Montgomerie Links, a cornerstone of the region’s golf scene, has seen a 20% increase in rounds from Australian visitors over the past two years, rising from 1,700 to 2,200 annually. Ba Na Hills Golf Club has experienced even more dramatic growth, with Australian play surging by 35-40%. Notably, many of these golfers visit during the Australian winter—typically a quieter period for foreign visitors in Vietnam—providing a welcome boost to the destination year-round. Central Vietnam‘s efforts to establish itself as a golf destination of choice for Aussies have been bolstered by a series of high-profile initiatives aimed at the Australian market. Over the past year, the destination has welcomed several leading Australian golf writers, including representatives from Golf Digest Australia, to experience the region’s offerings firsthand. Driving this momentum, Laguna Golf Lang Co—a signature course designed by Sir Nick Faldo and a founding member of the VGC—made a bold statement by hosting roadshows in Melbourne and Sydney earlier this year. Representing the resort and Central Vietnam on an international stage, the team worked tirelessly to bring together Australian media and tour operators and highlight the exceptional golf experiences at Laguna Lang Co and Central Vietnam. Stephen Banks, Director of Golf at Laguna Golf Lang Co, underscored the importance of these events in solidifying ties with Australian stakeholders. “These roadshows demonstrate our commitment to positioning Central Vietnam as a leading golf destination for Australians,” he said. “By fostering connections with key players in the market, we aim to build lasting partnerships and promote sustained tourism growth.” The roadshows showcased the region’s standout courses, including those designed by Luke Donald (Ba Na Hills Golf Club) and Colin Montgomerie (Montgomerie Links), alongside iconic names like Greg Norman and Robert Trent Jones Jr. Representatives from the Danang Tourism Promotion Centre joined the events, providing insights into the broader appeal of the region, including its luxurious accommodations and vibrant cultural experiences. Le Vo Hoang Van, club manager at Montgomerie Links, attributed the growth to targeted marketing campaigns and the undeniable allure of Central Vietnam. “Australian golfers are drawn to the region’s world-class courses, stunning landscapes, and warm hospitality,” she said. “The recent uptick in rounds is a testament to the effectiveness of our outreach efforts.” Ba Na Hills Golf Club’s general manager, Simon Mees, echoed these sentiments. “The Australian market has been a game-changer for us,” he added. “It’s gratifying to see how well our course resonates with these visitors. The feedback we’ve received has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re excited to continue building on this momentum.”

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Vietnam’s junior golf stars will be seeking to ensure recent history repeats itself when the 15th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final returns to Laguna Lang Co at the end of April. The final, the culmination of the Asia leg of the world’s most celebrated junior circuits, will see the best young golfers from around the region battle it out over the award-winning Sir Nick Faldo Signature Design at Laguna Golf Lang Co for the crown of Faldo Series Asia champion. “I could not be more excited to be returning to Central Vietnam for another Faldo Series Asia Grand Final”, said Faldo, who attends Faldo Series Grand Final events and will jet into Vietnam in April 2024. “I expect nothing short of a thrilling showdown. The course always produces a spectacular showcase, and I’m excited to welcome back all the players for what I expect to be a truly memorable occasion.” The concluding leaderboard at last year’s event had a decidedly local flavour. A final round of 67 saw homegrown hero Nguyen Anh Minh take top honours. Minh made history by becoming the first Vietnamese to emerge as the Faldo Series Asia Champion. He’ll return in April to defend his title. Further back, Vietnamese youngster Le Khanh Hung was tied for third place. Other Vietnamese in the top ten were Nguyen Dang Minh (8th) and Nguyen Duc Son (9th). The strong showing by young local stars reflects increased domestic engagement with the game. And Minh and his fellow Vietnamese competitors will return to the spotlight at the end of April as they attempt to replicate the successes of last year. “Support for the junior game in Vietnam and throughout Asia is an integral part of our philosophy. It’s reflected in our long-term status as the home hub for the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final.” said Stephen Banks, Director of Golf at Laguna Lang Co. “Therefore, it was brilliant to see a Vietnamese Champion and strong performances from other Vietnamese juniors last year. It’s going to be fascinating to see if they can repeat that performance this time around.” Indeed, Banks — a long-term accredited PGA member — is helping local kids at Loc Vinh school embark on a golf journey by way of fun coaching sessions. Alongside fellow Golf Operations associates, he guides children on golf basics using the SNAG Golf System, which utilizes tennis-style golf balls and targets for fun, effective and fast skills