Coastal and Mountain Golf in Vietnam: Which Experience Fits Your Style?
Vietnam has recently become one of the leading golf destinations in Asia, due to its great weather, beautiful scenery, and growing tourism infrastructure. Golf courses in Vietnam are spread across both coastal and mountainous areas offering golfers a variety of options for domestic and foreign players. Through this article, we hope to shed light on coastal and mountain golf in Vietnam, highlighting their distinctive features along with recommendations on where to play golf in Vietnam that best fits your needs and interests.
Overview on Vietnam Golf
Currently, Vietnam has more than 65 golf courses in operation, most of which are concentrated in areas with natural advantages such as Da Nang, Nha Trang, Quang Nam, Ha Long and Da Lat
Golf courses are divided into groups according to terrain characteristics:
- Coastal golf courses: located near the coast, characterized by strong winds, natural sand, open landscape
- Mountain golf courses: located in mountainous or plateau areas, with steep terrain, cool air, panoramic views
- Landslide golf courses: flat terrain, basic design, typical of golf
Understanding the differences between these types of courses helps golfers choose where to play golf in Vietnam that suits their interests, physical strength and playing style
Coastal Golf in Vietnam
Coastal golf courses in Vietnam are mainly developed along the central coast, where the climate is dry, sunny and cold, very suitable for the links course model. The ocean-view courses are built on natural sand, which helps drain water well, keeping the quality of the course stable all year round.
The highlight of coastal golf lies in the wind and open terrain. The wind can change direction constantly, forcing players to adjust their low-hitting skills, ball control and precise club selection. Therefore, golfers often consider this a place to practice tactical thinking instead of just showing off their techniques.
Characteristics of coastal courses
- Naturally flat terrain with a sandy base, providing good drainage
- Sea breezes greatly affect the ball path, making each shot unpredictable and requiring strategy
- Ocean views, creating a sense of openness and expanding playing space
- A temperate climate all year round, especially suitable for those who want to combine golf tourism and relaxation
Due to this feature, coastal courses are often chosen by golfers who like a dynamic environment, like challenges and want to enjoy the typical atmosphere of coastal Vietnam.
Additionally, most ocean-view courses are located within luxury resort complexes, offering a full package of golf, relaxation, and dining experiences. However, the strong winds and higher temperatures of the Central region can be tough for beginners, and costs are typically higher due to course maintenance and resort-level services.
Mountain Golf in Vietnam
Unlike the open area of coastal golf, scenic mountain golf courses in Vietnam feature cooler temperatures, fresh air, and varying elevation — typical of destinations like Da Lat and Ba Na. These mountain golf courses are a key part of coastal and mountain golf in Vietnam, giving players a tranquil and picturesque alternative to ocean-side play.
The most obvious component to mountain golf is the elevation change. Not only will the fairways move significantly up and down, but this factor will also add complexity to selecting the correct club and distance aspect. Par 3 hole will often be constructed with a very high tee box causing the golfer to utilize power with precession in trajectory control.
Characteristics of this type of course:
- High altitude, cool climate all year round
- Complex terrain, requiring golfers to carefully calculate the direction of play and choose the right golf club. Forest, lake, and valley landscapes help players easily concentrate and relax.
- The density of golf courses in the mountains is a lot lower than along a coast, so the space is usually more tranquil, with more privacy.
- Scenic mountain courses are ideal choices for golfers who enjoy peace and want to mix sports with an eco-resort or retreat type of experience.
Mountain golf tends to experience less impact from wind, making it a better choice for golfers who prefer to control the flight path of the golf ball during a round using technique and feel vs. using strength. Plus, the cooler climate year-round generally helps players remain better conditioned physically, especially for a 18-hole round of golf.
| Criteria | Coastal Golf | Mountain Golf |
| Wind | Strong breezes, constantly changing directions | Usually calm, minimal wind impact |
| Elevation | Flat or gently rolling terrain | Significant elevation changes, hilly fairways |
| Temperature | Warmer, sunny, can be hot in summer | Cooler, refreshing all year round |
| Challenge | Tactical shots required due to wind and open layout | Club selection and trajectory control critical due to slopes and height differences |
| Resort Experience | Often part of luxury seaside resorts with pools, dining and leisure | Tranquil eco-resorts or mountain retreats, focus on relaxation and nature |
Where to Experience Coastal and Mountain Golf in Vietnam?
