Vietnam has been named Asia's Best Golf Destination at the 2026 World Golf Awards — the tenth consecutive year it has taken the title. The awards, running since 2014, are decided by a year-long vote among golf industry professionals, media and the travelling public, so the streak reflects sustained popularity rather than a one-off judging panel's whim.
There was a second trophy too, and it went to the capital. Hanoi was named World's Best Golf City Destination 2026, its third win after back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024. The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism credits the city's location, hotel and tourism infrastructure, and the ease of reaching quality courses in the surrounding countryside — a combination that lends itself to trips mixing rounds of golf with resort time, sightseeing and Hanoi's food scene.
Why has Vietnam become such a magnet for golfers? Partly geography and climate: a long coastline and varied regional weather mean courses can be played somewhere in the country all year. Partly design: the course network now stretches from mountain and highland settings to plains and coastal layouts, built to work with the terrain rather than flatten it. That variety lets operators package golf alongside beach stays, cultural visits and regional cuisine rather than selling it as a standalone sport trip.
The economics matter too. Golf tourists are high-spending and tend to stay longer than the average visitor, which is why the tourism authority is pushing for more high-quality courses, better support services, and closer cooperation between courses, hotels, airlines and travel companies. For travellers, that competition usually translates into better packages and improving caddie, clubhouse and transfer standards.
If you've never considered Vietnam for a golf holiday, the awards are a decent signal that you're not taking a gamble. Hanoi works well as a base — you can play different courses on consecutive days while staying in one hotel, then add old-quarter evenings, street food and day trips. Further south, coastal hubs like Nha Trang and Danang pair championship layouts with proper beach-resort downtime. Green fees in Vietnam remain notably cheaper than in Thailand or much of Southeast Asia's established golf hubs, which stretches a golf budget a long way.
Who is this for? Golfers planning an Asian trip who want quality courses without premium prices, mixed groups where some want to play and others want to sightsee, and anyone chasing winter sun on fairways during the northern hemisphere's off-season.
