UK to Vietnam for golf

The number of tourists from the UK to Vietnam for golf has been increasing significantly, thanks to the high safety levels and low contact with limited crowds. After the Covid-19 pandemic, the demand for golf tourism in Vietnam is even greater. In parallel, there are raising questions on visa application, accommodation, transportation between two countries, etc. In this article, we will clear up your queries so that you can plan a perfect golf holiday in Vietnam. 

1. Vietnam general information

• Location: Southeast Asia
• Capital: Hanoi
• Language: Vietnamese
• Currency: Vietnam Dong (VND)
• Main religions: Buddhism, Catholicism, Confucianism, Caodaism
• Ethnic group: 54
• Time zone: UTC+7

With 32 out of 100 golf courses meeting the international standard, Vietnam has a large potential to develop golf tourism. It can attract up to 60 million golfers worldwide while serving an increasing number of domestic golfers. In 2021, Vietnam was awarded the title of “World’s Best Golf Destination” for the second time by the World Golf Awards.

2. Visa & Packaging tips

Visa

To travel from the UK to Vietnam for golf, United Kingdom golfers need a passport valid for at least six months from the entry date. If you stay for less than 15 days, you don’t need a Visa. A Vietnam visa is required for those who stay here for more than 15 days only.

There are three ways to obtain a Vietnam visa. The first method is to apply directly at the Embassy of Vietnam in the United Kingdom. Provide enough information (name, birthday, date of arrival, passport number, and nationality), and you will get a stamped visa after several working days.

The second way is to get a Visa On Arrival (VOA). This way, you need an approval letter, Vietnam tour itineraries, the letter of hotel booking confirmation, e-tickets of to-and-from-Vietnam flights, travel insurance policy, and a copy of your passport. Show them together with cash for stamping fee upon arrival at one of Vietnam international airports, and you will get a stamped visa to enter Vietnam. Contact us for more advice on approval letter if you need.

Notably, UK citizens are eligible for the Vietnam E-Visa issuing system. Just submit an online application form as issued by the Immigration Department of Vietnam, and you will be given an E-Visa (not an approval letter as before). This process will cost you $25 when applying, but no stamping fee at the airport. This is the most convenient way for a Vietnam visa at present as you don’t need to queue in line at the embassy or pay for the stamping fee and middlemen.

>>> Refer to our article on Vietnam Visa Requirements for everything you need to know when applying for a visa to Vietnam.

Packaging tips

What is the most important to you when traveling from the UK to Vietnam for golf? Club bags, golf attire, or camera? Like many other countries in Southeast Asia, Vietnam’s weather differs from time to time, region to region. You need different types of clothes when staying in different parts of this country. So, it is important to research carefully or consult your local travel agency about the weather condition before coming. 

Secondly, pay attention to your club bags. You need at least a set of golf balls, a fresh glove, a clean towel, and a light jacket. Don’t bring a new pair of shoes if you don’t want to face some blisters during your trip. It is best to bring your most comfortable walking ones. You can also keep a pair of flip-flops in your bag for unexpected events. 

Medicines for headaches and allergies, painkillers, sunscreen, mosquito repellents, etc., are also advised, especially if you want to visit Vietnam’s country clubs.

3. Best time to play golf in Vietnam

In general, the best time for tourists to travel from the UK to Vietnam for golf is from February to April, when it is dry and warm. This is also the busiest golf season in Vietnam.

Vietnam has three distinct regions with differences in landscapes and climate. It leads to a variety of golf courses’ terrain and experience. To further enhance a golf holiday in Vietnam, you need to know the weather condition clearly to choose the best time for Vietnam golf tours.

Hanoi and north Vietnam

Hanoi and provinces in north Vietnam have scorching summers (from May to August) and cold winters (from December to February), and it is best to avoid this severe weather when traveling from the UK to Vietnam for golf. Hanoi summers also witness a lot of unpredictable rain, and the temperature may hover at 40 degrees Celcius. It not only is uncomfortable for a golf round, but also negatively affects your health. 

The perfect time to have a golf tour in Hanoi and north Vietnam is from October to November when it has mild sunshine and the temperature is around 25 degrees Celcius. During the spring season (from February to April), it is humid and has occasional light showers, which can interrupt your golf round for a while.

>>> See more: Hanoi golf tour package & Ha Long Bay cruise 4 days

Da Nang and central Vietnam

The central region of Vietnam is warm all year round, with a temperature range from 18 degrees Celcius in the winter to 38 degrees Celcius in the summer. As the rainfall season starts in August and extends to November, it is best to have a golf round in Da Nang and central Vietnam from February to July. It is also the best time to enjoy the beautiful coastline of central Vietnam.

>>> Read more: Hue to Da Nang golf package 5 days

Ho Chi Minh City and south Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City and south Vietnam have two seasons: the wet season (from May to November) and the dry one (from December to April). In the wet season, you can expect short rainfalls in the late afternoon that can cause you to stop your golf round for a while. However, there are still some people who are lucky enough to see no rain during their holiday. If you are not always a lucky person, it is best to plan a golf escape in Ho Chi Minh City in the dry season. Opt for an early golf round to avoid the heat in the afternoon.