With over 60 internationally recognized golf courses stretching from the North to the South, golfers have no shortage of destinations. Depending on weather, terrain, and desired experience, you can choose ocean-view courses along the Central and Southern coasts or scenic mountain courses in the North and Central Highlands.
Central and Southern Vietnam – Coastal Golf Paradise
The central coast is currently the most vibrant golf development center in Vietnam. With a dry climate, lots of sunshine and light winds all year round, this area gathers a series of ocean-view courses designed by global legends.
Hoiana Shores Golf Club
- Location: near Hoi An ancient town
- Design: Hoiana Shores is a rare 17-hole links-style golf course in Vietnam. The course was designed by architect Robert Trent Jones Jr., making the most of the natural sand terrain and sea breeze direction.
- Features: Hoiana’s highlights are wide fairways, open greens, suitable for players who like to challenge with wind and ball control techniques. In addition, the Hoiana Resort complex also has a 5-star hotel, casino and food court, convenient for a golf-related package holiday
>>> For golfers planning a premium coastal and mountain golf in Vietnam experience, the Hoiana Shores Golf Club Stay & Play 2-Day Tour offers the perfect mix of world-class golf and seaside relaxation
Hoiana Shores Golf Club
BRG Da Nang Golf Resort
- Location: along the Non Nuoc coast, between Da Nang and Hoi An
- Design: BRG Da Nang has 2 courses, Nicklaus Course and Norman Course, each with a different design style. One is modern with curved greens, the other is classic in the links model.
- Features: this is a course that combines both sea and mountain, bringing a golf experience with the wind from the blue sea with the cool climate of the Ngu Hanh Son mountain range. The course has a moderate length, the sea breeze changes with the season, creating a technical challenge for the players.
BRG Da Nang Golf Resort
KN Golf Links
- Location: KN Paradise Resort
- Design: KN Golf Links was designed by the legendary Greg Norman. This is one of the most impressive coastal golf courses in Vietnam with natural sand dunes facing Cam Ranh Bay. The course consists of 27 holes, the 18-hole Links Course and the 9-hole Oasis Course – suitable for both beginners and professionals.
- Features: The dry climate and strong winds create favorable conditions and challenges for golfers. Because the course is located in a high-class resort, players can experience both coastal golf and high-class beach resorts in Vietnam.
KN Golf Links
Vinpearl Golf Phu Quoc
- Location: located in the North of Phu Quoc Island in the Vinpearl Phu Quoc super resort complex, about 30-45 minutes drive from Phu Quoc airport.
- Design: designed by IMG Worldwide with 27 holes, focusing on balancing natural elements and player experience with wide fairways and many strategic bunkers.
- Features: is a coastal golf course but also combines primeval forest landscape. In addition, when playing golf at VinPearl course, players can easily combine a resort stay or have fun at VinWonders and Vinpearl Safari nearby.
>>> For golfers looking to combine leisure and sport on Vietnam’s tropical coast, the Vinpearl Resort & Spa Phu Quoc Stay & Play is an ideal choice among ocean-view courses
Vinpearl Golf Phu Quoc
Northern & Central Highlands – Experience golf amidst the mountains
Enjoyable climate conditions are available in the Northern and Central Highlands areas, particularly in the summer, when the average temperature is often 20-25 degrees Celsius. These regions represent the most stunning scenic mountain courses in Vietnam, combining unique terrain, wide open views and fresh mountain air — perfect for players seeking both challenge and serenity.
FLC Ha Long Golf Club
- Location: Golf course is built on top of Van Nghe hill, only about 10km from the city center
- Design: the course has a moderately sloping terrain, winding green with 18 holes, of which 4 golf holes have spectacular views of Ha Long Bay, the remaining holes are located around cliffs and valleys
- Features: although it is a mountain course, from many positions on the course, players can enjoy a panoramic view of the beautiful Ha Long Bay.
