Hue, Vietnam: Focusing on the sustainable development of golf tourism and the golf economy in Vietnam, the inaugural Vietnam Golf Course Owners Summit 2025 (VNGOS 2025) will be staged next month.

Organisers said the event at Hue City’s Laguna Lăng Cô Resort on October 30-31 will ‘open a new chapter in the development of golf tourism and the golf economy in Vietnam’.

The summit is considered a foundational milestone for the 2025-2030 period, while also setting a broader vision for 2040, affirming golf as a strategic driver within the national tourism eco-system.

For the first time, golf course owners, government leaders, international experts, and global partners will converge in an official forum to unify their vision, build development standards, and establish long-term directions for the industry.

The summit is expected to become a significant milestone, contributing to Vietnam’s rise as a leading golf destination in the region, while also opening new co-operation opportunities between the fields of sports, tourism, and the economy.

The event is governed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Hue City People’s Committee. It is supported by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, Vietnam Sports Administration, Hue City Department of Culture, Sports, and the Hue City Department of Tourism, with 54 The Global Sports and Entertainment Agency serving as the managing and executing organisation.

This event will be a key part of Wellness Tourism Week, within the framework of the National Tourism Year in Hue 2025 – Vietnam Golf Festival.

Marking 65 years of tourism development (1960-2025), Vietnam welcomed nearly 14 million international visitors in the first eight months of the year, a 21% increase compared to 2024. In this growth context, golf tourism has become a key product, attracting luxury visitors, extending their stays, boosting spending, and creating a ripple effect on the local economy – covering accommodation, cuisine, commerce, real estate, and employment.

To capitalise on this potential, Vietnam’s golf industry needs to standardise services, align infrastructure, and develop a sustainable strategic plan. Vietnam Golf Course Owners Summit 2025 was created to meet this urgent need and provide a unified vision forum for the entire industry.

Greg Norman, Vietnam’s Tourism Ambassador for the 2025-2030 term, said: “Vietnam offers an unparalleled blend of world-class golf courses, natural beauty, cultural heritage, and local hospitality. Now is the time for golf course owners and industry stakeholders from across the public and private sectors to unite in growing and promoting this one-of-a-kind destination to the world.

“With the focus first and foremost on long-term sustainability, this summit will be a milestone event as Vietnam embraces the potential of golf as an economic driver and tourism anchor.”

The summit content will focus on strategic topics: promoting inbound golf tourism; positioning Vietnam as a leading golf destination in Asia; unifying sustainable environmental development standards; discussing the development roadmap and future of 100 new golf courses; discussing preferential investment policies, public-private partnerships, and FDI models for comprehensive development; and laying the foundation for establishing the Vietnam Golf Course Owners Alliance.

Additionally, the summit will introduce and discuss the Vietnam National Golf Star-Rating System, a ground-breaking initiative designed to standardise service quality, enhance golfer experience, and strengthen Vietnam’s competitiveness on the international golf map.

Jed Moore, Group CEO at 54, said: ”We are honoured to be entrusted with implementing this event. We see VNGOC 2025 as a catalyst to elevate Vietnam’s golf industry. This forum is where service standards will be shaped, public-private partnerships will be fostered, and high-quality investment will be attracted, aiming toward a professional, sustainable golf eco-system deeply integrated with the international market.”

VNGOS 2025 also serves as an opportunity to position Hue as a strategic golf hub, where heritage, resorts, and sports converge in its five-year development journey.

In addition to the main summit sessions, the event will feature a Gala Dinner and the Vietnam Golf Industry Awards. Following this, on November 1-2, the Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF) will hold its conference and golf tournament at Laguna Lăng Cô Golf Club.

Laguna Lăng Cô Golf Resort, designed by Sir Nick Faldo, is renowned for harmonising natural terrain with environmental preservation, making it the ideal venue for a sustainability-focused summit.

*54, Greg Norman Golf Course Design, Faldo Design and Laguna Lăng Cô Golf are all members of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.