Our latest round at Ba Na Hills started with a bit of drama. The moment we arrived, it was absolutely bucketing down and just as we stepped out of the car the storm siren blasted through the air. It was so loud that all three of us froze for a moment, completely caught off guard. With the weather rolling in, our tee time was pushed back, so we did what any sensible golfers would do and headed straight to the clubhouse for a few beers.
The delay turned out to be a blessing because we ended up chatting with a few other golfers who were also waiting out the storm. There is something about sharing a drink in a warm clubhouse while rain hammers the windows that makes everyone a little more talkative. It set a relaxed tone for the day, even though the course had other plans for us.
Once the storm cleared, it was finally time to play. As always in Vietnam, we had excellent caddies. They are mandatory at Ba Na Hills, but honestly, we would choose them anyway. The caddies were incredibly helpful, offering tips, reading greens and keeping spirits high throughout the round. One of them deserves a special shoutout because she somehow kept the entire scorecard in her head. Not a single note written down, yet she remembered every stroke. It genuinely felt like she had a photographic memory.
The greens were undulating and fast, surprisingly fast considering how much rain had just come down. It was as if the wet ground made no difference at all. The course played tough that day. We went from hot and humid weather to cold and raining, which we kept playing through since there was no lightning, and then back to hot and humid again. The pins were tucked into difficult spots for most of the round, which added another layer of challenge.
It turned into a long and demanding day, but our daughter pushed through and finished all 18 holes. That alone felt like a win.
One thing that stood out more than anything was just how picturesque Ba Na Hills is. We have played a few courses in Vietnam now, but this one sits in a league of its own. The fairways carve through lush mountain foothills, and every tee box seems to open up to another postcard view. Even with the shifting weather, or maybe because of it, the landscape felt alive. Mist drifted across the treetops, sunlight broke through in patches and the mountains in the distance looked like they were painted into the horizon. It is easily the most picturesque course we have played so far.
Scroll through the photos below from our day at Ba Na Hills
The course itself is full of character. Designed by former world number one Luke Donald, Ba Na Hills has won multiple awards including being named Asia’s Best Golf Course several times. The layout winds through the Truong Son Mountain range, which explains the dramatic elevation changes and the constant feeling that the terrain is shaping the round as much as your swing. Several holes play along natural ridges, others drop into valleys and a few stretch out with wide views that make you pause before hitting your shot. Even the bunkering feels intentional, placed to frame the fairways rather than just punish you. It is a course that challenges you, but also rewards you with scenery that makes you forget the scorecard for a moment.
Despite the wild weather, the sirens, the delays and the tricky conditions, the day was memorable in all the best ways. Ba Na Hills has a way of turning even a chaotic round into a story worth telling, and this one will definitely be added to our Fairway Footprints collection.
Ba Na Hills Golf Club sits about 30 minutes from Da Nang and around an hour from Hoi An. We were staying in Hoi An at the time, and getting a Grab to the course was quick and straightforward, which made the whole trip really easy. If you’re planning a visit, you can check accommodation options on Expedia here
If you’re planning a round at Ba Na Hills, you can now book it below.
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