development. The children can then meet Sir Nick Faldo during the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final event at the scheduled group coaching sessions. “The future of golf in Vietnam is in the hands of the juniors, and we are determined to help their development,” said Banks. Inaugurated by Sir Nick Faldo after his victory at the 1996 US Masters, the Faldo Series is recognized as the only global amateur series for boys and girls. Competitors from ages 7 to 25 can test themselves against the very best juniors around the world. The Series has been a proven success as a pathway for players to reach the top levels of the game, with over 70 Faldo Series competitors now playing on professional tours. Notable alumni include Major winners Rory McIlroy, Danny Willet and Yani Tseng, as well as other familiar names including Tyrell Hatton, Joaquin Niemann, Eddie Pepperell, Li Haotong, Mel Reid, Carly Booth, and Nasa Hataoka. The global junior series expanded into Asia in 2006, recognising the huge potential on the Asian junior golf circuit. Since then, Laguna Lang Co has played a central role in the initiative as the host venue for the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final: a reflection of its status as a Sir Nick Faldo Signature course, an elite category among Faldo Designs. The golf course is part of Asia’s most far-reaching integrated resorts, one that also encompasses award-winning hotels Banyan Tree Lang Co and Angsana Lang Co. 2024 is a milestone year as the resort ownership company, Singapore-headquartered Banyan Group, marks its 30th anniversary at the pinnacle of Asia’s hospitality industry. The club is also an integral part of the Vietnam Golf Coast, a destination marketing effort linking signature golf courses in Central Vietnam.

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Laguna Golf Lang Co is going back to school to boost engagement with golf among local juniors in the run-up to this year’s Faldo Series Asia Grand Final. Established by European legend Sir Nick Faldo, The Faldo Series has long been regarded as one of the world’s most celebrated circuits for junior golfers. Notable alumni include Major winners Rory McIlroy, Danny Willet and Yani Tseng, as well as other familiar names including Tyrell Hatton, Joaquin Niemann, Eddie Pepperell, Li Haotong, Mel Reid, Carly Booth, and Nasa Hataoka. Laguna Golf Lang Co, the home hub for the Faldo Series in Asia, is staying true to the founding principles of the series by having its expert coaches nurture interest among Vietnamese kids from communities near the club in the months preceding this year’s Grand Final, which will be held over the Sir Nick Faldo Signature Design in April. Stephen Banks, Director of Golf at Laguna Golf Lang Co, and a long-term accredited British PGA member, will be visiting local schools in the company of coach Dang Anh to educate kids about the Royal and Ancient game. They’ll guide children on golf basics using the SNAG Golf System, which utilizes tennis-style golf balls and targets for fun, effective and fast skills development. This introduction to the game will be followed by free coaching sessions at Laguna Golf Lang Co for those who are interested. “The future of golf in Vietnam is in the hands of the juniors, and we are determined to be at the vanguard of efforts to help their development,” said Banks. Indeed, efforts to increase domestic engagement with the game are paying off. Last year’s Faldo Series Asia Grand Final leaderboard for the event had a decidedly local flavour. A final round of 67 saw homegrown hero Nguyen Anh Minh take top honours. Minh made history by becoming the first Vietnamese to emerge as the Faldo Series Asia Champion. Further back, Vietnamese youngster Le Khanh Hung was tied for third place. Other Vietnamese in the top ten were Nguyen Dang Minh (8th) and Nguyen Duc Son (9th). “The outlook for golf in Vietnam is exceptionally promising, something that was showcased by the leaderboard at last year’s Faldo Series Asia Grand Final,” added Banks. “Our continued role as the host venue for the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final underscores our commitment to fostering junior golf in Vietnam and across Asia.” This year’s Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, the culmination of the series, will see the best junior golfers from over 22 Asian countries battle it out over the stunning course at Laguna Golf Lang Co for the crown of champion. Inaugurated by Sir Nick Faldo after his victory at the 1996 US Masters, the Faldo Series is recognized as the only global amateur series for boys and girls. Competitors from ages 12 to 21 can test themselves against the very best juniors around the world. Laguna Golf Lang Co is a fitting location for the grand finale of the prestigious circuit. A linchpin of the Vietnam Golf Coast (VGC), a freshly rebooted destination marketing initiative that links Central Vietnam’s best clubs, the layout is one of several courses turning heads in Central Vietnam. Other highlights include Ba Na Hills Golf Club, laid out by British Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald over rolling foothills, Montgomerie Links, designed by UK legend Colin Montgomerie, and Hoiana Shores, which was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr.

