Tan Son Nhat Golf Course

Each 9-hole loop was built and designed by Nelson & Haworth and they have done a huge amount of landscaping and earth moving to transform the flat and boring land into some of the best golf holes in Vietnam.

It is a testament to modern-day course construction, which has taken advantage of Paspalum turf to ensure year-round play on superb surfaces.

Course A works its way around the hotel and tourist apartments and the enormous lake that forms a moat around the aforementioned apartments, which is nice as it creates separation between the course and the buildings.

The first runs alongside the driving range, and is a tough opening hole. At 449 yards from the back tees, the landing area is protected by two bunkers down the left, so favouring the right is key. The green is heavily guarded by bunkers.

It doesn´t get any easier as the second is another tough, long par 4 requiring an accurate drive and a good second to find the green.

The best par 3 on the A Course is the 8^th at 201-yards from the backs, the tee shot is played over water, which sweeps around the back of the green from the left, and a front bunker. The right to left sloping green is tricky, so making par is a challenge.

Featuring far less water hazards, the B Course is probably one of the easier loops of 9.

The pick of the holes on the B Course include the Par 3, 4^th hole. It is short, even from the backs it measures only 163-yards. But it is the requirement to clear the pond that sits on the green edge, front and left.

And the 9^th, a mid-length par five that requires good course management to ensure a big score isn´t recorded. The tee shot is straightforward, if the fairway bunkers are avoided, which for long hitters offers a chance to get home in two, but anything not purely struck will find trouble in the form of water or sand.

It is sensible to play to leave a perfect wedge into the green which is heavily contoured in comparison to the holes that precede it.

Again, water comes into play on many holes of the C Course.

The second, a par 5 played from an elevated tee is a chance to get home in two. Take the “Tiger line” over the right-hand bunkers and you will be left with a makeable second. The green is heavily protected by bunkers, so if you are on your limit, then a well-executed lay-up shot is preferred.

At 214-yards from the backs the 8^th is a tough par 3, requiring a long carry over the water which runs from the tees to the green front.

Course D begins with a seriously tough, long par 4 measuring almost 500 yards. The tee shot must avoid the fairway bunkers to the left to allow for a straightforward long iron approach to the green which slopes to the centre of the green.

The finishing hole is great. A chance to smash it down the middle. A good drive will set up a mid to long-iron approach to the green, protected to the left and rear by water and bunkers right.

Tan Son Nhat is a great resort style course and the perfect location to enjoy a Vietnamese golfing holiday.