Mong Cai International Golf Course

About

Located along the 3-kilometer stretch of Tra Co Beach in Mong Cai City, Vietnam, Mong Cai International Golf Course offers golfers expansive views of the Gulf of Tonkin. The course is set on 2 million square meters of meticulously grassed sand dunes, providing a coastal backdrop throughout the round. Designed in the traditional Scottish links style, the 18-hole, par-72 course spans 7,204 yards. Golfers face deep bunkers with vertical sand walls, dense rough, and constantly shifting sea breezes, demanding precise shot-making and strategic play. The course includes separate areas for practice and tournament play. A driving range is available for warm-up sessions. The ever-changing wind conditions add an extra layer of challenge, requiring adaptability throughout the round.

Course details

• Links
• 18 Holes
• Par 72
• 7,204 yards
• Designed by Pacific Coast Design
• Established in 2008
• Paspalum

Amenities

• Driving Range
• Restaurant
• Club House
• Locker Rooms
• Caddies
• Golf Carts
• Club Rental
• Shoes Rental
• Practice Facilities
• Practice Green
• Spa
• Accommodation
• Golf Shop
• Lessons

Course guide

Front

Back

Hole 1

Moderately elevated two-tier green with a wide landing area off the tee on a fairly straight hole. Two bunkers guard the left side of the driving zone and there is a depression with water collection in front of the green that can catch balls landing short on the lower tier.

For stronger players, carry the left fairway bunkers with the tee shot, then favor the back tier of the green to avoid the low collecting area in front.

Hole 2

Long hole with significant elevation change from tee to landing area and on to the green. A well-struck tee shot to the left side risks running into a bunker around 270 m, while anything too long can reach sand closer to 320 m. The approach plays into a green surrounded by deep hollows and hazards front, back, and right.

Lay the tee shot back short of the distant bunkers to leave a manageable second and avoid the deep hollows around the green.

Hole 3

Risk–reward hole with water left and a deep hollow or depression right of the main driving zone. The ideal tee shot is to a flatter, wider area just short and left of fairway bunkers, while approaches that go long or miss left can find water or sand near a pumping pond.

Favor the safer, flatter left fairway area off the tee and control distance carefully on the second shot to avoid running through into the water features.

Hole 4

Dogleg left hole bending around a lake, with multiple bunkers placed on both sides of the landing area. The fairway is generally broad and relatively flat, but a collection area near a water pit can gather slightly offline shots. The green slopes from back to front with a flatter middle section.

Take on as much of the dogleg as you are comfortable with, but favor the wide, flat part of the fairway to set up an easier uphill approach into the sloping green.

Hole 5

Short "fortress" style par with an elevated green requiring a direct carry over water from the tee. Numerous bunkers tightly surround the putting surface near the sea, and the green itself is higher in front and lower behind.

Commit to the carry over water, choose enough club to clear the front bunkers, and err slightly long rather than flirting with the hazard.

Hole 6

Very long hole with a wide landing zone and water near the first layup area. A long drive can run up near a bunker around 320 m and into a hidden depression by a water pump where the green is not visible. The ideal second-shot landing is near the second transition area left of a bunker, which is relatively flat but bordered by water.

Treat this as a three-shot hole: place the drive in the wide part of the fairway, then lay up left of the fairway bunker to a flat spot where you can see and control your approach into the green.

Hole 7

Dogleg right with a significantly elevated tee and water features near the corner. The preferred tee shot is short of fairway bunkers and a water pit around 352 m; playing closer to the right-side bunker around 300 m can shorten the approach but increases risk.

From the high tee, resist overhitting the drive—lay up short of the corner bunkers to keep the green in sight and reduce the difficulty of the approach.

Hole 8

Short hole to a two-tier green with a modest elevation change from tee to putting surface. Flat areas are limited, so pin position strongly affects difficulty and the ideal landing zone.

Choose your landing spot based on the day’s pin tier, aiming to finish on the same level as the hole.

