Andy Devaney
Some golf trips are built for groups, spreadsheets and competitive sulking. The Vietnam Golf Coast (VGC) is making a different case for 2026: a couples’ escape where you can play serious golf and still come home feeling as though you’ve actually been on holiday.
Central Vietnam is strengthening its position as a premier golf destination, powered by rising tourism confidence, improving infrastructure and—crucially for anyone planning a long-haul break—an ever-expanding list of air links into Danang International Airport.
That broader momentum in Vietnam has been reflected in business headlines, but on the ground the story is wonderfully simple: Central Vietnam is increasingly becoming a preferred vacation choice for visiting golfers from key long-haul markets, and the destination is leaning into a year that’s shaping up to be another big one. The draw is not just the fairways. It’s the combination—luxury resorts, legendary beaches, cultural highlights and the sort of travel ease that turns “one day” into “let’s do it.”
“Central Vietnam has built strong, sustained momentum over recent years,” said Simon Mees, General Manager at Ba Na Hills Golf Club. “As we head into 2026, there’s a real sense that the destination is entering a new phase of maturity and international recognition. For Ba Na Hills Golf Club, it’s especially meaningful as we mark our 10th anniversary, a decade of contributing to the region’s growth and helping establish Central Vietnam on the world golf map.”
A golf break that works for both of you
The best couples’ golf trips aren’t the ones where one person plays 36 holes a day while the other counts down the minutes. They’re the ones where golf is the centrepiece, but the destination does its part as well. That’s where Central Vietnam earns its stripes: you can book it as a golf getaway and still spend your non-golf time doing things that feel properly romantic—beach days, memorable meals, and the kind of cultural exploring that makes the trip feel richer than a simple sports holiday.
And when the gateway is Danang—with improved connectivity supporting inbound travel—your getaway becomes easier to plan and easier to justify. Less hassle means more holiday.
Ba Na Hills at 10: the marquee round on your itinerary
If you’re building the “we’ll remember this one” version of a couples’ itinerary, Ba Na Hills Golf Club is the anchor round. Since opening in 2016, it has played a central role in elevating the destination’s international standing, earning five consecutive World Golf Awards for Asia’s Best Golf Course, six Vietnam’s Best Golf Course titles, and three successive Asia’s Best Golf Course honours at the World Luxury Travel Awards.
Those accolades matter because they reassure both of you: yes, the golf is worth travelling for. But the real benefit for couples is that a standout round creates a shared highlight—one of those “remember that par 3?” moments that carries the trip long after you’re home.
Montgomerie Links: stay, play and actually switch off together
Where Ba Na Hills is the headline, Montgomerie Links is the couples’ secret weapon—especially if you like your holidays calm, seamless and a little bit private. It enters 2026 from a position of strength, having captured 17% market share in 2025 to retain its status as the most-played course by rounds in the Hue–Da Nang region. Growth was driven primarily by the European, US, Australian and New Zealand markets, providing a strong platform for the year ahead.
“Our appeal lies in offering a more intimate, personal experience,” said Le Vo Hoang Van, Club Manager at Montgomerie Links. “Golfers value places where they feel genuinely cared for. Montgomerie Links delivers a boutique, home-away-from-home environment, with championship golf, on-course accommodation, dining, practice facilities, and privacy all integrated in a single destination.”
That is couples’ travel language dressed in golf clothing. “Genuinely cared for.” “Home-away-from-home.” “Privacy.” And the practical bit is the clincher: when accommodation, dining, practice facilities and the course are integrated, you’re not wasting your best hours in transit. You’re together, you’re relaxed, and the trip feels effortless—exactly how a romantic getaway should feel.
A course list made for golfers—and impressive enough for everyone else
The Vietnam Golf Coast isn’t short on variety, either. Together with Montgomerie Links, Ba Na Hills anchors a collection of championship venues designed by some of the game’s most respected figures, including Luke Donald and Colin Montgomerie, alongside courses by Sir Nick Faldo, Greg Norman and Robert Trent Jones Jr.
For couples, this matters in a subtle way. It gives the golfer plenty to get excited about, while the non-golfing partner knows they’re not being dragged across the world for something second-rate.
Date nights, festivals and a proper sense of place in 2026
One of the easiest ways to make a couple’s trip feel special is to tie it to something that’s happening. In 2026, Central Vietnam’s calendar does exactly that. The destination’s appeal will be enhanced by events including the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival, expected to run from May to July, alongside the Vietnam–Korea Festival and Vietnam–Japan Festival later in the summer months.
That’s the sort of schedule that turns evenings into plans—something to dress up for, wander through, and remember. Golf in the day, fireworks at night, and suddenly you’ve got a holiday story that isn’t just about your score.
Why 2026 is the year to book the Vietnam Golf Coast
Australia and New Zealand remain priority markets for the Vietnam Golf Coast, supported by ongoing trade engagement and targeted marketing activity. The destination will also maintain its presence at key industry gatherings, including the Asia Golf Tourism Convention (AGTC) in Thailand in March 2026, while expanding outreach into Chinese-speaking markets, India and Japan—supported by improved connectivity into Danang.
“With world-class courses, improving connectivity and a growing international profile, Central Vietnam is well positioned for the year ahead,” Mees added. “As Ba Na Hills looks beyond its first decade, the focus is on sustaining quality, deepening global relationships and continuing to elevate the region’s standing as one of Asia’s great golf destinations.”
For couples, that’s the point in plain terms: this is a destination entering its confident phase—easy enough to reach, strong enough on golf, and rich enough beyond golf to make both of you glad you booked it.
The Vietnam Golf Coast in 2026 isn’t just a golf trip. It’s a shared getaway with fairways, flavour and a very good excuse to stay an extra night.
