My golfing adventures in Vietnam

Wow never seen so much water before

Hi Winston,

I'm a newbie to Golf and planning to bring my cousin to HCM for a getaway and at the same time maybe go for golfing. 

Do you think i should just stay in District 1 and take a taxi direct to one of the golf course myself or should i approach Golfasian Vietnam Co., Ltd. for them to arrange for me?

Is it difficult to go around for golfing? I can't PM you.

Could you send me a email (alanysw@yahoo.com) or whatsapp me if you see this msg. Thanks.

My trip 8-11 Nov 2013

Alan Wong
+6590716505

alanysw wrote:

Hi Winston,

I'm a newbie to Golf and planning to bring my cousin to HCM for a getaway and at the same time maybe go for golfing. 

Do you think i should just stay in District 1 and take a taxi direct to one of the golf course myself or should i approach Golfasian Vietnam Co., Ltd. for them to arrange for me?

Is it difficult to go around for golfing? I can't PM you.

Could you send me a email (alanysw@yahoo.com) or whatsapp me if you see this msg. Thanks.

My trip 8-11 Nov 2013

Alan Wong
+6590716505

Hi Alan,

Regardless of what your purpose in coming to HCMC is for, staying in D1 will always be beneficial as you are surrounded by the essential services required to hopefully make your trip a memorable one (for good reasons only I hope).

I do not know Golfasian or affiliated to them in anyway. Just ask them to quote you for prices for :

1.Golf games and transport to and from the golf course.
2.Golf games, transport and hotel arrangements.

After you have received the information and need any verification, you can post the info up here and i can provide you any advice.

hi Winston, thanks for sharing your golfing adventure of Vietnam. I played there once before 5 years ago. 

Who is the designer for this Royal Island Course? TQ

beehome wrote:

hi Winston, thanks for sharing your golfing adventure of Vietnam. I played there once before 5 years ago. 

Who is the designer for this Royal Island Course? TQ

I really have no clue.

Hi All,

Just writing in to share my recent experience of golfing in Vietnam. My buddies and I played in the Phoenix Golf Course just outside Hanoi (1 hour drive). Key points below:

1. The club has 3 different 18 hole course - Championship, Dragon and Phoenix. We played all 3 in 2 days. The courses do not have a USGA rating, which explains why my ImCaddy didn't work.

2. My friend made the golf booking with GolfAsian Vietnam. I paid USD 480 for 3 round of golf, individual caddies, 2-way transfers and one night stay in the hotel. If you share rooms, its USD 450.

3. Golf carts are separate and they have different rates for a 2 seater or 4 seater. Best to one in the late afternoon to maximize playing time. If you're playing early morning, might as well walk as the weather is cool.

4. The club has a hotel with a large rooms but with an 80s feel. I heard it was build by the Chinese in 1997 and now managed by Koreans. They have in-room massage services there as well at USD 10 an hour. In short, the facilities are basic though you can see that it had its hey-days.

5. Speaking of Koreans, the food and drinks around the club are almost all Korean (except Tiger beer and bottled water). They have a pretty unique Gatorade flavor. All purchases are in USDs, with drinks ranging from USD 2 to USD 5 at a quarter/halfway house (3 of them per course). This is not inclusive and will pile up if you're not careful as you sign the drinks first and pay upon check out.

6. There are no used golf balls for sale inside the course but on the way in, you will find a lot of stores selling pre-sorted used balls. It ranges from VND 7,000 (~SGD 0.4 )to VND 20,000 (~SGD 1.2) a piece.   ProVs are at VND 20k a piece.

Hope these tidbits help those planning to check out this course. Here's a stunning pic from the Championship course.



Regards,

Hi JDyap,

Thanks for the update for Hanoi.

jdyap wrote:

Hi All,

Just writing in to share my recent experience of golfing in Vietnam. My buddies and I played in the Phoenix Golf Course just outside Hanoi (1 hour drive). Key points below:

1. The club has 3 different 18 hole course - Championship, Dragon and Phoenix. We played all 3 in 2 days. The courses do not have a USGA rating, which explains why my ImCaddy didn't work.

