian hubs.
| Route | Flights | Flight time | Arrives Hanoi | Golf bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne – Hanoi | Vietnam Airlines, 4 a week | About 9h40 | About 7:10am (overnight) | 1 set up to 23 kg free |
| Sydney – Hanoi | Vietnam Airlines, 4 a week | About 10h | About 9:10pm (same day) | 1 set up to 23 kg free |
| Perth / Brisbane – Hanoi | Connection via Ho Chi Minh City | Varies by connection | Varies | Depends on the airline |
Schedules: Vietnam Airlines northern summer 2026 timetable as published by AeroRoutes (January 2026); flight times from Vietnam Airlines Australia pages. Days and times change by season, so check when booking (checked 21 October 2026).
The golf bag is the easy part on these routes. Vietnam Airlines carries one golf set up to 23 kg free on international itineraries in every booking class except G, separate from your normal bag. If you connect on a low-cost carrier, the bag becomes a paid checked item, so compare the total fare; we keep the bag rules for each airline flying into Vietnam up to date.
What do you need for entry, and how far is the Old Quarter?
A Vietnam e-visa, which is an online visa approved before travel. Australians are not visa-exempt; the e-visa costs USD 25 for one entry or USD 50 for multiple entries and covers stays of up to 90 days. Allow at least a week for approval.
Hanoi is 3 hours behind Sydney and Melbourne in the Australian winter and 4 hours behind during daylight saving. Noi Bai airport is about 27 km from the Old Quarter, around 45 minutes by car outside rush hour.
The flight times shape the first day. The Melbourne service lands just after 7am, which leaves a free afternoon: BRG Legend Hill is about 15 minutes from the airport and has floodlit holes, so a short first round is realistic. Sydney passengers land in the evening, so the first tee time is the next morning.
When should Australians come to Hanoi, and when shouldn’t they?
Come in March–April or late September to November. Hanoi has four real seasons, and its two best golf windows fall around Easter, Anzac Day and the spring school holidays. The Australian summer break is the weakest fit: Hanoi is cool and often foggy in December and January.
| Australian calendar (2027) | Hanoi weather | Fit for golf |
|---|---|---|
| Summer holidays, mid-Dec to late Jan | About 14–21°C, morning fog, short daylight | Playable, but not ideal |
| Australia Day, 26 January | About 14–20°C, fog delays of 30–90 minutes | Playable with later starts |
| Easter, 26–29 March | About 18–23°C, mild | Very good |
| Anzac Day, 25 April | About 21–28°C, warm and settled | Excellent |
| Winter holidays, late June–July | About 27–33°C, heavy rain, high humidity | Poor; early starts only |
| Spring holidays, late Sept–early Oct | About 22–31°C, rain easing | Very good |
| Melbourne Cup week (Victoria), early November | About 19–25°C, dry and clear | Excellent |
Temperatures: GoGolfVietnam month-by-month Hanoi golf weather guide. Australian dates: Fair Work Ombudsman 2027 public holidays; school holidays vary by state.
October is the stand-out month: warm days, low rain and clear mornings. For the full year, see how each month in Hanoi plays for a visiting golfer.
Coming in December anyway? It still works. Pack a light jumper, book tee times from about 9am rather than first light, and expect the course to be quieter than in autumn. If your dates fall around Lunar New Year in February, our golf in Hanoi during Tet guide covers what opens and closes.
Which four of Hanoi’s twelve courses should you play?
For a first trip, mix one city course with three resort courses. That keeps transfers short on arrival and departure days and saves the longer drives for the middle of the week.
| Course | Drive time | Character | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Bien Golf Course | About 20–30 min from the Old Quarter | City course with night golf on selected nines | Arrival evening or departure morning |
| BRG Legend Hill | About 15 min from Noi Bai airport | Floodlit 18 in the Soc Son hills | First afternoon off the Melbourne flight |
| BRG Kings Island | About 70 min from the Old Quarter | Three courses on a lake island | A full resort day |
| Sky Lake | About 85 min from the Old Quarter | 36 holes around a reservoir | Low-handicappers wanting length |
| Chi Linh Star | About 90 min from the Old Quarter | Hilly parkland toward the coast | The stop on the way to Ha Long Bay |
Drive times: Google Maps, October 2026, outside rush hour.
GoGolfVietnam, a local golf tour operator based in Da Nang, recommends Kings Island and Sky Lake as the two headline rounds of a Hanoi week, with Long Bien or Legend Hill on the travel days. Our BRG Kings Island review, Chi Linh Star review and Thanh Lanh Valley review go deeper on each course, and our Hanoi golf trips planned around Australian holiday dates combine them into ready-made itineraries.
What does a 7-day or 10-day trip look like?