Hole 9

Challenging hole with a lake tight to the left of a narrow-looking driving area. The best tee shot is just in front of the main transition and slightly left between bunkers around 300 m, but anything pulled too far can find repeated water pits, while a push right catches a fairway bunker around 230 m. An overly long drive can also reach blind water beyond 300 m, making the approach into a contoured green more difficult.

Favor a shorter, controlled tee shot into the narrow neck of fairway to avoid both the left water and right bunkers, then play conservatively to the higher, flatter portions of the green.

Hole 10

Right dogleg running alongside a lake on the right. The landing area is wide and forgiving up to about 290 m, but anything beyond that can run into wet ground or a hollow behind a bunker at 310 m. The green is easier to hit from the left side, though it has significant slopes at the front, middle, and back-right.

Choose a conservative tee shot that stays under 290 m and up the left half of the fairway to open the angle and reduce the green’s slope effect.

Hole 11

Relatively flat hole with the best driving zone between about 260 m and a fairway bunker at 360 m. The second shot must carry a front bunker; coming up short will find sand. The green’s safest area is slightly back of center, while front areas are flanked by two deep water pits forming a collecting hollow, and further water and slopes lurk beyond left and right.

Place your tee shot between 260 m and 300+ m short of the distant bunker, then take enough club to comfortably carry the front bunker while aiming for the central back portion of the green.

Hole 12

Hole plays with water left of the fairway and bunkers flanking the main driving zone. The first-shot landing area is broad and level, and players who can fly the bunker around 278 m are rewarded with excellent position. The safest place on the green is front-right, away from a guarding bunker directly in front.

Challenge the fairway bunker from the tee if you have the distance; on the approach, favor the front-right of the green to avoid the protecting sand.

Hole 13

Straight hole playing directly over water from the tee to a slightly lower green. The preferred miss is to the back-right of the green, but short or right shots can find a bunker around 190 m, and balls with too little carry can hit the downward slope in front and roll back into the water or into a nearer bunker.

Commit to a solid carry over water, taking enough club to reach the safer back-right section of the green while avoiding the front-right bunker.

Hole 14

Long hole turning slightly left near water, with the ideal drive around 260–270 m to set up the next shot. Beyond the first landing area there are two elevated water collection basins that create severe elevation changes between fairway and green, making approaches more demanding. Deep hollows and water fronting the green add further challenge, while the flattest and safest putting area is in the central back portion.

Position your drive around 260–270 m, then play your next shot with extra club to account for the elevation up to the green and avoid the deep hollows and water in front.

Hole 15

Hole with water running close along the left side and notable elevation difference up to the green. The best place on the putting surface is the middle-back area, while the steep front slopes make it difficult to hold shots. Approaches missing left can find two bunkers near the right side of the green complex due to the angle of play.

Aim for the central-back portion of the green and avoid flirting with the left side, where a slight miss can be deflected into the bunkers.

Hole 16

Demanding hole with water hugging the left side and usually playing downwind. The best tee-shot landing is around the first transition area, but drives between about 270 and 290 m risk rolling into water pits before the next landing zone. Approaches into the green must contend with a steep front slope and a deep water hollow behind; a layup second must also avoid a 3 m-deep hollow between a fairway bunker and a depression marked around 550 m.

Split the hole into three shots, laying back from the water beyond 270–290 m and playing your approach with precise distance control to stay short of the back water hollow.

Hole 17

Hole bordered by water on both sides of the fairway. The ideal tee shot finishes between two fairway bunkers at roughly 280 m, leaving an approach to a green that is low at the front and back with a relatively level central area where balls will stop more easily.

Thread the drive between the fairway bunkers to stay clear of the water and leave a straightforward shot into the flatter middle of the green.

Hole 18

Finishing hole with water tight on the right and multiple bunkers narrowing the landing zone between about 230–255 m and again around 300–360 m. These hazards force the tee shot to be played toward the left side. The green is low in front and higher at the back with a strong back-to-front slope, and additional bunkers and a water hollow flank both sides and the front-left.

Favor the left half of the fairway off the tee to stay away from the right water and clusters of bunkers, then play your approach to the safer front portion of the green while avoiding the side hazards.