Ho Chi Minh City vs Hanoi: Which Golf Trip Wins?
Vietnam's two great cities anchor two different golf trips: the south's year round engine room around Saigon, with Greg Norman's Bluffs within reach, and the north's lakes and limestone around Hanoi. Our verdict up front, the head to head table, and who should pick which.
Photo: golf near Ho Chi Minh City by VSHIP, via Google.
The verdict
For most first golf trips to Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City wins. The southern bench is deeper: Long Thanh's 36 holes sit about 40 minutes from the center, Tan Son Nhat plays practically beside the airport, and the marquee round, The Bluffs Ho Tram, Greg Norman's wind blown dunescape on the coast two hours away, is the best course in the country. Premium southern rounds run about $100 to $200 in 2026, and the December to April dry season makes tee times close to a sure thing.
Hanoi is the connoisseur's counter. BRG Kings Island spreads its holes around the Dong Mo reservoir with Ba Vi mountain behind, Sky Lake and BRG Legend Hill round out a strong supporting cast, and weekday green fees of about $80 to $150 undercut the south. Add Halong Bay and the old quarter and the north is the richer travel experience; it just asks you to plan around a real winter chill in December and January and a hot, stormy summer. The full national picture lives in our Vietnam golf guide.
Head to head
| Ho Chi Minh City | Hanoi | |
|---|---|---|
| The courses | Long Thanh's 36 holes, Tan Son Nhat in the city, Van Phuc and more, with The Bluffs Ho Tram (par 71, 7,007 yards, Greg Norman, 2014) two hours away on the coast | BRG Kings Island at Dong Mo, Sky Lake, BRG Legend Hill and Van Tri, lakes and limestone within 90 minutes of the old quarter |
| Indicative cost | Premium rounds about $100 to $200 in 2026; weekdays from roughly 1,500,000 VND, weekends from about 2,500,000 VND; The Bluffs up to about $200 | Weekdays about $80 to $150 at the championship courses in 2026, weekends $120 to $200; caddies standard across the north |
| Season | December to April dry and reliable; May to October brings afternoon storms but mornings stay playable year round | October to April is prime; December and January turn cool and gray, summer is hot, humid and stormy |
| Getting around | Courses 30 to 60 minutes from downtown; Ho Tram about 2 to 2.5 hours | Courses 45 to 90 minutes out; build buffer for Hanoi traffic |
| The vibe | Big city energy, rooftop bars, business town pace | Old quarter atmosphere, lakes, street food, Halong Bay add ons |
| Best for | First Vietnam golf trips, winter sun certainty, buddies groups | Culture first travelers, value hunters, October and November trips |
Course facts verified June 2026 from club and course database listings. Vietnamese fees vary by booking channel and season; always confirm directly before booking.
Who should pick which
Pick Ho Chi Minh City if the golf must come off without weather luck. Between November and April the south is about as dependable as Asian golf gets, and the routing writes itself: two city rounds, then finish with two nights at Ho Tram so The Bluffs gets the send off morning. Our ranking of the best courses around Ho Chi Minh City orders the supporting cast, and if you are torn between the south and the coast, read Da Nang vs Ho Chi Minh City next.
Pick Hanoi if you want the trip your non golfing self would also choose. Kings Island's boat ride to the clubhouse, pho before the round, Halong Bay on the rest day: no southern itinerary matches it for texture, and the fees leave room for an extra round. Costs and booking windows for every northern course are in our Hanoi green fees guide. Either way, the smart play for ten days is both cities with an internal flight, the spine of most Vietnam golf holidays, and how Vietnam stacks up regionally is settled in Thailand vs Vietnam.
Build a Vietnam golf trip
We route south, north or both, with The Bluffs booked early, the caddie culture explained, and the internal flights handled. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Ho Chi Minh City vs Hanoi questions
Which city has the better golf courses?
The single best course in the country, The Bluffs Ho Tram, belongs to the south, and the everyday bench around Saigon is deeper. Hanoi answers with more atmospheric settings, Kings Island on its reservoir above all, and lower weekday fees. Pure quality favors the south by a nose; character favors the north.
What does a round cost in each city?
In 2026, championship rounds around Ho Chi Minh City run about $100 to $200 depending on day and season. Around Hanoi, weekdays run about $80 to $150 and weekends $120 to $200. Caddies are standard at most Vietnamese courses; budget their fee and tip on top. All fees are indicative; always confirm directly before booking.
When should I book each city?
The south is at its best December to April, which is also peak demand, so book marquee tee times four to eight weeks out. The north peaks October to April but avoid the gray chill of late December and January if you can; October and November are the sweet spot.
Can I do both cities in one trip?
Easily. Domestic flights between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City take about two hours and run all day. Seven to ten nights covers two rounds in each region plus The Bluffs, with Halong Bay or the Mekong Delta as the rest day, and a planner can hold the whole chain of tee times for you.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.