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Two months after four of Central Vietnam‘s top properties partnered to form the Vietnam Golf Coast, the country’s flagship carrier is opening up the destination via Hong Kong.
Starting Nov. 26, Vietnam Airlines (VNA) flies Tuesdays and Fridays between Southeast Asia’s busiest airport and Danang, fast becoming a tourist hot spot for its singular combination of unspoiled beaches, world-class resorts and brand-name golf courses.
“The time is right,” said Jimmy Wong, general manager of VietLink, the route’s general service agent. “Danang itself is ready. And when the new international terminal is finished in January, I’ll bet other airlines follow suit.”
Danang’s appeal skyrocketed earlier this year, when both the Greg Norman-designed Danang Golf Club and Colin Montgomerie-crafted Montgomerie Links officially opened side by side along breathtaking Ha My Beach.
Soon thereafter, discussions began between the golf clubs, two of the area’s most upscale resorts — The Nam Hai and Life Resort Danang — and Asia’s leading golf tour operator, Golfasian, about teaming to promote the fledgling Central Coast.
In mid August, the idea became reality with the launch of the Vietnam Golf Coast, a consortium that coordinates for tourists the destination’s finest assets, all in one place.
“The beauty of Central Vietnam is that it’s got something for everyone,” said Howie Roberts, Danang Golf Club’s general manager. “Yes, beaches and golf and great hotels. But you’re also within two hours of three UNESCO World Heritage sites. And that includes Hoi An, which is just 20 minutes away and a haven for foodies, shopaholics and history buffs.”
For all of their culinary and cultural attributes, Hoi An and Danang owe the aerial attention to the publicity being heaped on Vietnam Golf Coast’s founding members.
Asian Golf Monthly readers recently voted Montgomerie Links “Best Course in Vietnam”. Golf Digest Singapore and Hong Kong Golfer have already compared the Dunes Course at Danang GC to the UK’s great links layouts.
Travel + Leisure tabbed The Nam Hai “Best Resort in the World” in its 2008 Design Competition. And the seven-month-old Life Resort Danang is the latest in a five-star line of Life Resorts properties continually hailed by leading travel publications.
“The next, most critical step for this destination is the establishment of a direct, international link,” said Dermot Murphy, Life Resort Danang’s general manager. “The accommodation capacity is here; the golf is here; the natural and cultural assets are here. Now all we need are the red carpets rolled out from Hong Kong and Singapore.”
VNA’s flight from Hong Kong leaves at 7:20 p.m. and arrives in Danang at 8 p.m. The return departs Danang at 3:30 p.m. and lands in Hong Kong at 6:15 p.m. Commute time is approximately one hour and 40 minutes. Return airfares start at US$318, including taxes.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales. She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