2. My friend made the golf booking with GolfAsian Vietnam. I paid USD 480 for 3 round of golf, individual caddies, 2-way transfers and one night stay in the hotel. If you share rooms, its USD 450.

3. Golf carts are separate and they have different rates for a 2 seater or 4 seater. Best to one in the late afternoon to maximize playing time. If you're playing early morning, might as well walk as the weather is cool.

4. The club has a hotel with a large rooms but with an 80s feel. I heard it was build by the Chinese in 1997 and now managed by Koreans. They have in-room massage services there as well at USD 10 an hour. In short, the facilities are basic though you can see that it had its hey-days.

5. Speaking of Koreans, the food and drinks around the club are almost all Korean (except Tiger beer and bottled water). They have a pretty unique Gatorade flavor. All purchases are in USDs, with drinks ranging from USD 2 to USD 5 at a quarter/halfway house (3 of them per course). This is not inclusive and will pile up if you're not careful as you sign the drinks first and pay upon check out.

6. There are no used golf balls for sale inside the course but on the way in, you will find a lot of stores selling pre-sorted used balls. It ranges from VND 7,000 (~SGD 0.4 )to VND 20,000 (~SGD 1.2) a piece.   ProVs are at VND 20k a piece.

Hope these tidbits help those planning to check out this course. Here's a stunning pic from the Championship course.



Regards,

wow that is a beautiful photo, it sounds very affordable to go and play there for a weekend!! hope to get the chance to head over there myself someday, thanks for sharing

nice mature landscape! Hows the caddies ?

Hi Jurongtiger,

The caddies are a mixed lot...I was fortunate to get an experienced one while my other kaki's got newbies. English skills are not that good so it will just be the basic "what club?", "nice shot!", "left to right, up slope".

In case your question has a second part, they are all wearing a standard uniform, covered up from the sun, with korean company logos in the back. They are still young and energetic. We took the same group of caddies for all 54 holes.

Hi Winston
I have just moved to Ho Chi Minh, living in district 2. What are the best deals for golf here? Prices certainly seem higher than Thailand or Indonesia. Is there some trick I'm missing?

look for promotion day and price will be lower. If U have Vietnamese credit card then there are some weekday promotion with free green fee. You must pay for caddie ir buggy. Caddies are compulsory in Vietnam.

Brendanm wrote:

Hi Winston
I have just moved to Ho Chi Minh, living in district 2. What are the best deals for golf here? Prices certainly seem higher than Thailand or Indonesia. Is there some trick I'm missing?

 Hi Brendan,

The best deals are always to play on weekdays. Really good promos. the price includes Caddy & Green fees. Some courses go as low as USD$50 for weekdays. Being in D2, the nearest course to your would be Vietnam Golf & Country Club. Playing on weekdays, you do not need members of the club to sign you in to get the promo rates.

Other alternatives you might want to look at are

Song Be Golf Course
Twin Doves Golf Course
Long Thanh Golf

If you have no other alternative to playing on weekends, than the best option would be to use an a booking agent. They normally can get you really good rates for the weekends. Usually all under USD$90 - green fees + caddy

Let me know if you need other information. or would like to meet up.

Off to the Coastal town of Vung Tau. About 1.5 hrs ferry ride from Ho Chi Min City for a lone overdue holiday. Will update all the "happenings" for you guys when back....

Good to hear from you, man!

It has been a while.....waiting for your updates

update if you play at new Ho Tram course. Enjoy vung tau

teegem wrote:

update if you play at new Ho Tram course. Enjoy vung tau

 Ho Tram has a golf course??????? never knew that.... I thought it was only going to open early next year but this place being Vietnam, I never trust what is written unless I know someone has actually played there than I know it is open for operations.

Golfing in Vung tau.

