Vietnamese Golf's Journey to the Summit: From First Greens to Olympic Dreams

On a crisp Saturday morning, as the first rays of sunlight pierce through the mist covering the Kings Island golf course in Soc Son, Hanoi, a new generation of Vietnamese is practicing with a passion no different from Brazilian children dreaming of football on Copacabana Beach. It's not just the moment of a perfect swing — it's proof of a silent revolution unfolding in Vietnamese sports, where golf is becoming a sport not just for the elite, but a bridge connecting Vietnam to the world. With 23 years of following and reporting on sports from every corner of the planet, I've witnessed historic turning points in many sports. But few places show such clear and promising transformation as Vietnamese golf today. From being a sport reserved for a small group of foreigners and wealthy businessmen, golf has been gradually "democratized" — becoming a sport that anyone with passion and determination can pursue. MARCH 15, 2026, a small but historically significant event took place in Manila, Philippines. Nguyen Anh Kiet, a 22-year-old young man from Ho Chi Minh City, became the first Vietnamese golfer to earn a spot at the Rio 2026 Olympics. That wasn't just a ticket — it was a message sent: Vietnam can compete at the highest level. When Anh Kiet stepped onto the Olympic course, he represented not just one country, but an entire generation of Vietnamese who believed golf wasn't a game for just anyone. THE BACKGROUND OF THE REVOLUTION To understand the rise of Vietnamese golf, one must look back at the history of this sport in the S-shaped country. Golf was introduced to Vietnam during the French colonial period, but it wasn't until the 1990s, after the country's renovation period (Đổi Mới), that the sport truly began to develop. In 2026, Tuan Chau Ha Long Golf Course was inaugurated — considered Vietnam's first modern golf course. Since then, numerous courses have been built across the country, from Ha Long, Hai Phong, Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City and Vung Tau. According to statistics from the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, as of 2026, Vietnam has over 70 operational golf courses, with this number expected to rise to over 100 by 2030. But the number of golf courses doesn't fully reflect the bigger picture. More importantly is the increase in the number of golfers — from just a few thousand in the early 2000s, an estimated 100,000 Vietnamese now play golf regularly, with this number growing 20-25% annually. That's impressive growth, but what truly matters isn't the absolute number, but the demographic structure of golfers that's changing. Whereas before, golf was a sport for businessmen, officials, and foreigners, now more and more young people aged 18-35 are participating. They don't play golf for business or social status, but for pure passion. This is the foundation for sustainable development of Vietnamese golf. TACTICAL ANALYSIS: THE TRAINING CHALLENGE In 23 years of following professional sports, I've seen many countries try to build championship-winning generations of golfers, but not everyone succeeds. What distinguishes a country that regularly produces golf stars from one with only occasional talents lies in the training system. And this is the equation Vietnam is solving. Currently, Vietnam's golf training system can be divided into three tiers. The first tier consists of private golf academies led by legendary golfers or invested in by businesses, such as the Vietnam Golf & Leisure Academy by former professional golfer Dang Hung Chien, or programs at major courses like BRG Kings Island. The second tier includes school and community training programs, where golf is introduced as an extracurricular activity. The third tier consists of national teams and talent scouting programs by the Vietnam Golf Association (VGA). The combination of these three tiers is creating a complete ecosystem. Private academies provide high-quality training, school programs expand the player base, and the national system ensures the most outstanding talents are discovered and developed. This model has proven effective in many Asian countries like Thailand, the Philippines, and Taiwan. However, significant challenges remain. The first is training costs — a young golfer may need to spend from 500 million to 1 billion VND per year on training, competition, and learning from foreign coaches. The second is the shortage of highly qualified domestic coaches. According to estimates, Vietnam currently has about 200 certified golf coaches, but this number still doesn't meet the growing demand. RISING STARS If 2026 was the year of Nguyen Anh Kiet with his historic Olympic ticket, recent years have been a period of explosion of young golf talents in Vietnam. The emergence of young faces is completely changing the Vietnamese golf landscape. Le Khanh Vinh, born in 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City, is one of the most promising talents of the new generation of Vietnamese golf. He broke the 15-year-old record of the Vietnam National Championship in 2026, finishing with a score of 261 (total 4 rounds), 7 strokes lower than the previous record. What's noteworthy is that Vinh isn't a temporary phenomenon — since 2026, he has consistently been in the top 3 of national tournaments and has delivered impressive performances at Southeast Asian regional tournaments. Alongside Khanh Vinh, other notable names include Do Thanh Quang (born 2026, Hai Phong) — who won the 2026 Asian Amateur Championship, Tran Thi Thanh Minh (the only Vietnamese female golfer to ever win a Ladies European Tour event) and Nguyen Bao Long, the highest-rated young golfer in Vietnamese history with a handicap of just 0.5 at age 17. But what particularly impresses