Staff WriterIf Ba Na Hills Golf Club were a person, it would be the sort who swaps hiking boots for a tuxedo without breaking stride. Central Vietnam’s crown jewel of golf is heading for the French Riviera, where it will represent Danang and the wider Vietnam Golf Coast at the International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) in Cannes next month.
But before the champagne and handshakes on the Côte d’Azur, there’s the small matter of a serious send-off at home. On Saturday, 13 September 2025, the IMG Trophy Tournament at Ba Na Hills Golf Club will gather more than 130 golfers from Vietnam and abroad.
Expect a lively cocktail of competition, cultural exchange, and community spirit—all played out against a backdrop that looks like it was painted by a golf-obsessed god with a flair for mountain scenery.
And make no mistake, this isn’t just another club flogging tee times abroad. Designed by Ryder Cup Team Europe captain Luke Donald, Ba Na Hills Golf Club has earned its reputation as one of Asia’s most talked-about layouts.
It’s the only course in Vietnam where you can play under lights worthy of a Champions League fixture, and its daring routing through the hills ensures that even the most seasoned pros raise an eyebrow.
“Taking Ba Na Hills Golf Club to IGTM is an incredible opportunity to tell our story to a global audience,” said Simon Mees, General Manager at Ba Na Hills Golf Club. “This is more than just about our course – though having Luke Donald’s only design certainly sets us apart.
It’s also about putting Central Vietnam on the map as one of the world’s most compelling golf and travel destinations.”
The IGTM, for the uninitiated, is the Davos of golf tourism—a three-day schmooze-fest with more than 40 pre-scheduled meetings with buyers and decision-makers.
For Ba Na Hills, it’s a chance to ink new partnerships, expand distribution, and elevate its brand in markets where “Vietnam” and “golf” don’t yet roll off the tongue together.
And yet, the bigger picture is what makes this story irresistible. Danang is no longer just a convenient layover on the way to somewhere else. It’s become a global tourism hotspot, boasting white-sand beaches that look airbrushed, a dining scene Michelin has already blessed, and hotels that redefine the word “resort.”
Names like the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort and Novotel Danang have joined a cast of luxury properties wooing travellers who want their golf spiced with sophistication.
“Da Nang is evolving into a destination that can confidently stand alongside the world’s best,” added Mees. “Golf is a key part of that narrative, but it’s complemented by stunning coastal landscapes, cultural heritage, and hospitality that continues to win global awards. We’re proud to represent both Ba Na Hills and the wider Vietnam Golf Coast in Cannes.”
When the dust settles in Cannes, the hope is that Ba Na Hills Golf Club will have done more than just turn heads.
The mission is to cement Central Vietnam as a place where championship courses, Michelin-starred dining, and world-class resorts combine to tempt the golf traveller with a taste for the extraordinary.
And if that means swapping the misty mountains for the French Riviera’s red carpets—well, that’s a trade any golfer would take in a heartbeat.