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Vietnam Golf Coast (VGC) clubs are showcasing the broad appeal of Central Vietnam via a range of stay/play options. Layouts such as Laguna Golf Lăng Cô, a Sir Nick Faldo Signature Design, and Ba Na Hills Golf Club, laid out by British current Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald over rolling foothills, are ranked among Asia’s top courses. Other highlights for play, meanwhile, include courses designed by luminaries including Greg Norman, Colin Montgomerie, Robert Trent Jones Jr., and Jack Nicklaus. And bolstering their appeal to golfers and non-golfers alike are accommodations that are up there with the best Vietnam has to offer. “Central Vietnam’s emergence as one of the finest golf destinations in Asia is attributable to several factors,” says Adam Calver, Director of Golf & Destination Marketing at Laguna Lăng Cô, one of the driving forces in the VGC, a freshly rebooted destination marketing organization that links the region’s best signature golf layouts. “Not only do we have a concentrated collection of championship courses to rival any. But the area is also blessed with fantastic accommodation options to suit varying budgets and requirements.” At Laguna Lăng Cô, the Sir Nick Faldo Signature Design at Laguna Golf Lăng Cô is enhanced by resorts like the award-winning properties Banyan Tree Lăng Cô and Angsana Lăng Cô, as well as the Laguna Parkside Residences Lăng Cô that line the 18th fairway of the course. The latter residences are the accommodation component in a special “Dream Golf Vacation” package that offers generous discounts for a stay/play combination. Heading south over the Hai Van pass from Lăng Cô, golfers and their families can kick back in style at an array of alluring resorts and hotels in and around Danang. A few lusty long-iron shots from Ba Na Hills Golf Club is Mercure French Village Ba Na Hills. A centrepiece of the Sun World Ba Na Hills complex, the property offers a cool retreat in the hills as well as easy access to the Luke Donald layout. Other options within easy reach of Ba Na Hills Golf Club include the beachside Premier Village Danang, with its ultra-modern villas offering a home away from home while in the area. In Danang itself, the Novotel Danang Premier Hotel is situated right on the iconic Han River in the centre of the city. Lovers of secluded luxury, meanwhile, can opt for the stunning Intercontinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, designed by acclaimed resort starchitect Bill Bensley and tucked away on the Son Tra Peninsula. With high-quality golf combined with incredible beaches and luxury resorts, Central Vietnam is Vietnam’s hub for golf tourism. It offers a range of attractions, including the heritage sites in history-steeped Hoi An and the Golden Bridge at Sun World Ba Na Hills: a 150-metre-long pedestrian bridge that is one of Asia’s most photographed landmarks. “We’ve got every type of golfer covered with our range of stay/play combinations,” said Gary Dixon, general manager at Ba Na Hills Golf Club. “With luxury and family-friendly resorts complementing the area’s courses and off-course attractions, Central Vietnam is a truly world-class golf hub.”

