Da Nang Golf: 5 Courses Worth the Flight (And One That'll Ruin Every Course Back Home)

I moved to Central Vietnam three years ago. Came for the food, stayed for the golf. That probably sounds ridiculous if you've never been here, but give me ten minutes and I'll explain.

Da Nang sits on this narrow strip of coast where the mountains drop straight into the South China Sea. Within a 90-minute drive, you've got five championship courses designed by names you'd recognize on any major leaderboard — and green fees that'd barely cover a cart rental at Pebble Beach.

I've played each of these courses at least a dozen times now. Here's what I actually think.

BRG Da Nang Golf Resort — The One With 36 Holes and Zero Bad Ones

This is the course I bring visitors to first, and there's a reason for that.

BRG gives you two completely different experiences on the same property. The Nicklaus Design course plays tight, strategic, almost links-like along the dunes. The Greg Norman course is wider, more forgiving off the tee, but sneaky around the greens. Between the two, you're looking at 36 holes of golf that'd cost you $400+ in Thailand or $600+ in Japan.

Here? $140 on any day of the week. Cart included.

The 7th on the Norman course is the one everyone photographs — a par 3 with the ocean backdrop — but my favorite is actually the 14th on the Nicklaus side. Slight dogleg left, bunkers on both sides of the landing area, and a green that slopes hard back-to-front. It rewards a smart tee shot over a long one, which is my kind of hole.

Pro tip: Book the afternoon rate if budget matters. You'll save 30-40% and still finish 18 before sunset between March and August.

See full BRG Da Nang course details, facilities & booking →

Montgomerie Links — The Links Course That Actually Plays Like One

A lot of Asian courses call themselves "links" because they're near the coast. Montgomerie Links actually earns it.

Colin Montgomerie designed this one, and you can tell he spent time in Scotland thinking about wind. The fairways are firm. The rough is gnarly. And the wind off the sea — especially holes 5 through 9, which run parallel to the beach — will wreck your round if you're not ready for it.

At $120, it's the most affordable championship course in the area, and honestly, some days it plays the hardest. The greens here are smaller than BRG and undulate in ways that make two-putts feel like victories.

I'd recommend this course to anyone who shoots below 90. If you're a high handicapper, you might find it frustrating — the bunkers are deep and the wind doesn't forgive mishits. But if you like the challenge of shaping shots, this is your place.

After your round: Skip the clubhouse restaurant and drive 10 minutes to the An Bang Beach strip. Grab a banh mi and a cold bia hoi at one of the shacks. You just played 18 holes of championship links golf for less than dinner costs at most resort courses. Let that sink in.

See full Montgomerie Links course details & green fees →

Ba Na Hills Golf Club — The Mountain Course That Feels Like Nowhere Else

If Montgomerie Links is Scotland, Ba Na Hills is the Swiss Alps.

Designed by Luke Donald — yes, that Luke Donald — this course sits in the foothills about 30 minutes west of Da Nang proper. The elevation changes are dramatic. You'll hit approach shots 40 feet downhill to greens framed by jungle. You'll tee off from elevated boxes with views that stretch to the coast on clear days.

At $135, it's mid-range in Da Nang pricing, but the experience punches way above its weight. The conditioning is excellent year-round, and the cooler mountain temperatures mean you're not drenched in sweat by the 4th hole like you might be on the coastal courses in summer.

Hole 15 is the signature — a par 3 over a ravine that's all carry. It's 180 yards from the whites, but it feels like 200 because of the sheer drop between you and the green. Don't let it get in your head. Pick your club, commit, and swing.

Getting there: The road up to Ba Na Hills is winding. If you're prone to car sickness, sit in the front seat and look at the horizon. Not joking — I learned this the hard way my first time up.

See full Ba Na Hills course details & booking →

Hoiana Shores Golf Club — The Stunner Down South

About 40 minutes south of Da Nang, technically in Quang Nam province, Hoiana Shores is the newest and arguably the most visually striking course in the region.

Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed this one, and he clearly took his time. The layout follows the natural dune landscape — nothing feels forced or manufactured. The fairways roll and tumble in ways that create dozens of different lies, even on straight shots. It's the closest thing to Scottish links golf I've found in Southeast Asia.

At $150, it's the priciest in the Da Nang area, but the course condition justifies every dollar. The greens are immaculate — fast, true, and consistently the best surfaces I putt on in Vietnam.

The back nine here is special. Holes 13 through 16 run along the coast, and on a late afternoon with the wind up and the sun going orange over the water, you forget you're playing golf. Then you three-putt from 15 feet and remember real quick.

