Nick Faldo and His Legendary Journey in Vietnam
Few names in the world of golf evoke as much respect and admiration as Sir Nick Faldo — six-time Major Champion, global golf ambassador, and now, one of the most influential course designers in Asia. His journey in Vietnam is more than a professional chapter — it’s a story of vision and bringing a whole country closer to the game of golf. In this article, we’ll take you through Nick Faldo’s inspiring journey and his massive legacy in Vietnam’s golfing scene.
Who is Nick Faldo?
Born in Hertfordshire, England, in 1957, Faldo’s calm precision and relentless discipline defined an entire era of golf. With six Major Championship titles — three at The Open and three at The Masters — he became Europe’s most successful golfer of his generation.
Yet even after the spotlight dimmed on his competitive career, Faldo’s passion for the game never faded. Instead, it evolved — from winning championships to crafting world-class golf experiences. Through Faldo Design, his global course architecture firm, he has created over 20 award-winning courses across Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.
And among them, few countries have captured his imagination quite like Vietnam.
A Legend Finds a New Calling
When Faldo first visited Vietnam in the early 2000s, he found a country unlike any other — where lush mountains met golden beaches, and centuries of culture coexisted with modern dynamism.
To Faldo, Vietnam was more than a blank canvas for golf — it was a landscape alive with personality, waiting to be shaped respectfully.
That first trip marked the beginning of Nick Faldo’s Vietnam journey, one that would help transform the nation into one of Asia’s most admired golf destinations.
Laguna Golf Lang Co — Where Mountains Meet the Sea
The crown jewel of Faldo’s work in Vietnam is undoubtedly Laguna Golf Lang Co, located in Thừa Thiên Huế Province — a region rich in culture and natural charm.
Opened in 2013, this 18-hole championship course winds through a tapestry of landscapes: from beachside dunes and rice paddies to mountain foothills and forest streams.
Each hole offers a new view, a new rhythm — reflecting Faldo’s belief that a course should flow like nature itself.
Laguna Lang Co also plays host to the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, where young golfers from across the region gather to compete under the legend’s mentorship — a symbol of Faldo’s enduring commitment to nurturing the next generation.
Royal Long An Golf & Villas
Royal Long An Golf & Villas is a 27-hole international-standard golf course covering more than 200 hectares. With a harmonious design that honors local culture and preserves the natural ecosystem, it is an excellent choice for inspiring rounds of golf and a potential venue for hosting large-scale domestic and international tournaments.
The course has invested in Celebration Bermuda grass for its fairways — one of the most preferred grass types for fairway areas — to provide golfers with better ball approach shots.
The fairways are spacious, surrounded by numerous bunkers and water hazards, offering golfers the chance to carefully calculate ball positions and choose the right club for each drive. These highlights make Royal Long An both a challenge and an opportunity for golfers to experience a truly world-class course in Long An.
Thanh Lanh Valley Golf & Resort — Nature’s Tranquil Challenge
Further north in Vĩnh Phúc Province, the Thanh Lanh Valley Golf & Resort stands as a testament to Faldo’s maturing design philosophy.
He envisioned a course where every contour of the land would be celebrated, not reshaped. The result is an 18-hole masterpiece set around crystal-clear lakes and rolling mountains — a sanctuary for golfers seeking both challenge and serenity.
This project underscores Faldo’s mission in Vietnam: to create destinations that honor nature while elevating the player experience.
Design Philosophy — Where Nature Leads the Way
Across his Vietnam portfolio, Faldo’s guiding principle remains simple yet profound: let the land tell the story.
Rather than imposing man-made features, he works with the environment — highlighting dunes, streams, and native vegetation to create authenticity.
He once described designing golf courses in Vietnam as “a conversation with the land,” a process that required patience and sensitivity.
The result? Courses that are not just beautiful, but sustainable, aligning perfectly with Vietnam’s eco-tourism vision.
The Faldo Series — Inspiring the Next Generation
Perhaps the most enduring part of Faldo’s Vietnam legacy is his impact on youth golf.
Through the Faldo Series, a global junior development program, he’s mentored thousands of aspiring players — including Vietnam’s rising stars.
The Asia Grand Final, held annually at Laguna Lang Co, brings together elite young golfers from across the region to learn, compete, and grow under Faldo’s guidance.
It’s more than a tournament; it’s a pathway to opportunity, connecting Vietnam’s next generation with the international golf stage.
A Legacy Beyond the Greens
Faldo’s influence reaches far beyond his fairways. His projects have fueled local tourism, created jobs, and drawn international golfers to discover Vietnam’s cultural richness.
Courses like Laguna Lang Co and Thanh Lanh Valley now rank among Asia’s most scenic, placing Vietnam firmly on the global golf map.
Through his designs, mentoring, and advocacy for sustainability, Faldo has become a key figure in shaping Vietnam’s identity as a world-class golf destination.
The journey continues
In his latest podcast with Vietnam Golf Leisure, Nick Faldo himself has confirmed that he and his Faldo Design team are currently working with golf developers for future projects in Vietnam, including new and world-class golf courses in the upcoming years.
From the coastlines of Lang Co to the mountains of Ninh Bình, Nick Faldo’s journey in Vietnam tells a story of respect — for the game, for nature, and for the people.
He came not just to build golf courses, but to build connections — between sport and sustainability, tradition and innovation.
Today, as golfers walk the fairways he designed, they walk through living landscapes that reflect both Faldo’s genius and Vietnam’s natural soul.
His story reminds us that true greatness isn’t just about what you achieve — it’s about what you leave behind.
And in Vietnam, Nick Faldo’s legacy will forever live on — in every green, every dune, and every young golfer inspired to dream big.
