Tam Dao Golf Resort

The verdict

Tam Dao trades on setting, and the setting is hard to beat in northern Vietnam. The course opened in 2007 in a broad valley at the base of the Tam Dao mountain range, the old French hill station that has long drawn Hanoians up out of the summer heat, and the design firm IMG used the land's natural water to good effect: streams thread the layout, lakes gather at the low points, and engineered waterfalls feed the whole system, all framed by forested hills that rise on every side. On a clear morning with mist still hanging on the peaks, it is among the more photogenic rounds in the country.

The golf is a genuine championship length par 72 of roughly 7,100 to 7,200 yards, kept on hardy Paspalum turf that copes with the northern seasons, and it plays as a comfortable resort test rather than a brutal one. The draw is the combination of scenery, cooler valley air and easy reach from Hanoi, which makes it a natural pairing with Heron Lake in the same province for a relaxed two course swing through Vinh Phuc.

The holes worth the trip

Water is the constant. IMG routed the course so that the valley's streams and lakes come into play again and again, on tee shots that flirt with a creek down one side and on approaches that must carry to greens guarded by ponds, so the player who keeps the ball in front of them scores and the player who chases the pin pays. It is not a long iron slog, but it rewards a tidy mind and a good wedge game, and the elevation changes, gentle by mountain standards, add just enough deception to club selection to keep an unfamiliar visitor honest.

The scenery does real work too. With forested ridges rising on every side and the hill station town visible above, there is a sense of seclusion that the flat courses on the Hanoi plain cannot offer, and the valley air runs a few degrees cooler, which is no small thing in a Vietnamese summer. Conditioning is generally solid on the Paspalum surfaces, and while Tam Dao will not be confused with the marquee coastal courses for sheer quality of golf, as a scenic, civilized day out within easy reach of the capital it earns its place on a northern itinerary.

Where to stay nearby

The resort has its own accommodation in the valley, which is the easiest option for a dawn tee time and lets you make a relaxed overnight of it away from the city. Up the hill, the Tam Dao hill station town has hotels and cooler air for those who want to combine golf with a couple of nights in the mountains, a popular weekend pattern for Hanoi families.

Most visiting golfers, though, base in Hanoi and run out for the day. The smart pairing is with Heron Lake nearby in Vinh Phuc, and a fuller northern stay can add Long Bien and Sky Lake. Our Vietnam golf hub maps the country and our 7 day Vietnam itinerary turns it into a plan.

Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Hanoi and Tam Dao.