Vietnam vs. Thailand: The Ultimate Golf Trip Showdown for Australians (2026 Guide)
Every year, thousands of Australian golfers face the same decision: Vietnam or Thailand? As the specialists who have placed hundreds of Australians on championship fairways across both countries, here is the unfiltered answer. Thailand is the volume play — 250+ courses and a resort lifestyle engineered for tourists. Vietnam is the quality play — it has won "Asia's Best Golf Destination" nine consecutive years because its championship venues are, course-for-course, the hardest to match on the continent. Both will permanently ruin Australian courses for you.
At a Glance: The Specialist's Comparison
| Factor | Vietnam | Thailand |
|---|---|---|
| Courses Available | ~90 championship venues | 250+ courses |
| Top Course | Hoiana Shores (RTJ Jr.) | Red Mountain / Black Mountain |
| Designer Pedigree | RTJ Jr., Norman, Donald, Faldo | Norman, Thomson, Dye, Kato |
| Best Base | Da Nang / Hoi An | Hua Hin or Phuket |
| Flight from Sydney | ~9–10 hrs (VN direct) | ~9 hrs (multiple airlines) |
| Best Season | Feb–Sept | Nov–Apr |
| Caddy Culture | Mandatory & deeply personal | Optional, service-focused |
| Green Fee Range | AUD $80–$250 | AUD $80–$300 |
| Value Rating | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| International Pedigree | 9x Asia's Best Golf Destination* | World Golf Awards perennial finalist |
World Golf Awards, 2025
1. The Case for Vietnam
Vietnam is not simply rising — it has risen. For the ninth consecutive year, the country claimed "Asia's Best Golf Destination" at the World Golf Awards (2025). Greg Norman's re-appointment as Vietnam's official Tourism Ambassador for 2025–2030 confirms what seasoned travellers already know: this is the continent's premier golf destination.
The Jewel: Hoiana Shores Golf Club
Hoiana Shores Golf Club is Vietnam's defining championship experience — a pure links masterpiece designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., his first genuine links layout in Southeast Asia. Restored from natural coastal dunes and former fish farms along the Eastern Sea, it plays firm, fast, and wind-dependent. The "Serpent's Finale" — Holes 15 through 18 running directly along the South China Sea shoreline — is the finest finishing stretch in Vietnam and among the most dramatic in all of Asia.
AGS Insider Tip: Wind is the architect's 15th club here. We book early morning tee times exclusively at Hoiana Shores — you want to finish before the coastal breeze turns the back nine into a war.
The Depth of the Field
Vietnam's championship portfolio does not stop at one course:
- Ba Na Hills Golf Club — Luke Donald's first signature design in Asia. 7,858 yards of lush mountain parkland with full floodlighting for world-class night golf. The coolest air temperature of any Da Nang course.
- The Bluffs Ho Tram — Greg Norman's wind-swept coastal masterpiece, regularly cited in Asia's Top 100. Built for pure shot-making from tee to green — no tricks, no mercy.
- BRG Da Nang Golf Resort — Greg Norman's East Sea-facing layout. Demanding fairway placement, sweeping ocean views, and consistently fast greens.
- Montgomerie Links — Colin Montgomerie's links-style design near Hoi An. Underrated, challenging, and a strong day-two contrast to the coastal layouts.
The Caddy Difference
In Vietnam, a caddy is not optional — and that is an advantage, not a constraint. Your assigned caddy carries your bag, reads your greens, and provides local course intelligence that is genuinely irreplaceable on unfamiliar turf. The culture is personal, humble, and expert. At Hoiana Shores especially, your caddy's read on the wind direction and green slopes is the difference between a bogey and a birdie. Many AGS clients name their Vietnamese caddy as the highlight of the entire trip.
The Base: Da Nang / Hoi An
Da Nang puts you within 30 minutes of the region's top four courses. Hoi An — 30 kilometres south — is UNESCO World Heritage-listed: a lantern-lit ancient trading town that is one of the most beautiful non-golf destinations in Asia. For groups seeking complete privacy, AGS partners with a curated portfolio of private beachfront villas along the An Bang and Cua Dai coastline — a fully staffed, home-away-from-home experience that five-star resort hotels cannot replicate, and one of the most significant differentiators between a standard golf trip and an AGS-managed itinerary. Together they form the most coherent, and most personal, golf-and-lifestyle base in Asia.
AGS Verdict on Vietnam: Book Vietnam if you want the finest links-style championship golf in Asia, a caddy culture that genuinely improves your game, and one of the world's great towns as your off-course base.
2. The Case for Thailand
Thailand has the golf infrastructure that no other destination in Asia can match. With 250+ courses across Bangkok, Hua Hin, Phuket, and Chiang Mai, you could play a different layout every day for six months without a repeat. The country has hosted Asian Tour events consistently and produced some of the most famous individual holes in the world.
Thailand means two completely different golf holidays depending on your base:
Hua Hin: The Championship Stronghold
- Black Mountain Golf Club — The crown jewel. Consistently ranked in Asia's Top 10, it has hosted multiple Asian Tour events and represents the gold standard for resort golf in Thailand. Championship-length at 7,565 yards with dramatic natural elevation changes.
- Pineapple Valley Golf Club — Rebranded in 2024 and built on a former pineapple plantation, this Hua Hin layout offers target golf with striking views across the Gulf of Thailand. Technically demanding, visually spectacular, and steeped in local heritage.
- Palm Hills, Kirinara, Majestic Creek — A full week of contrasting course styles, all within 20 minutes of each other.
