Why Golf in Vietnam – Cambodia – Laos ?

Here we give you great reasons why you should choose Vietnam for your next golf holiday.

Golf Courses

There are more 60 golf courses in Vietnam, located from north to south with many different climates and terrain.  Many golf courses are design by famous golfers themselves such as Greg Norman, Sir Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Jack Nicklaus, and recently Robert Trent Jones Jr.

You will find golf courses like Phoenix Golf Club which winds its way through the spectacular limestone cliffs outside Hanoi.  King Island Golf Club is built on an island and you need to take a short speedboat ride to reach the course.  The former French hill station in Dalat is home to three golf courses including the oldest golf course in Vietnam.  Dalat Palace Golf Club is very reminiscent of playing in Europe and is always much cooler.  In Danang and Phan Thiet you will play alongside the giant sand dunes which add to the links feel of the courses in this area. In Nha Trang you can play alongside beautiful white sand beaches and if you really want to try something different the island of Phu Quoc off the south coast has one of the best golf courses in Vietnam.

Caddies

Caddies are available and usually compulsory at all golf courses in Vietnam. Most can speak English. Extremely helpful, attractive and with a great sense of humor, they generally come from rural backgrounds and really appreciate and value their jobs. They will really add to your enjoyment of the course.

Good value

A meal for two costs less than US$20 and a beer around US$ 1, taxis are also very cheap. You will always feel rich in Viet Nam.

Vietnamese food

Vietnamese food is famous the world over – not as hot and spicy as Thai food but more fragrant with a heavy emphasis on fresh ingredients and a bowl of fresh herbs is always placed in the middle of the table.  In the major cities you can still see the French influence with fresh baguettes on offer.  If you happen to be near the beach, then you can sample the wonderful fresh seafood at very attractive prices.

Great Climate

There are considerable variations in the weather patterns throughout the country and when it is raining in one place then it’s often sunny elsewhere.  November to April is the best time to visit Hanoi although it can get quite cold at times with temperatures ranging from 17-22⁰C.  Danang is at its best from February to May.  Although the winter season is best you can actually play golf in Ho Chi Minh all year round.

*Trang An
 

Easy to get around

Vietnam is improving the infrastructure all the time with new airports and roads being built and although the traffic in the centre of the major cities can be crazy at times it is gradually improving.  There are plenty of internal flights and more and more low-cost airlines offering excellent value.

Spectacular Scenery and sights

If you are visiting Vietnam for the first time, then you should really take some time to see some of the local sights.  You must visit the ancient Chinese fishing port of Hoi An which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a short distance from Danang. You should also visit and see the spectacular limestone islands rising out of Halong Bay.  Other classic excursions include a cruise along the Mekong Delta or a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels.

*Ha Long Bay

After a round of golf there is nothing better than to chill out on a white sand beach. Danang is a world class beach resort with some wonderful hotels along the beach.  If you are into water sports, then Nha Trang is the place to head but the ultimate beach escape is Phu Quoc Island – an idyllic location to play golf and relax.

*My Khe beach in Danang

Here we give you great reasons why you should choose Cambodia for your next golf holiday.

In recent years, Cambodia becomes one of the favorite golf destinations Asia with world class golf courses. Most of golf courses are located in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

Phnom Penh: is an ideal destination to discover, this city has the mix between brilliant past and bright future but still is developing country. You will have a chance to enjoy unique architecture of pagodas, palace, etc. The number of big shopping malls is rapidly rising, suitable for shopping lovers. Besides that, Phnom Penh has some famous golf clubs such as: Garden City Golf Club, Grand Phnompenh Golf Club, Royal Cambodia Phnompenh Golf Club, and Vattanac Golf Resort which is recently designed by Sir Nick Faldo.

Garden City Golf Club opened in April 2013 and immediately emerged as one of the best golf courses in Phnom Penh. The par-72 golf course is laid out on 240 acres and is located 20 kilometers northeast of downtown Phnom Penh. The overall design goal was to create a course that is tough for professional golfers yet playable for golfers of modest skill. Featureless rice paddy fields have been transformed into a course with many moguls, mounds, and man-made hazards. Large greens and water hazards on most holes characterize the strong palm-lined layout. From the 7,258 yards championship tees and with little roll on the fairways, Garden City is a real test of golf.

