Despite government efforts to limit the number of golf courses across Vietnam, local governments continue to seek the approval of the prime minister for such endeavor. In early 2011, northern Bac Ninh province wooed the prime minister to approve a 36-hole Hap Linh golf course as part of Vietnam’s 2020 Golf Course Development Planning. In Quang Ngai Province of central Vietnam, a 1/500 scale Van Tuong Golf Course plan was given the go signal. Governments in the said regions both claimed that the development of golf courses in their areas does not destroy or even affect rice planting and the environment as a whole. In fact, based on an official data by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), several other local governments in Vietnam – Thanh Hoa, Thai Nguyen, Thai Binh, Dak Lak, and Quang Ninh – claim the same position.

If all golf course proposals in the said provinces were approved, Vietnam would have a total of 124 golf courses instead of the required current number of only 90. This gained a lot of strong, negative public opinions though about the possible effects on rice growing and the environment as a whole. Because of this, MPI conducted a thorough study on the matter to ensure the latter is not affected negatively despite the massive development of golf courses all around the country.

Study results showed that 76 golf course projects failed to meet the requirements and as such were declined. 27 other golf course projects were found out to be excluded from the golf course development planning module and also didn’t comply with the required proper land usage. Five of these started construction and were even given licenses.

MPI sees three scenarios with the golf course development in Vietnam and submitted these proposals to the prime minister. In the first scenario, MPI suggests maintaining the required 90 golf courses around Vietnam, at least until 2020. 5 of these will be delayed due to implementation bureaucracy and changes in land use objectives. 5 others will be added and given licenses.

In the second scenario, MPI suggests adding more golf courses as long as they meet Vietnam’s golf course planning requirements. In line with this, the country will have a total of 96 golf courses by 2020. In the third scenario, Vietnam will have 118 golf courses, including the existing 85 and 33 additional golf courses excluded from the development plan. The assumption in this third scenario is that all golf courses qualify for the requirements and are possible sites for tourism development.

MPI Minister Vo Hong Phuc assures a strict regulation will be imposed to keep these golf courses “under control,” not harming the environment and in fact bringing more social benefits and tourism development to Vietnam.