Hanoi, Vietnam: Vietnam’s burgeoning golfing industry is set for exciting growth over the next decade. According to speakers at the Vietnam Golf & Leisure Awards 2024, the coming years will see dozens of new courses being built across the country as well as the staging of high-profile professional and amateur tournaments.

Addressing the audience at the 10th Vietnam Golf & Leisure Awards at Hanoi’s Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel, Nguyen Trung Khanh, Chairman of Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT), painted a bullish outlook for the country’s golfing prospects.

During his presentation, he pledged that the VNAT will intensify the promotion of both general tourism and golf tourism to attract domestic and international visitors.

“We also encourage the development of golf tourism through the organisation of professional tournaments and the enhancement of supporting resort facilities, including hotels, restaurants, and healthcare services,” he added.

Other speakers included Pham Tien Van, Chairman of Vietnam Golf Leisure/Head of the Event Organisation Board, Vu Van Yen, Director of Vietnam Golf Leisure/Deputy Organising Board, Nguyen Quoc Hung, representative of Sports Authority of Vietnam, and Asian Golf Industry Federation Chief Communications Officer Spencer Robinson.

Among other dignitaries were Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Golf Association, and Ben Styles, Global Development Director of 54.

Pham Tien Van said: “We believe that this year’s awards will contribute to further promoting the development of the golf industry as well as its related services, encourage golf courses in upgrading services, and promote Vietnam as one of the most attractive golf tourism destinations in the region and in the world.”

Robinson added: “The role that Vu Van Yen and her team have played since the launch of Vietnam Golf Leisure in 2005 has been a significant factor in helping to grow the game in Vietnam and should not be under-estimated.

“These awards, in particular, shine a spotlight on Vietnam’s ever-increasing number of world-class golfing facilities.”

Styles said: “54 is a global sports group with over 200 professionals in nine countries. We hope these connections can greatly benefit the industry here in Vietnam, being closely connected with the International Series, Aramco Series, and LIV Golf and management various assets around the world.”

There was also a presentation from Sporting Insights, a Full Business Member of the AGIF, outlining current trends in global golf tourism and providing information to help golf courses better understand how to promote themselves with a view to attracting international golfers to Vietnam.

Meanwhile, the Vietnam Golf & Leisure Awards 2024 bestowed recognition in 46 categories – 24 golf course award categories and 22 categories for service and entertainment industries, covering golf screen brands, golf club brands, fashion brands, car brands, banks and airlines.

Greg Norman Golf Course Design’s The Bluffs Grand Ho Tram was honoured with the title of ‘Best Golf Course in Vietnam 2024’, while the Queen Course at Royal Golf Course was named ‘Best New Golf Course in Vietnam 2024’.

Following The Bluffs in the listing of the ‘Top 10 Best Golf Courses in Vietnam 2024’ were Hoiana Shores Golf Club, Laguna Golf Lang Co, Legends Danang Golf Resort, KN Golf Links Cam Ranh, Ba Na Hills Golf Club, Royal Golf Course, Legend Valley Country Club, Thanh Lanh Valley Golf & Resort, and FLC Golf Club Ha Long.