Some facts before I continue :

Vung Tau is a coastal town located east of Ho Chi Min City. Access is through either road or sea.

The fastest way is by sea which is about 1.5 hrs. Ferry terminal in HCMC is located in the city centre and the ferry terminal in Vung Tau is located about 10 minute drive from the Golf course.

Do not stay at the resort area as it is boring. It would be better to stay in town and travel to the golf course as entertainment is all located in town area.

Now to the golf:

Golf course is called : Paradise Golf Resort.
Holes : 27 holes Course A,B,C
Condition : Matured course, alot of trees, some water in play, fairways are ok, greens are average
Club House: Old but quite well maintained

Now comes the interesting part:
The management of the flights by the course marshal is almost non-existent. They only time you see them is at the starting point of Course A & B. We checked in and I was surprise that no one informed which course we playing first. Just kept quiet and proceeded to the tee box. My Caddy asked the course marshal which one we playing first and she said Course B, caddy said course B is busy so the course marshal said than go to Course A la. Like that also can ah??!!??!!!

So we finished the first 4 in slightly under 2 hours and made the turn. Thinking that we started on A, we will continue on B but the course Marshall said B have 2 flights infront of us (one of fairway, one on Tee Box) so we should go to C. It was fine by us as it meant minimal waiting time.

We proceeded to C and say an empty tee box and thought great, can have massage before going for company dinner. after the first hole of course C was when the nightmare began. Hole #2 we got a bit stuck by a flight that was playing off blue. No disrespect but they should have been playing off red. we waited almost 15 minutes before we could tee off. we thought ok, we will pass them on hole #3 and continue. I told my caddy to get more information and I was shocked when she updated me.

The flight infront of us teed off at 11am and it was now 2.30 pm and they only finished 11 holes. from the fairway, we could see the the tee box #3 and saw 4 buggies at the tee box and . That means that we would be passing a total of 3 flights! we thought fine we would pass them and play from hole #4.

Lo and behold, the course from hole #4 was packed and it was already 3.30pm. On every hole, everyone was teeing off from blue. Every hole we passed from 4 had 1 flight on tee bow, one flight on fairway, one flight on green. That means that it would take us about 4 hours just to finish 6 holes!!!!! and through out the whole way, did not see a single course marshal on the course controlling the flights.

we basically went through the back nine all the way back to the club house requested to speak to the manager and complained to her.

We are here to play golf, not WAIT to play golf. Course marshal gave wrong information causing us to waste away our game and time. The manager wanted us to pay for 9 holes + 2 holes. I said how the F@#K you going to count 2 holes? she had no choice but to only charge us 9 holes.

Never ever play at Paradise Golf Course!!!!!!!!!!

Chill bro, I'm sure you can find a slice of 'paradise' when you head back into the city?

How's life treating you bro?

Any recommendations for golfing at Hanoi, 1st week of Jan? 
Thanks in advance.

pocketace wrote:

Chill bro, I'm sure you can find a slice of 'paradise' when you head back into the city?

How's life treating you bro?

 Dude, found many slices of paradise out side the golf course. But then this a family forum so thats another story for another day.....

Life has been ok. Busy busy busy with all the wrong things.

Hows things back home? Still travelling alot?

aquaman wrote:

Any recommendations for golfing at Hanoi, 1st week of Jan? 
Thanks in advance.

Hi Aquaman,

In regards to Hanoi, I have no idea as I have not been there yet.

The only thing I know is that the weather is really good during that time of the year in Hanoi for golf.

Winston

aquaman wrote:

Any recommendations for golfing at Hanoi, 1st week of Jan? 
Thanks in advance.

Hi Aquaman,

In regards to Hanoi, I have no idea as I have not been there yet. 

The only thing I know is that the weather is really good during that time of the year in Hanoi for golf.





@ Winston, 
No worries, will hunt on web for info. 
And yes, expect the weather to be cooling. 
Thanks bro.