VietNamNet Bridge - The ‘golf rush’ has returned, with around 10 projects added to the national golf course program in one day. More projects are on paper.


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The golf rush has returned



The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has consulted ministries and branches on the proposals to develop golf course projects.

Hoa Binh provincial authorities want to develop a 36-hole golf course in Lam Son commune in Luong Son district.

The Bac Giang 36-hole golf course and resort project in Luc Nam is also awaiting a license. The project, capitalized at VND1.2 trillion, will need a land area of 199 hectares. 

Meanwhile, on March 27, MPI’s Minister Nguyen Chi Dung, authorized by the PM, signed documents approving the addition of a series of golf course projects to the golf course development program by 2020. 

A lot of other golf course projects have also been added to the development program. They are Ecopark, KDL Doi Rong (Hai Phong), Van Don Golf Club in Quang Ninh and Paradise in Ha Nam.

These include the Kenh Ga – Van Trinh golf course in Ninh Binh province, FLC Quang Binh Golf Links, Ben En Golf Course in Thanh Hoa province, an international complex of golf courses, supporting area and resort in Phu Vang district of Thua Thien-Hue province, and the Viet Yen golf course in Bac Giang.

On the same day, Dung signed documents approving the expansion of the Ba Na and Da Nang golf courses from 36 to 108 holes.

A lot of other golf course projects have also been added to the development program. They are Ecopark, KDL Doi Rong (Hai Phong), Van Don Golf Club in Quang Ninh and Paradise in Ha Nam.

The approval of new golf course projects has surprised the public. Economists in the early 2000s warned of the golf course boom, which damaged local economic development plans and deprived farmers of their cultivated land.

In 2014, the Prime Minister signed a decision adjusting the golf course development plan by 2020, excluding nine projects and including 15 projects.

MPI, when inspecting the implementation of golf course projects recently, found that of the 90 projects approved by the PM, many projects need to be eliminated because of slow implementation and lack of a good fit in land-use programs.

Many investors have been found using allocated land for inappropriate purposes. About 50 percent of the land area has been used to develop eco-tourism and shopping malls.

Investors are rushing to develop golf courses as they believe this is the easiest way to make money.

Mark Siegel from Golfasian believes that tourism associated with golf can bring $200-300 million to Vietnam each year.

It is estimated that each golf course can generate 200-300 jobs, including jobs which don’t require education degrees.

There are about 15,000 golfers in Vietnam, most of them foreigners and expats.


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Mai Thanh