Vietnam vs Japan
Two very different ways to play golf in Asia. Vietnam is the young coastal star, a run of modern Greg Norman and Robert Trent Jones Jr layouts paired with great value and easy access. Japan is the connoisseur's trip, the classic Alison courses of Hirono and Kawana wrapped in a culture all its own. Here is how they compare and who should pick which.
Photo: Hoiana Shores Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
For most traveling golfers building a first Asian trip, Vietnam is the easier and better value pick. The central coast around Danang and Hoi An stacks several genuinely world class modern courses within an hour of each other, the resorts are built for golf, green fees and lodging are a fraction of the West, and access is open and simple. If the trip is about playing a lot of excellent, scenic golf without friction or expense, Vietnam wins.
Japan is the choice when the golf itself is the pilgrimage. The headline courses, Charles Hugh Alison's Hirono near Kobe and his clifftop Kawana Fuji on the Izu Peninsula, are among the finest in the world, but the best of them are private and need an introduction, the trip costs more and the planning is harder. You travel for the design, the conditioning and the ritual of Japanese golf, and for a country that rewards every other sense too. Pick Vietnam for value and ease, Japan for the depth of the golf and the experience around it.
Vietnam vs Japan, head to head
| Vietnam | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Marquee courses | The Bluffs Grand Ho Tram, Hoiana Shores, Ba Na Hills, Laguna Lang Co | Hirono, Kawana Fuji, Naruo, Tokyo Golf Club |
| Style of golf | Modern resort and links, dramatic coastal and mountain settings | Classic 1930s parkland and clifftop design, immaculate conditioning |
| Best season | Feb to Aug on the central coast; year round somewhere in the country | Apr to Jun and Sep to Nov, spring blossom and autumn color |
| Access | Mostly open resort courses, easy to book for visitors | Best courses are private; Hirono and Naruo need a member introduction |
| Value | Strong; green fees and lodging well below Western prices | Higher cost and more complex logistics, premium experience |
| Off course | Hoi An old town, Danang beaches, street food, spas | Tokyo and Kyoto, temples, onsen, world class dining |
| Best for | Buddies and society trips chasing value and volume of golf | Discerning golfers and couples after a bucket list golf culture |
Course facts verified June 2026: The Bluffs Grand Ho Tram is a Greg Norman design and widely rated Vietnam's best course; Hoiana Shores was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr; Ba Na Hills by Luke Donald; Laguna Lang Co by Nick Faldo. In Japan, Hirono and Kawana Fuji were designed by Charles Hugh Alison in the 1930s, Kawana Fuji opening in 1936, and Naruo, established 1920, took its current form around 1930. Green fees, access and travel details are indicative and change; always confirm directly before booking.
Who should pick which
Choose Vietnam if value and ease matter, if the group wants to play four or five strong rounds in a week with short transfers, and if a beach and a buzzing town between rounds appeals. The central coast cluster around Danang and Hoi An is the natural base, pairing Hoiana Shores and Ba Na Hills with the resorts, while Ho Tram and Ho Chi Minh City anchor a southern trip. See our Vietnam golf hub and best courses in Vietnam for the full cluster.
Choose Japan if the golf is the point and you are willing to plan and spend for it. The trip rewards a golfer who appreciates classical architecture and flawless turf, and who will pair two or three special rounds with Tokyo, Kyoto and the onsen towns. Access to the best private clubs takes time to arrange, so start early or let a planner open the doors. Our Japan golf hub and best courses in Japan set out the options. Either way, we can plan and cost the trip; tell us the brief below.
Plan a Vietnam or Japan golf trip
Still deciding? Tell us the group, the dates and the priorities and a concierge will cost both a Vietnam itinerary and a Japan one to the head, so you can choose on the numbers. No obligation.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts verified June 2026; green fees, access and travel details indicative for the 2026 season. Last reviewed June 2026.