 >>> Learn more: Saigon golf break 7 days

4. Transportation

Travel between UK and Vietnam

Many airlines are operating direct and transit flights between the UK and Vietnam. A direct flight may take you more than 12 hours, while a one-stop flight is five or ten hours longer. To book a flight from the UK to Vietnam for golf, you can visit: 

• Vietnam Airlines: https://www.vietnamairlines.com/en-vn/flights-from-london-to-vietnam
• Bamboo Airways: https://www.vietnamairlines.com/en-vn/flights-from-london-to-vietnam
• Singapore Airlines: https://www.singaporeair.com/en-gb/flights-from-london-to-vietnam
• Turkish Airlines: https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-us/flights/country/vietnam/
• Qatar Airways: https://www.qatarairways.com/en-lb/destinations/flights-to-ho-chi-minh-city/from-london.html
• Cathay Pacific: https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_VN.html
• British Airways: https://www.britishairways.com/en-vn/flights-and-holidays/flights
• Korean Air: https://www.koreanair.com/us/en
• Etihad Airways: https://flights.etihad.com/en/flights-to-vietnam

Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways are two airlines that operate non-stop flights between the UK and Vietnam. They help you to save a lot of time but will cost you more money. Other airlines may have one or two stopovers on their route. For example, Turkish Airlines will stop at Istanbul Airport, while Qatar Airways stops at Doha Hamad International Airport.

Below are some tips for you to book a cheap flight from the UK to Vietnam:

• Book at least three weeks before departure to enjoy a lower price.
• As statistics, a flight from London to Vietnam is the cheapest in May, and a day flight is 13% cheaper than an evening flight.
• Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi) and Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City) are popular destinations for flights from the UK. However, if you plan for north-to-south Vietnam golf tours, it is best to land at Da Nang International Airport, and hire a private car to visit central-to-north along the coast golf courses of Vietnam. You will later take a domestic flight from Hanoi (in the north) to Ho Chi Minh City (in the south) and enjoy your last rounds in this city before departing home.  

Transportation in Vietnam

For tourists traveling from the UK to Vietnam for golf, a private car rental service is the most suitable mode of transportation. Imagine how you can move from one golf course to another with a large club bag on a motorbike. It is impossible. Book a traditional taxi or Grab car is not so convenient as it will take you a lot of time, not to count for the language barrier between you and the driver. 

Renting a private car with a driver is the best way for you to enjoy your golf holiday in Vietnam to the fullest. Firstly, you don’t need to worry about getting lost, traffic jams, or unexpected events on the roads. Drivers participating in this service are chosen very carefully; they are all polite, experienced, and skillful in dealing with unexpected driving situations. Just let him know your next destination, and he will take you there safely.

Secondly, you can choose any types of car you want. Here, there is a wide range for you to choose from, such as Range Rover Sport, Lexus GX-460, Porsche Cayenne, Toyota Prado, Toyota Fortuner, and Deluxe van Ford Transit. These car brands are famous for their affluence, elegance, and, most importantly, performance. Depending on the number of golfers in your group, you can choose a suitable car type. The Deluxe van Ford Transit can carry up to six golfers with club bags, while the others are for one or two players only.

>>> To know more about this private car rental service, refer to our luxurious transportation advice here. 

5. Accommodation

Finding accommodation for tourists from the UK to Vietnam for golf is no more a difficult task at the moment. Vietnam tourism, with tremendous potential, has attracted the investments of both domestic and international hospitability groups. You can easily find a 5-star hotel anywhere you go in Vietnam. You can even choose to stay at a golf & resort complex with an international-standardized golf course, high-end accommodation services, and many other recreational activities.

Some can be named:

• FLC Ha Long Bay Golf Club & Luxury Resort
• SONO BELLE Hai Phong
• Laguna Lang Co Golf & Beach Resort 
• Montgomerie Links Vietnam 
• Swissbel Resort & SAM Tuyen Lam Golf Club

6. Golf & sightseeing tours

Adjacent to breathtaking golf courses and luxurious accommodations, Vietnam attracts an emerging number of tourists from the UK to Vietnam for golf and sightseeing packaged tours. This country is also rich in nature and culture, bringing golfers and their fellows a lot of fantastic things to do away from the course. Vietnam golf tours with golf rounds alternating sightseeing days will be the perfect choice for golfers to both satisfy their passion and enjoy an escape with family or friends. 

Thrill to have a golf tour along the central coast of Vietnam, play golf within the romantic atmosphere of Da Lat city, or adorn the magnificence of Ha Long Bay throughout a golf round, you can refer to our following Vietnam golf tours:

• Best Vietnam golf package 14 days
• North & Central Vietnam golf package tour in 9 days 
• Best South Vietnam golf package 11 days
• South Vietnam golf & beach package 8 days 

Our tours are designed with customized itineraries. It means you can freely adjust the program or create a golf holiday in Vietnam for yourself. To make it simple, let us know your desire, where you want to go, and which course you want to visit most, and we will provide you with a tailor-made golf tour to Vietnam.

7. Address for reference

• The British Embassy in Hanoi

Address: Central Building, 4th floor, No. 31 Hai Ba Trung Street, Hanoi, Vietnam

Telephone: +84 (0)24 3936 0500

Website: Click here

• The British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City

Address: No. 25 Le Duan Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Telephone: +84 (0)28 3825 1380 / +84 (0)24 3936 0500 / +44 20 7008 5000

Website: Click here

• The Embassy of Vietnam in the United Kingdom

Address: 12-14 Victoria Road, London W8 5RD  

Telephone: 020 7937 1912 (Monday to Friday 9:30 to 12:30 and 15:30 to 17:00)

Website: Click here

Hope this piece of information is helpful to you while planning to travel from the UK to Vietnam for golf escapes. Still have any questions or need help, you can contact us here. We are always pleased to hear from you.