Golf in Hanoi
Vietnam's capital has quietly become one of Asia's most rewarding golf bases, with the country's first Jack Nicklaus course, lakeside golf on islands in a reservoir and twin championship layouts in the hills, all within a couple of hours of the Old Quarter. The courses that matter, the seasons, the 2026 costs and how to plan it.
Photograph: Legend Hill Golf Club, via Google.
Why golf in Hanoi
Hanoi pairs a thousand year old capital with a ring of modern golf that has grown fast and grown well. The city itself is the draw, the lake fringed Old Quarter, the street food, the lacquer and silk and the colonial boulevards, and the golf sits a short drive out among the hills, reservoirs and rice country that surround it. A group can play championship courses by day and eat their way through one of Asia's great food cities by night, with the non golfers happily occupied between the markets, the museums and the cafes.
The headline is BRG Legend Hill, the first Jack Nicklaus Design course in Vietnam, which opened in 2015 with a clever two green per hole layout that lets the same eighteen holes play firm or forgiving. Around it, BRG Kings Island at Dong Mo spreads more than fifty holes across islands and peninsulas in a reservoir, Sky Lake offers two contrasting championship courses in the limestone hills, and Tam Dao climbs into a national park. It is value led golf of real quality, and the rounds are cheaper than the equivalents in Thailand or Japan.
The regions
North and the airport side
BRG Legend Hill and Van Tri sit toward Noi Bai airport and Soc Son, the most convenient golf for an arriving or departing group, with the Nicklaus course the marquee round of the trip.
West toward Son Tay
BRG Kings Island at Dong Mo and Sky Lake out past Chuong My, where the golf runs among reservoirs and limestone hills, the most scenic cluster within easy reach of the city.
The hill and mountain courses
Tam Dao in its national park, Phoenix and the Hoa Binh courses and Chi Linh toward Hai Duong, the longer day trips that reward a group with cooler air and dramatic country.
The courses that matter
BRG Legend Hill
The first Jack Nicklaus course in Vietnam and the headline round near Hanoi, built on rolling ground at Soc Son around twenty minutes from Noi Bai airport. Its signature is a two green per hole concept, thirty six greens across eighteen holes, so the course can be set up firm and demanding or gentler from day to day.
BRG Kings Island, Lakeside
The most scenic golf in the north, a course routed across islands and a peninsula in the Dong Mo reservoir, reached by boat, with water in play on almost every hole. Part of a resort of more than fifty holes, it is the round that sells a Hanoi trip on its photographs alone.
BRG Kings Island, Mountain View
The original Kings Island course on the mainland shore of the reservoir, a mature, tree lined layout with the Ba Vi mountains as a backdrop. Less dramatic than the Lakeside but a strong, established test and an easy pairing for a full day at Dong Mo.
Sky Lake, Sky Course
The tougher of the two Sky Lake championship courses, climbing through limestone hills with elevated tees, big views and demanding carries, a genuine test for the lower handicapper about forty five minutes southwest of central Hanoi.
Sky Lake, Lake Course
The gentler companion at Sky Lake, set lower around the water with more forgiving lines and a relaxed rhythm, an enjoyable round to pair with the Sky Course for a thirty six hole day in the hills.
Tam Dao Golf Resort
A challenging layout that meanders through the countryside below the Tam Dao National Park around ninety minutes north of Hanoi, with cooler air, dramatic elevation and a real sense of escape into the hills, a memorable day round for a group with time.
Van Tri Golf Club
Hanoi's most exclusive private estate club, a quiet, beautifully kept course within a gated community a short drive from the airport. Access is limited and arranged in advance, but it is the most polished members style experience near the city.
Phoenix Golf Resort
One of the largest golf complexes in the region with fifty four holes across three nines designed by Ronald Fream, set in the hills toward Hoa Binh southwest of the city, a value led day for groups wanting plenty of golf in one place.
Chi Linh Star Golf and Country Club
A long established twenty seven hole club on the road toward Hai Duong, with rolling, tree lined holes, water hazards and full resort facilities, a popular and well priced round on the eastern side of the Hanoi golf belt.
