Vietnam is targeting $1 billion in golf tourism revenue, up from roughly $600 million a few years ago, on the back of around 100 golf courses nationwide and eight straight years as Asia’s Best Golf Destination. For golfers, that translates into faster course expansion, better infrastructure between golf hubs, and packages that still undercut Thailand or Malaysia at a similar quality level. Here’s what’s actually behind the number, and how to plan a trip around it.
Quick answer: Vietnam’s golf tourism revenue target of $1 billion is backed by real numbers — around 100 courses today, a Vision 2030 push toward roughly 200, and back-to-back “Asia’s Best Golf Destination” wins since 2017. Central Vietnam (Danang, Hoi An, Hue) is where most of the new development and international attention is concentrated.
The $1 Billion Target, Explained
Vietnam’s golf tourism revenue has been climbing from an estimated $600 million toward a $1 billion goal, driven largely by course openings, resort investment, and a steady stream of international awards. The country has picked up Asia’s Best Golf Destination honors for eight consecutive years (2017–2024) and been named World’s Best Golf Destination twice in that span.
Those awards aren’t just marketing — they track with the on-the-ground reality. Vietnam now has close to 100 golf courses in operation, and the government’s Vision 2030 plan is aiming for around 200 nationwide. That’s a lot of new tee times, but it also means more competition for a limited pool of top-tier caddies, buggies, and prime slots at the best-known clubs.
What’s Actually Driving the Growth
Course expansion. Central Vietnam has been the epicenter — Laguna Lang Co and Hoiana Shores have both gone through expansion phases, and new golf-residential communities are appearing around Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc.
Infrastructure catching up. Airport upgrades at Da Nang, Phu Bai, and Long Thanh, plus better highway connections along the Danang–Hoi An–Hue corridor, are cutting down the transfer time between rounds — which matters more than most golfers expect when a trip involves three or four courses in a week.
Stay-and-play resorts. Laguna Lang Co pairs golf with villas and a spa on one property; Hoiana Shores sits inside a larger resort with dining and entertainment; Ba Na Hills leans into its floodlit night golf as a point of difference. This model is a big part of why golf tourism revenue keeps climbing even without dramatically higher green fees — it’s also the idea behind a luxury stay-and-play golf holiday in Da Nang built around two or three of these courses.
Flagship Courses Behind the Boom
A handful of courses are doing most of the heavy lifting for Vietnam’s international reputation:
| Course | Designer | What Stands Out |
|---|---|---|
| Laguna Lang Co | Sir Nick Faldo | Mountain, jungle, and coastal holes on one routing |
| Hoiana Shores | Robert Trent Jones II | Pure links-style course, named World’s Best New Course in 2020 |
| Ba Na Hills Golf Club | Luke Donald (his only design project to date) | Foothills setting, floodlit night golf — hot climate like the rest of Danang, not the cool mountain air of the Ba Na hill station nearby |
| BRG Da Nang Golf Resort | Greg Norman (Norman Course) / Jack Nicklaus (Nicklaus Course) | Two 18-hole layouts on one property, dune-style terrain |
| Montgomerie Links | Colin Montgomerie | European-style links near the coast |
Worth noting: Ba Na Hills Golf Club sits at the foot of the Ba Na mountain range, but that doesn’t mean cooler weather on the course itself — it shares Danang’s heat and humidity, which is exactly why its night golf option gets booked up fast.
What This Means for Golfers Booking a Trip Now
Green fees vary a lot by course and season, so “average $70–120 a round” isn’t a reliable number to plan around anymore, at least not in Central Vietnam. As of July 2026, weekday-to-weekend rates at three of the region’s best-known courses look like this:
| Course | Green Fee (USD, weekday–weekend) |
|---|---|
| Laguna Lang Co | $180–320 |
| Hoiana Shores | $220–320 |
| Ba Na Hills Golf Club | $160–260 |
Prices as of July 2026, based on published rates for Central Vietnam courses — always confirm current pricing before booking, as rates shift by season and demand.
In our experience, this is exactly where a bundled package tends to beat booking green fees, transfers, and hotels separately — the per-round math looks better once transport and accommodation are folded into one price, especially across a multi-course itinerary. Worth taking a look before booking each piece on its own — you can start planning a Vietnam golf package to compare.
Best Time to Play While Vietnam Golf Tourism Is Booming
Central Vietnam’s golf calendar doesn’t run the way a lot of guides describe it. April to September is the dry season — hot, sunny, and reliable, but also the most physically demanding stretch for an 18-hole round. October through March is technically the rainy season, but it’s also when temperatures drop and conditions get noticeably more comfortable to play in — which is exactly why it functions as the real peak season, not a quiet one. Book tee times early if you’re planning a trip between October and March; courses fill up precisely because the weather is better, not despite it.
February to April, right after Tet, tends to be the most balanced window of the year — decent odds of dry days without the peak-season crowds. Northern Vietnam (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay) is more pleasant from October to April, while the south (Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc) plays year-round with December to April as its busiest stretch.
We’ve found that guests who book a round during a rain-affected week are rarely disappointed — play typically pauses for a downpour and resumes once it clears, rather than getting cancelled outright. Refunds generally only apply if a course floods and closes entirely.
How to Plan a Trip Around the Growth
A few practical takeaways if you’re watching Vietnam’s golf scene grow and want to get ahead of it: book tee times early during the October–March peak, look beyond the marquee courses for value (places like Dalat or Long Thanh get overlooked but play well), and lean on a package rather than piecing a trip together course by course.
GoGolfVietnam is a Danang-based golf tour operator that can help you put together a trip around this growth — read more on why Vietnam is becoming one of Asia’s top golf destinations, or check our full review of Laguna Lang Co if that’s one of the courses on your list.
Last updated: July 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Is Vietnam’s $1 billion golf tourism target realistic?›
It’s backed by real growth: around 100 courses currently open, a Vision 2030 target of roughly 200, and eight consecutive years as Asia’s Best Golf Destination. The trajectory supports the goal, even if the exact timeline shifts.
2. How much does golf cost in Vietnam right now?›
It depends heavily on the course and region. In Central Vietnam, premium courses like Hoiana Shores and Laguna Lang Co run well above older “budget” estimates — expect $160–320 per round at the region’s best-known clubs, as of July 2026.
3. Is the rainy season a bad time to golf in Central Vietnam?›
No — October to March is actually the region’s real peak season. Cooler, more comfortable conditions bring more golfers, not fewer, so it’s worth booking tee times early rather than avoiding the period.
4. Is Ba Na Hills Golf Club cooler than other Danang courses since it’s near the mountains?›
No. Ba Na Hills Golf Club sits at the foot of the mountain range and shares Danang’s heat and humidity — it isn’t the cool hill-station climate people associate with the cable car resort nearby. Its night golf option exists partly to get around the daytime heat.
5. What’s the best golf course in Vietnam right now?›
There’s no single answer, but Laguna Lang Co, Hoiana Shores, Ba Na Hills, and the two BRG Da Nang courses are consistently named among Vietnam’s best, each for a different style of course.
6. How many golf courses does Vietnam have?›
Close to 100 as of 2026, with the government’s Vision 2030 plan targeting roughly 200 nationwide as part of the push toward $1 billion in golf tourism revenue.
GoGolfVietnam is a local golf tour operator based in Danang, and we work with golfers planning trips around exactly this kind of growth in the region.
