Vietnam targets US$1 billion in golf tourism revenue
With over 80 international-standard courses, golf tourism has been identified as a strategic product to attract high-end travellers and elevate Vietnam’s global profile.
VOV.VN - Vietnam is emerging as one of the world’s fastest-growing golf markets, with internationally designed courses, new large-scale developments and competitive travel costs helping strengthen its appeal to international golfers, according to Bloomberg.
In a feature published late September, Bloomberg described Vietnam as a new “bucket-list” destination for golf, highlighting courses designed by leading names including Nick Faldo and Greg Norman, as well as major projects involving the Trump Organization and Tiger Woods’ TGR Design.
The report cited the National Golf Foundation (NGF) as saying Vietnam has more than 50 golf courses in planning or under construction, the largest development pipeline outside the US. Vietnam’s golf-course expansion is expected to bring the country’s total to around 200 courses by 2030.
Among the projects drawing attention is a US$1.5 billion resort development in northern Vietnam associated with the Trump Organization, while TGR Design is developing an 18-hole international-standard course in southern Vietnam.
Brian Curley, a golf course designer who has designed seven courses currently operating in Vietnam, highlighted the country's long coastline and lush highlands as particularly attractive settings for golf-course development.
“The potential for world-class golf sites in Vietnam is hard to beat,” Curley told Bloomberg.
Bloomberg also pointed to the relative affordability of playing golf in Vietnam. The report noted that the cost of an 18-hole round and green fees in Vietnam can be comparable to or lower than those at some internationally recognised public courses in the US. In Vietnam, the price often includes a golf cart and caddie.
Relatively affordable accommodation, food and beverages add to Vietnam’s appeal as a golf tourism destination. Beyond its world-class courses, the country’s caddies are also known for their expertise and attention to detail.
International golf tourists are estimated to spend three times more than other leisure travellers in Vietnam, with some golfers even arriving by private jet from faraway destinations.
Vietnam is not the only Southeast Asian country benefiting from golf tourism. Thailand has more than 300 golf courses, the highest number in the region, while Indonesia has more than 150 and Cambodia around a dozen.
However, Vietnam’s distinctive advantages have helped establish it as a leading destination for golfers after being named Asia’s Best Golf Destination by the World Golf Awards for nine consecutive years.
Golfers from the Republic of Korea, Japan and Taiwan (China), in particular, are drawn to Vietnam by relatively low costs, difficulty securing tee times at home, and the country’s warmer and sunnier winters.
Golf clubs in Vietnam have responded by offering menus catering to Korean and Japanese tastes, while some caddies can communicate in other Asian languages in addition to English.
Vietnam’s golfing scene is set for a full swing in 2026, with a packed calendar of domestic and international tournaments organised by the Vietnam Golf Association (VGA), promising a long season from March through to December.
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