Dai Lai Star Golf and Country Club
A scenic lakeside and hillside course beside the Dai Lai reservoir north of the city, with cool air and pretty water holes, a relaxed alternative to the marquee courses and an easy add to a longer northern trip.
BRG Ruby Tree Golf Resort
A coastal course on the Do Son peninsula toward Hai Phong, often combined with Hanoi golf on a wider northern tour, with sea breezes and links style exposure that contrast with the inland hill courses.
Hanoi Golf Club
A handy course toward Soc Son and the airport, a practical, accessible round for a group looking to add holes on an arrival or departure day without straying far from the city.
Designers, opening years and resort details verified June 2026 from the courses and recognized golf databases. Legend Hill is a Jack Nicklaus Design course; the Kings Island Lakeside is a Robert McFarland design; Phoenix is a Ronald Fream layout. Course profiles are added across the site as the directory grows. Always confirm visitor access and fees directly before booking.
See the best Vietnam courses ranked Check tee time availability
When to go
| Season | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| October to December | Cooler, drier, settled after the rains | Prime golf, the most comfortable and reliable window |
| January to April | Mild, sometimes misty in midwinter, warming into spring | Very playable, March and April are lovely |
| May to September | Hot and humid with the heaviest rainfall | Early tee times and lower rates, watch the heat and storms |
Northern Vietnam has four distinct seasons, unlike the tropical south, so winter golf in Hanoi can be genuinely cool, pack a layer for early starts.
Indicative costs
| Item | Indicative 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marquee weekday green fee | Around US$90 to US$160 | Legend Hill, Kings Island, Sky Lake; caddie usually compulsory |
| Weekend and holiday rates | Around US$130 to US$220 | Higher demand, book the best courses ahead |
| Caddie and cart | Around US$25 to US$45 combined | A caddie is standard at most Hanoi courses |
| A multi day trip, all in | Around US$1,500 to US$3,500 per person | Several rounds, hotels, transfers, excluding flights |
Indicative third party figures for the 2026 season, shown to set expectations only. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Always confirm directly before booking.
Getting there and around
Noi Bai International Airport sits around forty minutes north of central Hanoi and is well connected across Asia and beyond, with several courses, including Legend Hill and Van Tri, close to the airport side of the city. The golf is spread in an arc around Hanoi rather than clustered, so most of it lies forty five minutes to two hours from the centre. A private driver is the standard way to move a group between courses and the city, and it keeps the early starts and long transfers stress free.
Where to stay
Most golfers base themselves in central Hanoi, around Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter or the smarter West Lake district, where the international hotels, the restaurants and the city sights are all on the doorstep and the courses are an easy drive out. Some groups split a longer trip, a few nights in the city for the food and culture and a night or two at a resort such as Kings Island for back to back golf. Let one planner balance the city and the courses.
Plan your Hanoi golf trip
Tell us the courses you want and roughly when. One concierge costs the whole trip to the head and replies within one working day, with no obligation.
Hanoi golf questions
What is the best golf course in Hanoi?
BRG Legend Hill, the first Jack Nicklaus Design course in Vietnam, opened in 2015 with a clever two green per hole concept and is the headline round around Hanoi. BRG Kings Island at Dong Mo, with its lakeside course set across islands in a reservoir, and the twin championship courses at Sky Lake complete the strongest cluster in the north.
When is the best time to play golf in Hanoi?
October to April is the prime window, when the weather is cooler and drier after the summer rains. Spring, around March and April, is mild and pleasant, while May to September is hot and humid with the heaviest rainfall. December and January can be cool and misty but remain very playable.
How much does golf cost in Hanoi in 2026?
Indicative weekday green fees at the leading Hanoi courses run roughly US$90 to US$160, rising on weekends, usually including a compulsory caddie and often a cart. A multi day golf trip with hotels, transfers and several rounds typically lands between US$1,500 and US$3,500 per head. Always confirm directly before booking.
Related
The Tee Sheet
New course openings, tee time windows and the trips our concierge is quietly building. Every other week.