The evolution of Vietnam as a rising golf destination is something to behold, with the sport now a key pillar of the country’s tourism strategy
When I first set foot in Vietnam more than 20 years ago, I had no idea that one stretch of untouched coastline would help ignite one of the most exciting golf destinations in the world.
I remember that first site vividly – miles of raw, towering sand dunes about 100 kilometres southeast of Ho Chi Minh City. That landscape would eventually become The Bluffs Grand Ho Tram, now ranked among Golf Digest’s ‘World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses’.
Even then, I knew Vietnam had something special. The land, the people, the culture – everything about it felt authentic, natural and ready to be shared with the world. As a designer, you dream of sites like those dunes at Ho Tram.
What makes Vietnam extraordinary for golf design is its diversity. The south offers dramatic coastal dunes and ocean winds. The central region provides pure links terrain and golden beaches. The north delivers rolling hills, limestone mountains and river valleys. Each site feels entirely different, yet unmistakably Vietnamese.
At Greg Norman Golf Course Design (GNGCD), we have completed nine courses across seven sites, stretching from the southern coast to the northern hills. Projects like the Dunes course at Da Nang Golf Club and The Bluffs demonstrate that you can preserve the natural character of a site while creating world-class golf experiences. Both helped redefine what golf in Vietnam could be – authentic, challenging and beautifully integrated with the landscape.
The Da Nang course is one of nine layouts that Greg Norman’s design firm have completed in Vietnam (Photo: Da Nang Resort)
Over the past two decades, I’ve had the privilege of watching Vietnam’s golf landscape transform. When we completed The Bluffs in 2014, golf tourism was still in its infancy. Today, Vietnam stands among the top golf destinations in Asia, recognised twice by the World Golf Awards in its ‘World’s Best Golf Destination’ category.
One defining milestone came in 2015, when The Bluffs hosted the Ho Tram Open, an Asian Tour event that many consider the moment Vietnam stepped confidently onto the global golf stage. That week showcased not only the dramatic dunes of Ho Tram but also Vietnam’s capacity to host world-class competition. It helped cement Vietnam’s reputation as a serious golf nation at a time when the industry was just beginning to take shape.
Years later, the Asian Tour returned to Vietnam for one of its biggest events, the International Series Vietnam in 2023 at KN Golf Links Cam Ranh – another GNGCD design. With the events at The Bluffs and KN Links, the two largest professional tournaments in Vietnam’s history were played on our courses. That is something I am incredibly proud of. It speaks to the quality of the land we have been given, and the trust placed in our team to deliver championship-calibre venues.
KN Golf Links Cam Ranh hosted the International Series Vietnam event on the Asian Tour in 2023 (Photo: KN Golf Links Cam Ranh)
As designers, our philosophy has always been to create courses that test the best players in the world while remaining enjoyable for amateurs, members, resort guests, juniors, seniors and beginners. A championship course should be inclusive, not exclusive. We achieve this through a range of design tools: multiple teeing options, strategic feature placement that rewards thoughtful play over brute strength, diverse green complexes that allow for flexible pin positions and practice facilities that support every level of development.
That philosophy was essential in Vietnam, where the future of the game depends not only on international tourists but also on the rapid rise of domestic golfers. One of the most encouraging trends in recent years has been the growth of Vietnamese players, developers and golf entrepreneurs. Golf is no longer seen only as a premium resort activity. It has become a national movement embraced by families, young professionals and a new generation of athletes.
This shift is a sign of a healthy, sustainable golf economy. When local participation increases alongside international demand, the market becomes more resilient. Developers continue investing, new courses emerge in diverse regions, and the industry expands in a way that supports long-term stability rather than short-term spikes.
In 2026, two new GNGCD projects will open their doors: Van Lang Empire T&T Golf Club in Phú Thọ Province, set amid hills north of Hanoi, and Truong Thinh Bao Ninh, a pure links course carved through coastal dunes and casuarina forests. These two projects highlight Vietnam’s incredibly varied natural settings and show how golf can be environmentally sensitive when done correctly.
Van Lang Empire T&T Golf Club, in the hills north of Hanoi, will open in 2026 (Photo: Greg Norman Golf Course Design)
Since my first term as a ‘Vietnam Tourism Ambassador’ from 2018 to 2021, I’ve witnessed remarkable growth – stronger infrastructure, more developers and a government that truly understands golf’s ability to drive tourism and investment. Golf tourism revenue has risen roughly 20 per cent each year since the pandemic and is projected to reach US$1 billion by 2025, accounting for about 10 per cent of all tourism revenue. Even more significant is that golf is now officially recognised as a pillar of the national tourism strategy for 2026–2030.
But none of this progress happens without deep, hands-on engagement. I’ve always believed you cannot design great golf courses from a distance. You need to walk the land, feel the wind, study the soil and understand the community. Vietnam is one of the places where I have been most involved personally through regular site visits and long stretches spent on the ground. And one of our greatest competitive advantages is our full-time GNGCD team based in Vietnam. That local presence allows us to work closely with developers, government stakeholders, contractors and communities to ensure every project is built with cultural sensitivity, environmental responsibility and long-term vision.
Beyond the golf, what keeps me coming back to Vietnam are the people. Vietnamese hospitality is unmatched – warm, humble and deeply genuine. The culture, the food and the spirit of the country all contribute to an experience that goes far beyond the fairways.
As I begin my second term as Vietnam’s Tourism Ambassador (2025–2030), I’m incredibly proud of what has been achieved and even more excited for what’s ahead. Vietnam has created a blueprint for how golf can fuel tourism, investment and community development.
What began as one golf course on a stretch of sand has evolved into a national movement, reshaping global perceptions and inspiring millions to see Vietnam in new ways. For me, that’s the real legacy: not simply designing great courses, but helping a nation tell its story, one fairway at a time.