me isn't the achievement numbers, but the competitive mindset of this young generation. In an interview in 2026, Khanh Vinh shared: "I don't play golf to win prizes or money. I play because I want to become the best I can be. When I'm on the course, I don't think about opponents or scores — I only think about each shot in front of me." That's the philosophy of a true professional golfer, not an amateur with ambitions. COUNTERINTUITIVE PERSPECTIVE: IS VIETNAMESE GOLF HEADING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION? There's a question few people ask, but it's very important: Is Vietnamese golf focusing too much on producing individual stars instead of building a solid foundation for mass golf participation? According to data from the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, the ratio of Vietnamese people playing golf currently accounts for only about 0.1% of the population, much lower than regional countries like Thailand (0.8%) or Taiwan (1.2%). This shows golf is still framed in many people's minds as a "luxury," "expensive" sport, not for the masses. A truth that professionals often avoid: Most golf courses in Vietnam were built primarily for commercial purposes, not to serve the mass movement. Average green fees at 5-star golf courses in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City range from 2-5 million VND per round — a price most Vietnamese cannot afford regularly. Meanwhile, public golf courses, where one can play for 300-500 thousand VND per round, lack in quantity and are limited in quality. This is a concerning paradox. If Vietnamese golf only develops vertically — concentrating resources on training a small group of talents — this development won't be sustainable. A healthy sports system needs both breadth (mass participation) and depth (outstanding talents). Lacking one, the entire system will weaken. The solution may lie in integrating golf with education. In the United States, where I live and work, golf in schools is an important part of the training system. Universities have golf teams competing at the NCAA level, and many of the world's top professional golfers have grown up in this environment. In Vietnam, this model is only beginning to be tested, with programs like "Golf in Schools" initiated by VGA at some international schools in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. THE VIETNAMESE GOLF MARKET: WHEN PASSION MEETS DOLLARS Golf isn't just a sport — it's an industry. And in Vietnam, the golf industry is developing at an astonishing rate. According to a report by market research company Statista, the Vietnamese golf market is estimated to reach 450 million USD by 2026, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 12% from 2026 to 2026. This figure reflects a reality: Golf has become an important part of Vietnam's sports economy. Golf courses aren't just places to play, but tourist destinations, event venues, and training centers. High-end hotel and resort chains like BRG, FLC, and Vinpearl have all integrated golf courses into their service systems, creating a "golf tourism" model that's becoming increasingly popular. But market development also brings challenges. The issue of golf course planning — once a hot topic in 2026 when the Prime Minister issued a directive temporarily suspending new golf course construction permits — has been gradually resolved with new regulations allowing tourism golf course construction. However, concerns about environmental impact remain, especially in coastal and delta areas. A notable trend is the participation of large investment funds and corporations in the golf sector. Vingroup has heavily invested in the Vinpearl golf course system, while FLC Group has built chains of golf courses at their resort complexes. This is a positive signal showing golf is being viewed as a profitable investment, not just in terms of branding but also financially. TOURNAMENTS AND COMPETITION SYSTEMS: FOUNDATIONS FOR TALENT One of the most important factors determining golf development in any country is the tournament system. Tournaments aren't just stages for golfers to perform, but environments for them to learn, compete, and grow. In Vietnam, the golf tournament system has been gradually improved in recent years. At the top is the Vietnam National Championship (Vietnam Open) — the oldest and most prestigious tournament, held continuously since 2026. This tournament has produced generations of outstanding golfers and serves as an important stepping stone before stepping onto the international arena. Alongside the Vietnam Open, there are numerous other tournaments creating a diverse competitive ecosystem: National Age-Group Championships (Junior Championship), National Amateur Championship, National Women's Championship, and dozens of tournaments organized by local golf associations. Particularly, the emergence of the LivePGA Championship — an internationally-infused tournament first held in 2026 — marked an important step in bringing Vietnamese golf closer to the world. However, there's still a large gap between domestic tournaments and international competitions. Vietnamese golfers lack opportunities to compete in major events like the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, or Asian major tournaments. Part of the reason is financial constraints — the cost of participating in international tournaments (airfare, hotels, registration fees) can reach hundreds of millions of VND per tournament — and part is the lack of professional support systems. In 2026, an important step was taken when the Vietnam Golf Association announced the "Support Vietnamese Golfers to Reach the World" program with a budget of 5 billion VND per year. This program includes sponsoring part of international competition costs, training support, and sending