A golf holiday in Vietnam can involve several destinations, domestic flights and a golf bag travelling alongside your suitcase. Getting the practical arrangements right early helps the whole journey run more smoothly.
Flights, passports, visas and travel insurance deserve attention before departure approaches. Other tasks, such as submitting digital pre-arrival information, belong on your final-days checklist.
This guide explains what to organise and when, so you can arrive ready to enjoy Vietnam’s courses and the experiences beyond them.
What to Organise Early and What Can Wait?
Use this checklist to put your preparations in order.
These are suggested planning timings. Check the current visa instructions and arrival procedures for your passport and itinerary.
Plan Your Flights Around Your Golf Itinerary
Start by confirming where your holiday begins and ends. If your itinerary includes Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, compare arriving in one city and departing from another rather than returning to your starting point.
Check the airport names and codes carefully, along with the transfer arrangements to your host hotel.
When comparing flights, consider:
- Total journey time and the number of connections.
- Whether all flights are on one ticket or separate bookings.
- Checked baggage and golf equipment allowances.
- Whether you need to collect and recheck luggage.
- Terminal changes and time for immigration.
- Transit visa requirements for any connecting countries.
A short connection can become difficult when you need to clear immigration, collect your clubs and check in for another flight. Ask your airline how the connection works before booking.
With separate tickets, do not assume your luggage will be checked through or that your next flight will be protected if the first is delayed.
Where possible, arrive the day before your first round. This provides time to settle in and a buffer if flights or golf bags arrive late.
Check Your Passport Early
Check your passport before booking flights or applying for a visa. It should have at least six months’ validity beyond your arrival date in Vietnam, sufficient blank pages and no damage that could cause problems at check-in or immigration.
If you need to renew it, organise this before submitting a visa application so your visa uses the passport details you will travel with.
Use your full name exactly as it appears in your passport when making bookings. Check the requirements for any transit countries as well.
For domestic flights within Vietnam, carry the same passport you used to enter the country. Keep it accessible for airport and hotel check-in rather than placing it in checked baggage.
Arrange Your Vietnam Visa Before Travelling
Visa requirements depend on your nationality and circumstances. Australian passport holders generally need a visa arranged before departure unless they hold a valid exemption. Do not assume you can obtain a tourist visa when you land.
Vietnam offers e-Visas for eligible travellers, with single-entry and multiple-entry options for stays of up to 90 days. Your actual permitted dates depend on the visa granted. Apply through the official Vietnam e-Visa website.
Before applying, confirm:
- The passport you will use.
- Your intended arrival and departure dates.
- Your entry and exit points.
- Your accommodation details.
- Whether you will leave Vietnam and return during the trip.
That last point matters if you are combining Vietnam with Cambodia or another destination. A single-entry visa will not cover a second entry after you have left.
Research the requirements early and allow several weeks for the application process where possible. This is a planning buffer, not an official processing guarantee. Applications can take longer around holidays or when corrections are needed.
When your visa is approved, check your name, passport number, dates and entry conditions carefully. Print a copy and keep an offline digital version.
Complete Pre-Arrival Information Closer to Departure
Vietnam has introduced a digital Pre-Arrival Information system, separate from the e-Visa application. Declarations can be submitted through the official pre-arrival website within three days before entry, with a QR code generated after submission. This form does not replace your visa.
Current official travel advisories differ on how broadly the form is required. Smartraveller encourages its use at airports including Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Phu Quoc, while US guidance describes it as required for foreign-passport air arrivals. Confirm the latest instructions with your airline and the official portal for your arrival airport.
Put this task on your final 72-hour checklist. Have your passport, visa, arriving flight and first accommodation details ready, then save the confirmation so it is available without an internet connection.
Arrange Travel Insurance as You Book
Consider travel insurance when you begin paying for flights, accommodation and golf arrangements. Check when cancellation cover starts and which circumstances are covered.
For a golf holiday, look closely at equipment cover rather than assuming your standard baggage allowance under the policy will cover the value of your clubs.
Ask your insurer:
- Does the policy cover recreational golf and any competitions you plan to enter?
- What limits apply to individual clubs or a complete golf set?
- Is equipment covered while checked with an airline?
- Are rental clubs covered if your golf bag is delayed?
- What cover applies to medical treatment and emergency evacuation?
- How are existing medical conditions assessed?
- What conditions apply to missed connections and weather disruption?
Golf Journeys has partnered with Cover-More to help with your travel insurance needs. Review the policy’s benefits, limits and exclusions to decide whether it suits your circumstances.
Once insured, keep your policy number and emergency assistance details handy, including an offline copy.
If you take regular medication, organise enough for your trip while checking Vietnam’s restrictions on the medicine and quantity you can bring. Arrange supporting documentation, such as a prescription or doctor’s letter, where needed.
Check Golf Baggage on Every Flight
Golf baggage conditions can differ between airlines, fares and routes. An allowance on your international flight may not apply to a domestic flight booked separately.
Before purchasing tickets, confirm:
- Whether golf equipment is included or charged separately.
- The maximum weight and dimensions.
- Whether your suitcase and golf bag count as separate pieces.
- Whether equipment needs to be registered in advance.
- Which rules apply when another airline operates the flight.
- Any restrictions on items packed inside the golf bag.
Advance notification can matter. Vietnam Airlines, for example, asks passengers to book its sports equipment service at least 24 hours before departure and provide the equipment’s dimensions. Confirm the current requirements for your specific booking.
Compare the total fare with golf baggage included. A lower ticket price may offer less value once additional charges are added.
Keep written confirmation of your equipment bookings and allowances.
Decide Whether to Bring or Hire Clubs
Bringing your own clubs gives you familiar equipment throughout the holiday. Hiring may simplify travel, particularly if golf forms only a small part of a longer trip.
If hiring, confirm availability, handedness, shaft options and charges before departure. For a holiday involving several courses, check the arrangements at each venue.
If bringing your own clubs, review the airline’s packaging requirements alongside your insurance conditions. Photograph your equipment and retain records of its value.
Keep your baggage receipts until you have collected your luggage and left the airport. If your golf bag is missing or damaged, report it to the airline before leaving and obtain a written report or reference number.
Contact your insurer before assuming replacement purchases or club hire will be reimbursed.
Make Your Final Travel Checks
Before leaving home, confirm that you have:
- A valid passport and the appropriate visa or exemption.
- A printed visa copy and offline travel documents.
- Any applicable pre-arrival confirmation.
- Confirmed flight times, airports and terminal details.
- Golf equipment bookings for all relevant flights.
- Airport transfers and your host hotel’s address.
- Your insurance policy and emergency assistance number.
Review the latest Vietnam travel advice and check for airline updates before departure.
Organising these details at the right time helps you begin your holiday with confidence. Once flights, documents, insurance and golf equipment arrangements are in place, you can focus on the courses and experiences ahead.
