Golf Courses in Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon
Course-by-Course Introduction to Golf in-&-around HCM City, Vietnam
The Bluff Ho Tram Strip Golf Club – Yet another top golf course to add to your choice for Ho Chi Minh City. Opened in 2015 this 18-hole Par-71 6,856-yard course sits on the south side adjacent to the Binh Chau Nature Reserve, Ba Ria Sub-District, about 1.5 hours from Ho Chi Minh City. Being on the beach side along the same coast line as Vungtau resort peninsula not far south, this Greg Norman-designed course inevitably bears much resemblance to The Dunes of Danang Golf Club.
Loose sand base provides for lots of sand dunes with fairways flowing and routed around the wind-swept bluffs thus giving rise to the name of the course presumably if not also for the deceptiveness of the various hole design. Despite an overall elevational difference of about 45 meters, the entire area is basically very open with few trees and vegetation except for sand-crawling grasses.
For strategic play, full considerations should be given to the constant wind condition which at certain time of the year can be very severe. Allowances have always to be given on most hits, not least on the 257-yard Par-3 Hole-15 where at the highest point of the course a slight mis-judge on the strength of the wind could mean a total disaster with only the majestic panoramic view of the open sea as the only consolation!
Song Be Golf Resort – Conveniently located just north of Ho Chi Minh City, Song Be Golf Resort is only about half-an-hour’s drive from the city centre and Tan Son Nhat Airport. This 18-hole Par-72 6,270m golf course received the USGA course rating in late 1995 and thus became Vietnam’s first international standard golf course. Covering over 100 hectares of land surrounded by the lush green of fruit gardens and coconut plantations, this course features numerous lakes and undulating greens. In fact, nearly half the course has water hazards as the main obstacle; together with the rest it offers an interesting mix of challenges. Designed by IGCC of Australia, this course has as a tradition only female caddies and it is a walking course. The fairway grass is Zoysia Strain and the greens are turfed with Tifdwarf 328.
Bo Chang Dong Nai Golf Resort – They say, the Bo Chang Dong Nai Resort offers visitors some of the best scenery of southern Vietnam in its 27-hole golf course. Well, we only believe what we see for real. Located just about an hour’s drive from downtown Ho Chi Minh City, the Bo Chang course is divided into three 9-hole courses, namely the A Course (3,427-yard), the B Course (3,444-yard) and the C Course (3,510-yard). The complex covers about 250 hectares and is surrounded by countryside scenery. The main feature of the course is in the numerous lakes and ponds inevitably providing some natural and strategic water hazards. Otherwise, there is an abundance of tropical flora and fauna lining the sides of the fairways to muse errant shots.
Vungtau Paradise Golf Resort of Ho Chi Minh City – More than three kilometres of sparkling white beach, constant soothing breeze coupled with a spectacular ocean view from the tee, a challenging 27-hole championship golf course and more – all these combine to provide a great golfing experience as well as entertainment for anyone visiting this fabulous resort. Popular with both locals and foreigners, Vungtau Paradise Golf Resort is a Par-72 6,830-yard regulation course designed by Taiwanese architects. Touted as the first seaside course in Vietnam, its main feature lies in its making use of the vast openness for a links-style layout.
Twin Doves Golf Club – This 10,744-yard 27-hole Par-108 beauty is the latest to open in HCM City. Located at about an hour’s drive north from the city center, The Twin Doves Golf Club is made up of three 9’s, namely Luna, Stella and Sole.
Typical of rural scenery there, the course is well-wooded by natural trees found in country Vietnam with fairways running over rolling hills, sometimes flanked by river streams alongside and sometimes having them intersecting right across. Some original trees have been retained to line the sides of some fairways as borders as well as welcoming shade on hot days. But strategically these trees are more purposeful as hazards especially for the long holes. Water holes in the form of natural lakes as well as some man-made ponds, together with sand bunkers, complete the list of the most common obstacles.
It won’t rank as a very difficult course but it certainly is pleasurable playing here as the course is very well-maintained. The Sole Course in particular can even be described as scenic with the island green on the beautiful and tranquil lake.
Vietnam Golf & Country Club – This is the first 36-hole golf club in Vietnam and is widely regarded as the country’s premier course, according to some source. Well, when in doubt, check the distance! Located about 20 km from the centre of Ho Chi Minh City, this golf club is also the nearest from the city amongst all.
Covering some 300 hectares of land, the entire complex is made up of two 18-hole courses, namely the East Course (6,950 yards) and the West Course (7,100 yards), delicately carved out of the existing woodland with minimal changes to the original landscape and terrain. The West course which opened first in 1994, was designed by Taiwanese architect Chen King Shih. This Par-72 Championship Course hosted the Vietnam Open (part of Asian Tour Circuit) in 1995 and 1997. The course winds its way through the trees leaving little space on the ground and many hazards waving at the tree tops. Understandably it demands good judgement and accurate tee shots for strategic placements. The greens are turfed with Bermuda Tifeagle which provides for good putting surface all year round.
Lee Trevino designed the East Course which opened three years later. This course has a links-style layout featuring wide rolling fairways with the Bermuda Tifdwarf-covered greens heavily protected by many well positioned bunkers. It staged the ASEAN Charity Golf Tournament in 1999 in aid of the Ho Chi Minh Hospital.
Long Thanh Golf & Country Club of Ho Chi Minh City – Voted ‘The Best Golf Course in Vietnam’ by regular golfers of the country, The Long Thanh Golf Club is situated about 40 minutes’ drive from the center of Saigon. Currently there are 36 holes open for play. More development are in the pipeline according to the official website of this family-run golf and resort investment business.
Unlike others, this course appears to have a continuous 36 holes all lined up if you can last the distance. Designed by Ronald Fream, each hole has its own characteristic shape and offers superb view of the surrounding. Oil palm trees are the mainstay of the greenery and many line the sides of the fairways. Paspalum grass is used for the fairways while the greens are turfed with Tifdwarf. To make a more complete pleasure in playing the game here, the rough is regularly kept short so that balls could be easily found! Says alot of the personal touch and considerateness of a family-run golf course doesn’t it?