Must-Play Golf Courses in Vietnam #9: Hoiana Shores Golf Club
Hoiana Shores Golf Club is Vietnam’s most authentic links-style golf course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and set along the pristine coastline near Hoi An. Unlike parkland or resort-style courses in Vietnam, it emphasizes natural dunes, coastal winds, firm fairways, and strategic shot-making, offering a pure and challenging golf experience for serious players.
Hoiana Shores Golf Club – A True Links Experience in Central Vietnam
As Vietnam’s golf scene continues to grow rapidly, a handful of courses stand out not just for their beauty, but for their design philosophy. Hoiana Shores Golf Club belongs firmly in that elite category. Located along the untouched coastline near Hoi An, the course has earned international recognition for delivering one of the most authentic links-style golfing experiences in Asia.
While many golf courses in Vietnam are built in parkland, mountain, or resort settings, Hoiana Shores takes a completely different approach. It embraces the raw coastal landscape, integrating sand dunes, sea breezes, and natural terrain into a layout that feels both strategic and organic.
Course Overview & Key Information
Course Address
Duy Hai Commune, Duy Xuyen District, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam
Course Designer
Hoiana Shores was designed by the legendary architect Robert Trent Jones Jr., known globally for environmentally sensitive and strategy-driven golf course designs. His vision for the course was to preserve the natural dunes and coastal ecosystem rather than reshape the land excessively.
Course Metrics & Green Type
The course features 18 championship holes with a Par 71 layout and approximately 7,004 yards from the championship tees. The fairways and greens use salt-tolerant Paspalum grass, ideal for coastal climates and consistent year-round playing conditions. The firm turf and fast greens further reinforce its links-style identity, encouraging ground play and precision over power.
Contact Information & Booking Tips
Website: hoiana.com
Tel: (+84) 235 8587 888
Golfers are encouraged to book tee times in advance, especially during peak travel seasons in Central Vietnam. Stay-and-play packages within the Hoiana resort complex are also popular among international golf tourists looking for a premium coastal golf getaway.
The Signature Specialty – Vietnam’s Most Authentic Links-Style Golf Course
What truly defines Hoiana Shores is its commitment to authentic links golf, a rarity in Southeast Asia. Instead of lush tree-lined fairways or heavily landscaped hazards, the course is shaped by rolling sand dunes, wide fairways, and open exposure to coastal winds.
This design creates a dynamic playing experience where wind direction, ball trajectory, and shot shaping play a much bigger role than in typical resort courses. Golfers are encouraged to play creatively along the ground, use bump-and-run shots, and adapt strategies depending on weather conditions.
Unlike many visually dramatic but forgiving resort layouts, Hoiana Shores rewards thoughtful course management and penalizes careless shot placement, making it especially appealing to experienced golfers.
Design Philosophy – Natural Integration with Coastal Terrain
Robert Trent Jones Jr.’s philosophy is evident throughout the course routing. Instead of forcing artificial elevation or decorative hazards, the layout flows naturally through existing sand dunes and coastal contours. The bunkers are strategically placed rather than excessive, often blending seamlessly into the natural landscape.
This minimalistic yet strategic design approach gives the course a timeless feel. Every hole appears organically shaped by nature, with panoramic ocean views and dune backdrops enhancing the overall golfing atmosphere without distracting from gameplay.
Standout Course Features & Signature Playing Experience
One of the most striking features of Hoiana Shores is its expansive dune landscape. The elevation shifts are subtle yet strategic, creating varied lies and visual depth across the fairways. Combined with the open coastal setting, golfers experience ever-changing wind conditions that make each round feel unique.
The finishing stretch is particularly memorable, with ocean-facing holes that demand precision and composure. Risk-reward opportunities are frequent, especially on longer par 4s where aggressive drives can be rewarded but misjudged shots are heavily punished by natural hazards and wind exposure.
How Hoiana Shores Stands Different from Other Golf Courses in Vietnam
Compared to parkland courses like Vietnam Golf & Country Club or mountain layouts such as Ba Na Hills, Hoiana Shores offers a completely different golfing identity. The absence of dense trees and heavy landscaping creates a more open and strategic environment.
When compared to coastal courses like The Bluffs Grand Ho Tram or KN Golf Links Cam Ranh, Hoiana Shores stands out for its purist links philosophy. While those courses emphasize dramatic elevation and visual spectacle, Hoiana focuses more on natural flow, wind strategy, and traditional links gameplay.
In essence, it is less about visual theatrics and more about authentic golf strategy — a distinction that serious golfers immediately recognize and appreciate.
Facilities & Overall Golfing Experience
The club offers a modern clubhouse, well-equipped locker rooms, and a professional pro shop that caters to both international golf tourists and local players. Practice facilities include a driving range, putting greens, and short-game areas designed to help golfers adapt to the course’s firm and fast conditions.
Caddie services are professionally trained, and the course maintains international standards in course conditioning, hospitality, and tee-time management. The integration with the Hoiana integrated resort complex also allows for seamless stay-and-play experiences.
Awards, Rankings & Global Recognition
Since its opening, Hoiana Shores has consistently received praise from international golf publications and ranking bodies. It has been listed among top new golf courses in Asia and recognized for its design excellence, environmental integration, and championship-level layout.
Its growing reputation in global golf tourism has positioned it as a must-play destination for golfers visiting Central Vietnam, alongside other elite courses in the Da Nang – Hoi An golf corridor.
Best Time to Play Hoiana Shores
The ideal time to play is between February and August, when Central Vietnam experiences drier weather and more stable playing conditions. Morning tee times are generally recommended to avoid stronger coastal winds that typically intensify in the afternoon.
However, experienced golfers may actually enjoy the wind challenge later in the day, as it enhances the strategic complexity that defines links-style golf.
Try teeing at Hoiana Shores Golf Club?
Hoiana Shores is best suited for experienced golfers, links-course enthusiasts, and international golf travelers seeking a strategic and authentic round in Vietnam. It is also an excellent choice for golfers exploring the Central Vietnam golf circuit, especially those combining golf trips with visits to Da Nang and Hoi An.
Beginners can still enjoy the course due to its wide fairways, but the wind, firm greens, and strategic bunkering make it significantly more rewarding for players with strong course management skills.
Hoiana Shores Golf Club is not just another scenic golf course in Vietnam; it is a strategic masterpiece that delivers a rare and authentic links-style experience along one of the country’s most beautiful coastlines. Its natural dune integration, wind-driven gameplay, and minimalist design philosophy set it apart from traditional resort courses across Vietnam.
For golfers seeking a course that challenges both skill and strategy while showcasing Vietnam’s coastal beauty, Hoiana Shores firmly earns its place as one of the must-play golf courses in Vietnam in 2026.