coaches with young talented golfers. This is a positive signal showing Vietnam is clearly recognizing the importance of bringing golfers to the international arena. FROM GOLF COURSES TO THE OLYMPICS: THE DREAM LIVES ON When Nguyen Anh Kiet made his historic mark at Rio 2026 Olympics, he didn't just set a personal record, but ignited a dream for an entire country. Since then, the Olympic dream has become the goal of many young Vietnamese golfers. At Tokyo 2026 Olympics (held in 2026), Vietnam had two representatives: Nguyen Anh Kiet (men) and Nguyen Thao My (women). Although results didn't meet expectations, having two Vietnamese athletes compete in Olympic golf was an achievement to be proud of. Particularly, Thao My — a young golfer born in 2026 — impressed the world with her strong play and fierce competitive spirit, even though she didn't make the top 50. Looking ahead to Paris 2026 Olympics, the Vietnamese golf team is in the preparation process hoping to have at least one athlete earn a spot. Leading candidates include Le Khanh Vinh, Do Thanh Quang, and female golfer Do Le Quynh Anh — the highest-rated young talent in the history of Vietnamese women's golf. But the Olympic dream isn't just about medals or achievements. It's about placing Vietnamese golf on the world map, creating inspiration for the younger generation, and proving that a developing country like Vietnam can compete at the highest level of a global sport. WHEN GOLF CULTURE IS CHANGING Something I've noticed on my trips to Vietnam is the change in golf culture. Previously, golf in Vietnam was often associated with images of businessmen in suits, smoking and drinking on the course, turning golf into a form of business networking rather than a sport. Today, that image is gradually fading. The young generation is redefining golf on their own terms. They play golf for health, for challenge, for the opportunity to connect with people who share the same passion. They use technology — from swing tracking apps to distance measuring devices — to improve their skills. They share moments on the course on social media, creating a vibrant online golf community. This change is also reflected in how Vietnamese view golf. Golf is no longer just a "sport for the rich" — it's being gradually accepted as an equal sport, where anyone with talent and passion can succeed. This change, though slow, is the foundation for sustainable development of Vietnamese golf. CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD Looking ahead, Vietnamese golf faces both challenges and opportunities. On the challenge side, at least three issues need to be addressed. First is infrastructure and cost. For golf to truly develop into a movement, there need to be more affordable public golf courses, driving ranges in cities, and budget golf equipment rental programs. Currently, these facilities are still very lacking. Second is media and. Compared to football or badminton, golf hasn't received proper attention from Vietnamese media. Domestic golf tournaments are rarely broadcast live, and golf news usually appears only on specialized sports channels, not on mainstream media. Third is professional training and competition systems. Vietnam doesn't have a purely professional golf tournament — current tournaments are mainly for amateurs. This means young talented golfers, after graduating from high school, must choose between going to university and pursuing a professional golf career abroad, or continuing to compete as amateurs domestically with few development opportunities. However, alongside challenges are enormous opportunities. Vietnam is in the "window of opportunity" phase of golf — a period when interest is rising, but the system isn't saturated, creating conditions for pioneers to build a solid foundation. A special opportunity comes from the golf tourism trend. Vietnam, with its favorable geographic location, diverse climate, and reasonable costs, has the potential to become a top golf tourism destination in Asia. Golf courses in Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc have begun attracting international tourists, and this trend is expected to grow strongly in coming years. SPORTS AS A COMMON LANGUAGE When I look at the journey of Vietnamese golf, I see a profound lesson about the power of sports as a common language. Golf, originating from 15th-century Scotland, has crossed every cultural, linguistic, and political boundary to become one of the world's most popular sports. In Vietnam, golf is doing the same — connecting people, overcoming social barriers, and creating a common space where talent and passion are the only measures. 23 years of following sports have taught me: No country becomes a sports powerhouse overnight. There are silent revolutions, small steps accumulated over many years, people quietly contributing without expecting anything in return — and then, one day, the world realizes a country has changed. Vietnamese golf is in the middle of that journey. With young talents rising, training systems gradually improving, social interest increasing, and the Olympic dream still strong — I believe the day when a Vietnamese golfer stands on the podium of an international major is no longer a fantasy. That's not a promise. It's a belief — built on the foundation of evidence, numbers, and specific stories. And in sports, belief is the strongest motivation. When Kings Island golf course again welcomes the first rays of a new day, I see young faces practicing with determined eyes. They don't know they're making history — each swing, each drop of sweat, each moment of falling and getting back up. And perhaps that's the most beautiful thing about sports: It doesn't just create champions, but creates people who dare to dream, dare to try, and dare not to give up. That's the true victory.