Stay nearby: Hoiana Resort is connected to the course. If you're doing a multi-day golf trip, basing yourself here and playing Hoiana twice (you'll want to) while day-tripping to the Da Nang courses makes logistical sense.

See full Hoiana Shores course details, photos & green fees →

Laguna Golf Lang Co — The Faldo Masterpiece Up North

The drive north from Da Nang to Lang Co takes you through the Hai Van Pass — one of the most scenic stretches of road in Vietnam. If you're not in a rush, stop at the top for coffee and the view. You won't regret it.

Once you arrive, Sir Nick Faldo's design at Laguna Lang Co delivers something different from everything else in the area. It's resort golf, but smart resort golf. Wide fairways that tempt you to bomb driver, but strategic bunkering that rewards accuracy. Water comes into play on five or six holes, but never in a gimmicky way.

At $130, the value is strong, especially when you factor in the setting. Rice paddies on one side, mountains behind, the East Sea ahead. It's hard to concentrate on your alignment when the scenery keeps pulling your eyes away.

The par 5 12th is the hole everyone remembers — a sweeping dogleg around a lake with the mountains as backdrop. It's birdie-able if you're brave, but the water grabs anything that leaks left.

See full Laguna Lang Co course details & booking →

Quick Comparison: Green Fees at a Glance

Course	Green Fee	Holes	Designer	Style
Montgomerie Links	$120	18	Colin Montgomerie	Links
Laguna Lang Co	$130	18	Nick Faldo	Resort / Scenic
Ba Na Hills	$135	18	Luke Donald	Mountain
BRG Da Nang	$140	36	Norman + Nicklaus	Dunes / Strategic
Hoiana Shores	$150	18	Robert Trent Jones Jr.	Dune Links

Prices are walk-in green fees including cart. Booking through a golf tour operator or resort package can reduce these by 15-25%.

So Which Course Should You Actually Play?

Depends on what you're after.

• Best overall value: Montgomerie Links ($120, pure links golf)
• Best 36-hole day: BRG Da Nang (two courses, one property, $140)
• Most unique experience: Ba Na Hills (mountain golf, $135)
• Best course condition: Hoiana Shores ($150, immaculate greens)
• Best scenery + course combo: Laguna Lang Co ($130, that drive alone is worth it)

If you have three days, play BRG (36 holes, day one), Montgomerie (day two), and Hoiana Shores (day three). That gives you links, strategic, and dune golf — three completely different styles for under $500 total including carts. We actually built a Da Nang Golf Getaway package around exactly this itinerary.

Got more time? Add Laguna and Ba Na Hills. Our Central Vietnam Explorer package covers all five courses across seven days with transfers and hotels sorted.

When to Come

March through August is prime time. Dry, warm, long daylight hours. April and May are the sweet spot — not peak tourist season yet, so tee times are easier to get and some courses offer shoulder-season rates.

September through November is rainy season. It's not unplayable — rain often comes in short, heavy bursts — but you'll lose a day or two to weather. The upside? Green fees sometimes drop 20-30%, and the courses are empty.

December through February is cool and occasionally drizzly, but very playable. Pack a light rain jacket and you're fine.

The Stuff Nobody Mentions

Caddies are mandatory at every course in Vietnam. This might feel weird if you're used to walking solo. Get over it. Vietnamese caddies are genuinely excellent — they know every break on every green, they'll talk you out of bad club choices (politely), and they'll find your ball in rough that looks like it swallowed it whole. Tip 200,000-300,000 VND ($8-12) per round. They earn it.

Motorbike to the course is an option if you're adventurous, but I'd recommend Grab (Vietnam's Uber) for anything over 15 minutes. Da Nang traffic is manageable, but arriving at the first tee stressed and sweaty from dodging buses isn't ideal pre-round prep.

Bring your own balls. Pro shops here stock everything, but prices are 20-30% higher than home. Titleist Pro V1s go for about $65-70/dozen at course shops. If you have room in your luggage, bring a couple sleeves from home.

Rent clubs if you're traveling light. Every course offers rental sets — Callaway and TaylorMade are standard — and they're maintained well. Around $30-40 per set. Unless you have a very specific setup, rentals are fine for a vacation round.

Visa situation: Most nationalities get 15-45 day e-visa or visa-free entry. Check before you fly, but it's rarely a problem for golf trips.

Three years in, I still get that feeling on the first tee. The one where you look around and think, "How is this real? How is this affordable? How does nobody know about this?"

People are starting to know. Book before they all figure it out.

Got questions about planning a golf trip to Da Nang? Drop us a message — we live here and we've played every hole.