Quang Ninh plans to build 16 new courses, become golf tourism hub

Quang Ninh province will build 16 new courses to become a golf tourism hub in northern Vietnam, attracting both domestic and foreign enthusiasts of the game.

The new golf courses are included in the recently approved 2021-2030 provincial master plan with vision until 2050.

The province has three golf courses in operation now: the FLC and Tuan Chau golf courses in Ha Long town; and Mong Cai International Golf Course in Mong Cai town. Two others are under construction – the Dong Trieu golf course in Dong Trieu township and Ao Tien golf course in the Van Don Economic Zone (EZ). Yet another is at the investor selection stage.

Under the master plan, Quang Ninh will invest in 16 new golf courses including An Bien in Ha Long, Quang Hanh on Ha Loan island in Cam Pha town and others in the Cai Bau hill area, Ngoc Vung island and Quan Lan island.

The towns of Uong Bi and Mong Cai will have two more golf courses each, while one each will be laid in the districts of Tien Yen, Hai Ha, Dam Ha and Binh Lieu.

It is expected that from now until 2025, Quang Ninh will start construction of five more golf courses.

According to provincial leaders, local golf course projects making the most of topographical features while preserving the surrounding natural landscape in line with international standards are offering attractive tourism and sports products.

The projects have attracted many large capable and experienced investors, boosting tourism and increasing budget revenues while creating more jobs for locals.

Nguyen Manh Tuan, director of the provincial Department of Construction, said that starting this year, open-pit coal mines in Ha Long will become land funds for urban development.

Most open-pit coal mines in Ha Long and Cam Pha are located on high hill areas with beautiful views of Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay. Therefore, after their exploitation licenses expire, they will be used to build parks, eco-tourism areas, urban areas and golf courses, he said.

Quang Ninh is a leading coastal economic hub in northern Vietnam. In the first half of this year, gross regional domestic product (GRDP) of 9.46% placed it fourth in the country.

The province welcomed 8.86 million tourist arrivals in the six-month period, earning revenues of more than VND16.7 trillion ($595.7 million), local official data shows.

This year, Quang Ninh looks to serve 14 million tourists including two million foreigners for tourism revenues of VND27 trillion ($1.12 billion).