Vietnam Golf Tours 

Golf Package Tours

Golf is probably not the first thing people think of when planning a vacation in Vietnam . Yet with the country's stunning scenery, friendly people, safe environment as well as increasingly open government policies, Vietnam 's golf courses are forecasted to be a new attraction for tourists. The appearance of more and more golf projects at present means the development of golf tourism and addition to MICE tourism, ecotourism and cultural tourism.

At present, with only around nine golf courses in Vietnam, three in the north and six in the south, the country still has a lot of catching up to do with other countries in the region like Malaysia and Thailand which have been developing golf courses over the last 40 years. However, with recent rapid economic development, particularly in the tourism sector, Vietnam is considered a promising place for investors.

Golf lovers will not have to wait long to play a round in the beautiful landscapes of different areas of of Vietnam as approximately 10 new courses are under construction at the moment in the northern provinces of Ha Long, Hanoi, Hoa Binh and Hai Phong.

"Golfers are always looking for new experiences in new destinations and I think Vietnam 's golf courses will soon become popular thanks to the county's magnificent scenery. Moreover, competition between courses which offer players more choices at reasonable prices, will attract more 'visitors' from foreign countries to come, said Peter R. Rousseau General Manager of Noble Vietnam Co., Ltd, which is constructing the 18-holes Kim No golf course due to open next December.

In addition to the boom in new golf courses, the old courses are very popular and busy with events. In the 1990s, the Vietnam Open was staged several times but it failed to capture the attention of international golfers after the Asian financial crisis in 1997. But now things are very different. This year Vietnam has held many golf events, both amateur and professional. For the first time, Vietnam hosted the annual 'Vietnam National Championships' held this May at the Dalat Palace Golf Club. Other events include the HSBC Vietnam Classic 2005 held on 15 October and Swing for Smiles 2005 held on 27 August. These will become annual events in Vietnam . Especially, the second Carlsberg Masters 2005 Vietnam which has just been successfully held at Chi Linh Star Golf and Country Club. Tour officials believed that these new events will drive the popularity of the game. It is hope that Vietnam will become a golf tourism destination and as a result foster new golf talents.

Guillaume Cherfils, GM of Sofitel Plaza Hanoi, which has just sponsored the first Vietnam businessmen's golf tournament, the VCCI Cup, held on the 8 November hopes that Vietnam's golf courses will soon become tourist tourists attractions:" I think Vietnam will attract more and more businessmen tourists thanks the popularity of golf and we are going to sponsor four more golf events," he said.

According to data from Hanoi Red Tours, a company which provides golf tours in Vietnam, the present fees at 18-hole courses in Vietnam(green fee and caddy fee included) range from $45 to $115 on weekends.

Annual membership fees at Chi Linh range from $18,000 for four individual to $48,000 for four an individual to $48,000 for four individual corporate members.

Recent advocates of golfing in Vietnam include Chad Jorgensen from America . " Vietnam is full of surprises, including fantastic courses which may be among the best kept secrets in the golf world. From Vietnam Discovery