Hanoi, Vietnam
Hanoi is a really lovely (and romantic) city, even if you are not golfing - and that means that if your non-golfing spouse insists on tagging along for your trip, he or she will have plenty to stay occupied while you have a good time on the fairways. In particular, the Old Quarter is the heart of Hanoi, with narrow streets lined with traditional shops, cafes, and restaurants. It's a great place to explore, shop, and sample street food and local cuisine.
Hanoi is home to many fantastic golf courses. However, most of these courses are located a distance away from the city. Therefore careful planning is always necessary to ensure a smooth journey to the golf club without anxiety and frustration, which will turn a golf holiday sour.
BRG King's Island Country Club
Less than an hour by car from central Hanoi the 55-hole complex lies in Dong Mo- Son Tay and offers a perfect escape from the city. A major feature of the arrival experience is the 3- minute speed boat trip from our mainland car park to the island-based clubhouse.
The resort comprises of 3 championship courses, the Lakeside, Mountainview and the latest addition (and arguably the best), the Kings course.
The Kings Course was opened in 2018, and the Club is proud to label it “A Course Fit for a King”. It features a Jack Nickaus II signature hole played from an elevated waterfall tee. According to Jack Nicklaus II, Kings Course will be designed in the most modern style of the world golf standard, and this will be "special gift" that he brings to Vietnamese golfers.
Lazy to move around, and want to stay at one place and play 55-holes of golf over 3 days? You can’t go far wrong with BRG Kings Island.
Serena Valley Thanh Lanh Golf Resort
If you are worried about hot weather, then head up the Tam Dao mountains north of Hanoi. There, you’ll find the excellent, Thanh Lanh golf course located at an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level which recently opened in 2021. You will a cool climate all year round between 20 to 25° Celsius offering perfect golfing conditions.
The course is a masterpiece by Sir Nick Faldo, who incorporated the local natural terrain of Thanh Lanh Lake and the surrounding valley of the mountains. You will be constantly challenged by the changing landscapes from holes surrounded by water, etched into the hillside, weaved through parkland, and even a short section of Links golf.
If you are not in a rush and love a relaxed golfing vacation, then certainly, the Thanh Lanh Golf Resort needs to be in the itinerary.
Stone Valley Golf Resort
The Stone Valley Golf Resort is also opened fairly recently, in 2018. There is little that is need to ‘market’ this golf course because the pictures of the course alone are worth a thousand words. The views of the fairways embedded within the magnificent stone mountain outcrops are just stunning and spectacular, rarely found in any parts of the world. If the views of the valley and mountains reminds you of the King Kong movie, then you remembered right!
Perhaps the only ‘disadvantage’ of the 27-hole golf course designed by Brian Curley of Schmidt-Curley Design is the fact that it is probably the furthest of the recommended courses in Hanoi, at around 65km from the city centre. However, to quote the Club, “Stone Valley is unlike any other Hanoi golf course. The views alone are worth the drive, but with a fun round of golf and top clubhouse added in, Stone Valley a no-brainer to include for every golfer visiting Hanoi.”
Start making plans!
Sky Lake Golf Resort
Sky Lake Golf Resort is a world-class golf course located about 45 kilometers from Hanoi. The course was designed by Mr. Ahn Moon Hwan, a renowned Korean golf course architect, and it features 36 holes of championship golf set in a stunning landscape of hills, lakes, and forests.
The two courses at Sky Lake are the Sky Course and the Lake Course. The Sky Course is a challenging 18-hole course that is characterized by its wide fairways and elevated greens. The course is set on a hill and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. The Lake Course, on the other hand, is a slightly shorter 18-hole course that is set around a large lake. It features narrower fairways and more water hazards, making it a more challenging course.
The condition of the fairways and greens are impeccable, and it is always a joy to play the courses at Sky Lake, even if we are humbled in our scores.