Seven days gives you four rounds and a day in the Old Quarter. Ten days adds Ha Long Bay or Ninh Binh, which suit autumn best.
| Day | 7-day plan | 10-day plan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive; Legend Hill or rest | Arrive; Legend Hill or rest |
| 2 | BRG Kings Island | BRG Kings Island |
| 3 | Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake | Sky Lake |
| 4 | Sky Lake | Old Quarter day |
| 5 | Free morning, Long Bien under lights | Long Bien, then evening in the city |
| 6 | Thanh Lanh Valley or Van Tri | Chi Linh Star on the way to Ha Long |
| 7 | Long Bien at dawn, fly home | Ha Long Bay overnight cruise |
| 8–10 | — | Back via Ninh Binh or straight to Hanoi; fly home |
The ten-day version follows the route we use to pair Hanoi rounds with a night on Ha Long Bay; a Hanoi and Ninh Binh combination works the same way inland. We normally recommend the coastal leg in October or November, when Hanoi’s weather is at its most settled.
What if some of your group don’t play golf?
Hanoi is one of the easier cities in Vietnam for mixed groups. The Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, the Temple of Literature and food tours are all within a short taxi ride of the hotels, and Ha Long Bay or Ninh Binh make natural day trips. Our things to do in Hanoi for non-golfers guide sets out a week for partners.
What does a Hanoi golf trip cost?
Flights are the largest single cost, and they vary sharply with Australian school holidays. On the ground, a four-day, three-round Hanoi package starts from USD 599 per person, excluding international flights, which compares well with other Asian golf trips of the same length. The Hanoi golf cost guide breaks down green fees, caddie tips and transfers course by course.
To keep it simple, start from the four-day Hanoi plan with three rounds included and add nights for Ha Long Bay or a second round at Kings Island.
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang or Phu Quoc: which suits Australians?
It depends mostly on when you can travel. Here is the short version.
| City | Nonstop from Australia | Best match with Australian holidays | Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanoi | Sydney, Melbourne | Easter, Anzac Day, Sept–Oct holidays | Four seasons, 12 courses, Ha Long Bay |
| Ho Chi Minh City | Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and more | December–April, including summer | City base, courses within an hour |
| Da Nang | No; connect via another city | February–April | Beach resorts, coastal courses |
| Phu Quoc | No; connect via Ho Chi Minh City | December–March | Island resort, two courses |
For a summer-holiday trip, the south is the stronger choice; see our Ho Chi Minh City golf trip from Australia and Da Nang golf trip from Australia guides. For an autumn or Easter break, Hanoi is hard to beat.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are there direct flights from Australia to Hanoi?›
Yes. Vietnam Airlines flies nonstop from Sydney and Melbourne to Hanoi, four times a week on each route in the 2026 schedule. Sydney to Hanoi takes about 10 hours and Melbourne to Hanoi about 9 hours 40 minutes. Other airlines connect through Ho Chi Minh City or another Asian hub.
2. Do Australians need a visa for Hanoi?›
Yes. Australians need a Vietnam e-visa, which costs USD 25 for a single entry or USD 50 for multiple entries and is valid for up to 90 days. Apply online through the official government portal at least a week before you fly.
3. Is Hanoi too cold for golf in December?›
Not too cold, but cooler than most Australians expect. Days run about 15–21°C in December and 14–20°C in January, with morning fog that can push tee times back by 30–90 minutes. Pack a light layer and plan later starts.
4. How many golf courses are near Hanoi?›
Twelve courses are within reach of the city in our Hanoi guide, from Long Bien, about 20–30 minutes from the Old Quarter, to resort courses such as BRG Kings Island and Sky Lake, roughly 70–85 minutes away.
5. Can I combine Hanoi golf with Ha Long Bay?›
Yes. A common way is three or four rounds around Hanoi, then two or three days on the coast, playing Chi Linh Star on the way. Ha Long Bay cruises run all year; October and November bring the most settled weather.
6. What is the best month for Australians to play golf in Hanoi?›
October. It sits in Hanoi’s most reliable golf month, at around 22–29°C, and lines up with the spring school holidays in most Australian states. March and April, around Easter and Anzac Day, are the next best choice.
Sources: Vietnam Airlines Australia flight pages and golf baggage rules (checked 21 October 2026); AeroRoutes, Vietnam Airlines Hanoi–Australia northern summer 2026 schedule (19 January 2026); Vietnam e-visa fees; Fair Work Ombudsman 2027 public holidays; GoGolfVietnam Hanoi weather guide; Google Maps drive times (October 2026).
GoGolfVietnam is a Vietnam-based golf tour operator arranging tee times, hotels and transfers in Hanoi and across the country.
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