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Two giants of European golf — Sir Nick Faldo, and Luke Donald — have added their voices to the chorus of approval surrounding Central Vietnam’s credentials as a golf destination. “To my mind, Central Vietnam is near the pinnacle of places to play golf in Asia,” said Faldo, whose signature layout at Laguna Golf Lang Co is regarded as one of the best layouts in Asia. “The stunning landscapes of beaches and mountains are endlessly beautiful; the warmness of the people is a joy to encounter and there are wonderful golf courses to suit players of every ability.” When Faldo and Donald express an opinion on golf it pays to take notice. After all, the English pair have decades of experience at the very highest level of the game. They have notched 58 professional wins between them. In Faldo’s case, six of these victories were major titles. Both have starred in multiple Ryder Cup installments, with Donald due to perform a vital captain’s role when the biannual clash between Europe and US golfers takes place in Italy this September. And their zeal for the golf options in Central Vietnam — not to mention an array of off-course attractions ranging from endless beaches, world-renowned cuisine, and luxury resorts — bodes well for the destination as golf travel returns with a vengeance. “The topography of Vietnam is just unbelievable,” said Donald, whose design in the area, Ba Na Hills Golf Club, unfolds over rolling foothills amidst the dramatic peaks that back the coastline in Central Vietnam. “There are courses built around mountains and on sandy soil next to the ocean. The land is hard to match.” The buzz about Central Vietnam’s layouts has grown almost as loud as the motorbike horns that soundtrack daily life in Danang. Layouts such as Laguna Golf Lang Co and Ba Na Hills Golf Club are among Asia’s best courses. Ba Na Hills Golf Club features natural elevation changes, ravines, streams, and spectacular mountain backdrops. At Laguna Golf Lang Co, Faldo’s championship course threads between trees, over rice paddies and streams, through rock features, and alongside the pounding surf. Other highlights for play, meanwhile, include courses designed by luminaries including Greg Norman, Colin Montgomerie, Robert Trent Jones Jr., and Jack Nicklaus. “Asia’s top golf destination is not just recovering following the pandemic: it’s getting even better,” said Gary Dixon, general manager at Ba Na Hills Golf Club, one of the driving forces in the Vietnam Golf Coast (VGC), a freshly rebooted destination marketing organization that links the region’s best signature golf layouts. With high-quality golf combined with incredible beaches and luxury resorts like the award-winning properties at Laguna Lang Co — Banyan Tree Lang Co and Angsana Lang Co — Central Vietnam is arguably Vietnam’s hub for golf tourism. It offers a range of attractions, including the heritage sites in history-steeped Hoi An and the Golden Bridge at Sun World Ba Na Hills: a 150-meter-long pedestrian bridge that is one of Asia’s most photographed landmarks. “Central Vietnam is a place you must see and experience to fully take in and appreciate,” added Faldo. “It’s a fantastic destination for tourism with great properties, great climates, and clean air. The outlook for it is amazing.”

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Pre-pandemic the buzz about Vietnam’s golf courses was almost as loud as the motorbike horns that soundtrack daily life in major cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. And Adam Calver, director of golf at Laguna Golf Lang Co and a driving force in Vietnam Golf Coast — a destination marketing organization that links Central Vietnam’s best signature golf courses — has tipped the nation to become an even bigger noise in golf travel following its reopening to international visitors in March 2022. “Asia’s top golf destination is not just recovering following the pandemic: it’s getting even better,” he said. In recent years, Vietnam has forged a reputation as Asia’s ultimate bucket-list golf destination. Big-name architects including Sir Nick Faldo (designer of Laguna Golf Lang Co), Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, and Robert Trent Jones Jr have made their mark with a string of incredible layouts the length and breadth of the Southeast Asian country. Global accolades for the nation, meanwhile, including the coveted title of World’s Best Golf Destination at the 2021 World Golf Awards, fueled pent-up demand for travel during a period when Vietnam’s borders remained largely closed. Nobody involved in Vietnam’s tourism industry expects visitor numbers to immediately bounce back to pre-pandemic levels. But golf industry insiders like Calver predict a bright future for clubs in Vietnam following the reopening, pointing to a growing contingent of layouts that are maintaining the country’s reputation for quality. “A lot has been going on here (in Vietnam) during the pandemic,” said Calver. “New