[Interview] Lee Bong-hee, CEO of Twin Doves GC: "Vietnam Golf Courses Have Advantages in Security and Service"

"Strict on crimes against foreigners as a socialist country, service also improved"
"Cooler summer weather than Korea in July-August, summer golf trips also recommended"

Lee Bong-hee, CEO of Twin Doves Golf Club in Binh Duong Province, Vietnam.
[Photo by Choi Tae-won]

[Asia Economy Binh Duong (Vietnam) = Reporter Choi Taewon] Amid the surge in golf enthusiasts due to the COVID-19 pandemic, interest in overseas golf travel is growing as winter approaches. Among various overseas golf destinations, one of the most notable recently is Vietnam, where the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour has been held consistently since 2017.

Vietnam boasts affordable green fees and warm weather, attracting golf travelers as well as being a favored winter training ground for professional players. Even in midwinter, the lowest temperatures hover in the low 20s Celsius, and the time difference with Korea is only two hours.

Located in Binh Duong near Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam, Twin Doves Golf Club (par 72), which seems almost tailor-made for golf, has hosted the KLPGA Tour tournament five times from 2017 through this year. This year, from the 16th for three days, the final tournament of the year and the second event of the 2023 season, the ‘PLK Pacific Links Korea Championship with SBS Golf’ (total prize money of 700 million KRW), was successfully concluded.

We met Lee Bonghee, CEO of Twin Doves Golf Club (59), who has been working in Vietnam for 10 years, to hear about local conditions and golf travel tips that domestic golfers might be curious about regarding golf travel in Vietnam.

Leveraging his 10 years of residence in Vietnam, CEO Lee explained the advantages of golf travel in Vietnam that are not well known to Korean golfers. While mentioning the widely known benefits such as cheap green fees, mild weather, and cultural and culinary similarities to Korea, he emphasized two additional advantages: ‘safety’ and ‘rapidly improving services.’

He explained, “Being a socialist country, it might seem like a controlled society, which can be seen as a drawback, but it actually works as an advantage in terms of safety. Especially regarding crimes against foreigners, the authorities take a firm stance. Local police are confident that even if a foreigner is robbed or assaulted, they can catch the culprit within three days at most.”

The growth potential is also noteworthy. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a turning point, and Vietnam’s rapid economic growth is driving the advancement of golf culture.

CEO Lee said, “Like Korea, Vietnam experienced a golf boom during the pandemic as people sought non-face-to-face activities. As a result, golf course management and service levels are rapidly improving. With the fast economic growth, the affluent class is increasing, and business golf is thriving among government officials and local bankers. It’s reminiscent of Korea in the late 1980s.”

Concerns about quarantine guidelines and entry-exit procedures due to COVID-19 have also been dispelled. Vietnam, as a socialist country, was known for strict quarantine measures similar to China. Early in the pandemic, around late February 2020, Vietnam even closed its borders, showing a strong approach. However, since the Omicron variant became dominant last year, the situation has eased, and most services have normalized since April, eliminating inconveniences in using facilities. Currently, entry and exit procedures are simple without requiring PCR tests or other processes.

The local Korean community consensus is that the recent spread of ‘anti-Korean’ sentiment in Vietnam, mainly through internet communities, is just an unfounded concern. CEO Lee stated, “This is a farce caused by the limited channels through which Koreans can access news about Vietnam,” adding, “It is natural that no anti-Korean sentiment is felt, and there are no problems with travel.”

Finally, he shared a golf travel tip about Vietnam that is not well known in Korea: its appeal as a summer golf destination rather than just a winter one, which is when Korean golfers mainly visit.

CEO Lee said, “Most Korean golfers come to Vietnam for golf travel in winter. Therefore, when they see the winter temperatures, they often assume that the summer must be extremely hot. In fact, the temperature difference between summer and winter in southern Vietnam is less than 5 degrees Celsius. So, not only in winter but also in summer months like July and August, the playing conditions are more comfortable than in Korea.”

He added, “It is also misleading to say that Vietnam’s rainy season makes it unsuitable for travel. It rains much less than Korea’s monsoon season, and when it does rain, it usually lasts only about 15 to 30 minutes.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.