Lang Co, Vietnam: Laguna Golf Lang Co has reaffirmed 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 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, a Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation. 

“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,” added Calver.

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 finalised the installation of its own water bottling plant to allow the resort to completely eliminate plastic water bottles and utilise reusable glass bottles.

Other key green initiatives at the resort include a tree-planting programme aimed at increasing tree cover for local unused land and providing a new income source for under-privileged communities in Lang Co.

The species – Melaleuca quinquenervia – is efficient in oil production and brings higher economic returns than traditional indigenous tree varieties.

Additional programmes feeding into the EarthCheck accolade include trash collecting activities, sponsorship of under-privileged youths through the resort’s Seedlings Mentorship Programme, 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 programme offers sustainability projects around Vietnam access to eco grants.

With the initiative on-going, 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.”