Phuket: Drama, Elevation, and History
- Red Mountain Golf Club — Modern, cinematic, with a signature par-3 (Hole 17) dropping 50 metres into a jungle ravine. The most visually dramatic course in Thailand.
- Blue Canyon Country Club (Canyon Course) — The course Tiger Woods made famous during the 1998 Johnnie Walker Classic. A historic, uncompromising ball-striker's test that has barely changed in three decades.
- Laguna Golf Phuket — Seamlessly integrated into the Laguna resort complex. The best option for non-golfing partners who want beach access, spas, and fine dining on the same property.
The Flexibility Factor
In Thailand, caddies are optional, tee times are abundant, and course conditions are consistently excellent. Outside the December–February peak window, you can book the country's best courses with minimal fuss. The variety means you can pair beginner-friendly parkland layouts with elite championship tests in the same trip — ideal for mixed-ability groups.
The Resort Lifestyle
Thailand's resort infrastructure is the region's best. Hua Hin and Phuket both offer direct integration between the golf clubhouse and five-star resort living — private pools, spas, and fine dining within the same complex. For groups with non-golfers, corporate parties, or travellers who want the full luxury resort experience woven through their trip, Thailand wins comfortably.
AGS Verdict on Thailand: Book Thailand if you want unmatched course variety, a proven resort infrastructure, and the flexibility that comes with 250+ venues. Particularly well-suited to large corporate groups, multi-handicap parties, or travellers who want a fully packaged resort experience woven through the trip.
3. Head-to-Head: The Decisive Factors
| Decision Factor | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Individual Course Quality | Vietnam | Hoiana Shores, The Bluffs & Ba Na Hills rank continentally |
| Course Volume & Variety | Thailand | 250+ courses vs. ~90 — no comparison |
| Caddy Culture | Vietnam | Mandatory, personal, and game-changing |
| Resort Lifestyle | Thailand | Five-star integration is unmatched |
| Value for Money | Vietnam | AUD $80–$250 green fees vs. AUD $80–$300 |
| Best Season Alignment (Aus Winter) | Vietnam | Feb–Sept peak covers the June–Aug escape window |
| Non-Golf Culture | Vietnam | Hoi An is UNESCO World Heritage-listed — in a genuinely different cultural category to Hua Hin's beachfront |
| Ease for First-Timers | Vietnam (Central Coast) | Compact Da Nang course cluster, mandatory caddies, and Hoi An's world-class off-course base |
4. The AGS Verdict: Which One Is Right for You?
- You're new to Asian golf → Vietnam's Central Coast is the ideal starting point. Da Nang and Hoi An put four world-class championship courses within 30 minutes of each other, your AGS-assigned caddy handles every course navigation decision for you, and Hoi An's Ancient Town delivers the richest off-course experience in Asia on day-off days. No other first destination in the region gives you this combination of course quality, personal service, and cultural reward.
- You're a golf purist chasing the finest links experience in Asia → Vietnam is non-negotiable. Hoiana Shores is the best links course in Southeast Asia. Full stop.
- You want both → Book the AGS 10-Day Vietnam + Thailand Dual Destination. We structure itineraries that put you on Da Nang's championship links, then transfer you to Hua Hin's resort grandeur — one seamless trip, no logistics stress.
The honest truth: the clients who come back to us year after year always end up doing both. They just disagree about which one to return to first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vietnam or Thailand better for golf? Vietnam is widely rated as Asia's finest destination for championship course quality, winning the World Golf Awards "Asia's Best Golf Destination" award nine consecutive times through 2025. Thailand offers superior course volume with 250+ venues nationwide. The best choice depends on your priorities: if you want the finest links-style golf in Asia, choose Vietnam; if you want variety and a five-star resort lifestyle, choose Thailand.
How many golf courses does Vietnam have compared to Thailand? Vietnam has approximately 90 championship golf venues, concentrated in Da Nang, Ho Tram, Hanoi, and Cam Ranh. Thailand has over 250 golf courses across Bangkok, Hua Hin, Phuket, and Chiang Mai — making it one of the highest-density golf destinations in Asia.
When is the best time for Australians to play golf in Vietnam? For Australian golfers travelling from the east coast, February to September is optimal for Da Nang and Central Vietnam. March through June delivers the most stable conditions — firm fairways, minimal rain, and manageable humidity. The June–August Australian winter window falls directly within peak season.
Which country has better caddies — Vietnam or Thailand? Vietnam. Caddies are mandatory at most championship venues in Vietnam, creating a deeply personal and knowledgeable experience. Your caddy will carry your bag, read your greens, and provide course-specific intelligence that genuinely elevates your game — particularly at wind-dependent links courses like Hoiana Shores. Thai caddies are professional and courteous, but the system is optional and less integrated.
Is golf cheaper in Vietnam or Thailand? Vietnam offers marginally stronger value. Championship green fees in Vietnam range from AUD $80–$250. Equivalent courses in Thailand typically range from AUD $80–$300. The gap narrows at the premium end, but daily costs including dining and transport are competitive across both destinations.
Can I combine Vietnam and Thailand in one trip? Yes — and it is our most popular itinerary format. Our 10-Day Vietnam + Thailand Dual Destination pairs four rounds at Da Nang's championship venues with two to three rounds in Hua Hin or Phuket. A single connecting flight links the two bases, and AGS manages all logistics, tee times, and accommodation across both countries.
[Ask Asia Golf Specialists which destination is right for your game]
