Around six every evening, people in Hoi An start lighting up lanterns along the Thu Bon River, they’ve doing it the same way for years now. Not far away, at Ba Na Hills, something totally different is happening. Floodlights turning on over a golf course built right into the hills above Da Nang, where the last group finishes playing under lights instead of a sunset. Most people planning a vietnam trip never think to put these two things together. Honestly, they really should.
A Region That Does It All
Central Vietnam, the stretch stretching from Da Nang through Hoi An up to the old imperial capital of Hue, has spent the last few years quietly becoming one of Southeast Asia’s more interesting multi-day destinations. It has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites within an hour of each other (Hoi An’s Ancient Town and Hue’s Imperial Citadel), a coastline of white-sand beaches, and, increasingly, golf courses strong enough that some of Asia’s biggest tournaments now happen there. None of it needs choosing one over the other. A week here typically include all three.
The Golf Side of Things
The golf part amazes people who aren’t looking for it. Ba Na Hills sits at elevation, laid out across ridgelines with views back down to the South China Sea. It’s also where you’ll find night golf under the light. Hoiana Shores, closer to the coast, is a links-style course designed by Robert Trent Jones II that often shows up on Asia’s best-course lists. Neither is a resort add-on: Vietnam has hosted stops on the Asian Tour, and this September the Vietnam World Masters Championship runs its next week in Da Nang. You don’t need to play a round to notice the effort. You can see it from the road.
Getting There and What It Costs
None of this is a five-minute side trip, and it’s worth saying plainly. Getting to Da Nang usually means a connection through Bangkok, Singapore, or Hanoi, and travellers flying from North America or parts of Europe are looking at eighteen hours or longer, door to door. That’s a real cost to weigh against a trip that, once you land, tends to run noticeably less expensive than comparable stops in Thailand or Bali — hotel rooms, meals, and transport all land lower, and even a round of golf costs less than the people expect, oftena small piece of what the same course would back home.
Beyond The Golf Course
The non-golf half of the trip is arguably the bigger draw anyway. Hoi An’s Old Town is small enough to walk end to end in twenty minutes, but its tailor shops, riverside restaurants, and night market are worth two full days on their own time. Hue, ninety minutes north, holds the tombs and citadel of Vietnam’s final royal dynasty, along with a food scene, bun bo Hue, banh khoai, that locals will argue is the best in the country.
When to Go
Timing matters more here than in most of South-East Asia. The region’s rainy season runs roughly October through early spring, which sounds like a reason to miss it, except that’s also when the golf courses are at their best: cooler, less humid, and easier on a body that just flew eighteen hours. Most operators point first-timers toward February through April, right after Tet, when the rain has mostly cleared but the summer warmth hasn’t set in yet.
Conclusion
Look you don’t have to golf at all to have an amazing trip in Central Vietnam. But if you’re already planning a longer Asia trip though and are just gonna leave your clubs at home, this might be one of the those rare spots where bringing them actually makes sense. GoGolfVietnam, based right in Da Nang-based operator, keeps a running list of Da Nang golf packages with the rest of a Central Vietnam trip, which is worth checking out in case a round or two ends up on your list too.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Can I play golf at night in Da Nang?
Ans. Yes, Ba Na Hills has floodlit courses, so you can keep playing even after sunset.
- What’s the best time of year to visit for golf?
Ans. February to April tends to be the best time to visit. Right after Tet, when the rain’s mostly cleared but it’s not too hot yet.
- Is golf in Da Nang actually cheaper than the places like Thailand?
Ans. Yes, generally. Rounds, hotels, meals, and transport all tend to cost less compared to similar trips in Thailand or Bali