>>> If you’re exploring where to play golf in Vietnam, the FLC Ha Long Golf Club & Luxury Resort is a standout among the country’s scenic mountain courses.
FLC Ha Long Golf Club
Thanh Lanh Valley Golf & Resort
- Location: about 30 minutes from Noi Bai airport and about 50 minutes drive from Hanoi center.
- Design: located between the vast Thanh Lanh lake and the rolling mountains of Tam Dao National Park, Thanh Lanh Valley was designed by Sir Nick Faldo, 18 holes of international standards combining the lake and Tam Dao mountain views. The course is highly appreciated for its quiet landscape suitable for golfers looking for privacy and space to practice techniques.
- Features: Cool climate all year round thanks to its high location on the slopes of Tam Dao mountain combined with the adjacent resort, providing a resort experience for those who want to take a short break on the weekends
Thanh Lanh Valley Golf & Resort
Dalat Palace Golf Club
- Location: located right in the center of Dalat, next to Xuan Huong Lake. With an altitude of about 1500m above sea level, the climate here is cool all year round with a temperature of only about 18-22 degrees Celsius
- Design: Designed in European style from the 1920s with 18 holes of international standards, covered with Bentgrass – a high-class grass usually only found on courses in temperate climates. Dalat’s natural sloping terrain is cleverly utilized to create many holes with different heights and fairways winding around the lake
- Features: Due to the stable altitude and humidity, the ball often flies further, so first-time golfers need to pay attention to get the best shots. With a central location close to famous places, players can combine golf with a resort experience.
Dalat Palace Golf Club
Ba Na Hills Golf Club
- Location: located at the foot of Ba Na Mountain, about 25 minutes drive from Da Nang city center, Ba Na Hills Golf Club is located in the middle of a large natural forest, less affected by urban areas.
- Design: Designed by Luke Donald, developed by Sun Group, Ba Na Hills Golf Club is the only international standard 18-hole course in Vietnam with a full course lighting system, allowing play at night. The course is oriented in the style of mountain golf – natural hilly terrain, many holes have significant height differences
- Features: The ability to play at night is a special feature that makes this course popular with domestic and foreign golfers, especially in the summer. From the course, players can combine a tour of the BA Na Hills tourist area by cable car or stay at a resort on the coast of Da Nang.
>>> As part of your journey through coastal and mountain golf in Vietnam, don’t miss the lush fairways and cool mountain air at Ba Na Hills Golf Club
Ba Na Hills Golf Club
The Ideal Time to Play Golf in Vietnam
The climate in Vietnam has variances of time which will provide you with an overall better experience during the correct time.
- Dry season: November through April the following year will provide you optimal room for coastal courses from Da Nang to Phu Quoc. The temps will range from 26 – 32 with sunny conditions, minimal rain, and generally stable conditions. This is also the peak season for international guests which will require you to schedule your tee times in advance, if you are considering to play some golf on these courses.
- Summer season: May until September: this is when the weather is ‘cool’ in the mountainous areas, perfect for playing at the Da Lat, Ba Na, or Ha Long courses, while the central region can be brutal sun. But if you still want to experience the coastal golf courses in the summer, you should tee off in the early morning or late afternoon.
- Transitional period: October or April: this is the ideal time to experience many different regions, when the wind decreases and resort room prices are also “softer”.
From the sunlit fairways of Vietnam’s ocean-view courses to the misty greens of its scenic mountain courses, each round reveals a different side of the country’s beauty. The seaside layouts in Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Cam Ranh invite golfers to challenge ocean winds and sweeping views, while the cool highlands of Da Lat and Ha Long offer calm, picturesque escapes.
With world-class course design, warm hospitality, and year-round playability, Vietnam is quickly becoming Asia’s hidden gem for golf enthusiasts. Whether you’re chasing a new challenge or a peaceful retreat surrounded by nature, coastal and mountain golf in Vietnam delivers both adventure and relaxation.
Ready to experience it for yourself? Contact us to start planning your Vietnam golf journey today and tee off where mountains meet the sea.
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