Grand Phnom Penh Golf Club: The 18-holes golf course, 72 pars with total length of 7,194 yards, is challenging golf course for golfers at all level. The course is covered with Tifway Bermuda with natural small lake and undulating terrain, bringing fresh atmosphere, but also challenging and interesting for golfers. The original flatting was dramatically transformed to large and difficult putting green, especially when wind breezing.

Siem Reap: is the home of the World Heritage sites at Angkor Wat has three fine courses open and has hosted the Asian Tour Johnnie Walker Classic and Cambodian Open events in their high successful cultural tourism destination. Siem Reap with well known golf courses Angkor Golf Resort, Siem Reap Booyoung Country Club and Phokeethra Country Club, they surely bring memorable experiences for golfers.

Angkor Golf Resort: Originally designed by Nick Faldo, the Angkor Golf Resort was opened in January 2008. The course is considered one of the best golf courses in Cambodia, so any golf lover should visit. The tee box, fairways as well as putting green are carefully take care to ensure good condition.  The course has three tee boxes to adapt for golfers’ ability.

Siem Reap Booyoung Country Club is designed by famous architecture-Kento Sato, is an international course at Siem Reap, with total length of 7396 yards. The course is the wonderful combination between natural landscape and art beauty. The palm trees lined fairway with five tee boxes adapts both professional and amateur golfers. The creek and water hazards are main features of course, furthermore, flatting fairways and large putting green creating interesting experience.

Besides that, multiple restaurants and bars in and nearby the city center, delicious food offer lots of dining & entertainment opportunities during your golf trip, make sure you will have memorable experiences in Cambodia.

Here we give you great reasons why you should choose Laos for your next golf holiday.

Golf Courses

The lifestyle in Laos is generally laid back but they have been highly active in promoting golf and creating several golf courses in the country. One of the best of 18 holes layouts is billed as the most picturesque golf course in Laos and the 7,107 yards course is located at Dansavanh Nam Ngum Resort, which is perhaps more famous for its casio. Besides that, Luang Prapang Golf Club, Lao Country Club, Sea Games Golf Club,…are also worth of experience and challenge yourself, make sure you will be not disappointed.

Weather

Weather in Laos has three distinct seasons, the hot season, the wet season and the dry season.  The hot season runs from March to May with the temperatures reaching 40 degrees. The wet season runs from May to October and tropical downpours are frequent during these months, with temperatures averaging around 30 degrees.  If you want to play golf in Laos with the best conditions, you must travel between November and March, which is the dry season.  Temperatures can drop as low as 15 degrees, often lower in the mountains at night and there is little rainfall, making the conditions perfect for golf.

Laos cuisine

Laos cuisine is one of the most distinctive cuisines in Southeast Asia and has more variants than most Asian countries due to the wide ethnic variety of the country. Khao niaw (sticky rice) is a staple food among the Laotians. Traditionally steamed in a cone-shaped bamboo basket, the rice is then placed in a covered basket, where it is eaten by hand alongside spicy soup, and meat-based dishes. Eating in Laos is also a communal activity, where dishes are shared by all at the table. Aside from local delicacies, Laos’ capital Vientiane is serviced by good French restaurants and cafes – a remnant of the country's colonial era.

Must-see attractions

Visiting Laos, you will be struck by its natural beauty. Towering limestone peaks, quaint riverside villages, massive caves, and the greenest rice fields we have seen anywhere in Southeast Asia. The must-see sights of Laos include the Pak Ou Caves located north of Luangprabang on the Mekong river and can be reached by road or boat; the caves are famous for their miniature Buddha sculptures. Pha That Luang (“Great Stupa in Lao”) is one of the most significant monuments in Laos. Luangprapang is located on a peninsula between the Nam Khan and Mekong rivers, it is truly hidden charm of Laos and recognized as World Heritage site in 1995 by UNESCO for its natural beauty and long traditional culture. Laos is waiting you to come and discover its amazing beauty.