courses have been popping up all over the country so golfers who have visited Vietnam in the past have a number of new courses to experience when they return. “For example, many golfers won’t have been in Central Vietnam since 2019. We already had five great championship courses here at that time. Now, with the addition of Hoiana Shores and the second course at BRG Danang Golf Resort (a Nicklaus design), we have seven.” Like other layouts around the country, Laguna Golf Lang Co has been forced to contend with stern challenges posed by the pandemic over the course of the past couple of years. But the club, which recently ranked #88 on Golf World’s Top 100 Golf Resorts in the World list, is training its sights on a major resurgence over the coming months. At Laguna Golf Lang Co, two award-winning resorts – Angsana Lang Co and Banyan Tree Lang Co as well as the ultra-luxe Banyan Tree Residences and the Laguna Park Golf Villas along the 18th hole just a hundred meters from the clubhouse and the beach – round out one of Asia’s most attractive stay/play packages. Indeed, the club is witnessing an uptick in bookings from various key international markets including Korea and Europe as well as from domestic travelers. “Demand is surging here once again,” added Calver. “Before, I would have said that anyone serious about golf travel should be coming to Vietnam at least once in their life. With world-class courses opening all the time, I would revise that to say that you’d need to return every few years to do the place justice.”

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Laguna Golf Lang Co has restated its credentials as one of Vietnam’s greenest clubs by retaining its EarthCheck “Gold Certification” for 2021. With initiatives including a moratorium on single-use plastics and its “edible golf course” planted with rice fields and tended by water buffalos, the award-winning layout — a signature design by UK legend Sir Nick Faldo — is regarded as a standard-bearer for a greener, more sustainable golf industry in Vietnam It is one of only three golf courses in the world to achieve EarthCheck Gold certification, a status it earned at the end of 2019. EarthCheck is regarded as the world’s leading scientific benchmarking, certification and advisory group for travel and tourism. And the retention of Gold status is another key indicator of a successful wider push by Laguna Golf Lang Co to be the most sustainable course in the Southeast Asian country. “Vietnam is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and we are fortunate enough to have one of its most visually stunning sites,” said Adam Calver, Director of Golf and Destination Marketing at Laguna Lang Co. “Golf is a game that immerses us in nature as it plays to all our senses. Thus, we are committed to ensuring this harmony with nature is protected and our surrounding environment can flourish.” A key component of Laguna Lang Co, one of Asia’s most far-reaching integrated resorts, which encompasses award-winning hotels Banyan Tree Lang Co and Angsana Lang Co, Laguna Golf Lang Co is part of a wider sustainability success story at the project. The resort has completely eradicated the use of single-use plastics in almost all aspects of its operations. At Laguna Golf Lang Co this has involved scrapping items made of plastic such as on-course garbage bags, locker room accessories, plastic cups and straws and replacing them with ones made from materials such as bamboo, paper, steel or natural grass. Laguna Lang Co has finalized the installation of its own water bottling plant to allow the resort to completely eliminate plastic water bottles and utilize reusable glass bottles. Other key green initiatives at the resort include a tree-planting program aimed at increasing tree cover for local unused land and providing a new income source for underprivileged communities in Lang Co. The species — Melaleuca quinquenervia — is efficient in oil production and brings higher economic returns than traditional indigenous tree varieties. Additional programs feeding into the EarthCheck accolade include trash collecting activities, sponsorship of underprivileged youths through the resort’s Seedlings Mentorship Program, and sustainability workshops in local communities conducted by Laguna Lang Co Sustainability Officers. The resort is also focused on its successful “Greater Good Grant” initiative. Launched in 2020, the program offers sustainability projects around Vietnam access to eco grants. With the initiative ongoing, the resort is encouraging applicants to come forward and take advantage of financial support that will help them build a better future. “Despite challenges posed by the pandemic, Laguna Lang Co commits to support the local community as much as we can,” said Gavin Herholdt, Laguna Lang Co Managing Director. “Our sustainability journey can help deliver impactful projects and initiatives aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

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