Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung approved Vietnam’s golf course construction plan to 2020, which scheduled 89 golf courses for the country by 2020.

Of this number, 19 golf courses are operating already. Twenty-nine others will locate in the northern part of the central region and the coastal area of the southern part of the central region, 21 in the southeastern region, 16 in the Red River delta, 11 in the northern midland, 8 in the Central Highlands and 4 in the Mekong Delta.

According to planning, the maximum area for an 18-hole golf course is 100 hectares. Each project can use up to 5 hectares of a one-crop rice field but not, a more fertile, two-rice crop field.

Land earmarked for industrial zones, urban areas and forest land is also banned.

The sites set for golf courses are mainly in midland and mountainous areas and the coastal in the central region.

The PM’s decision bans the use of land for golf courses to build villas or houses for sale.

The decision also set standards for investors in golf courses in term of financial ability, use of labor and technical solutions.

In addition, time needed for building a golf course must be less than four years, after the investors win licenses. Golf projects not started 12 months after investors receive the license will be revoked.

Golf projects must also include environmental reports.

VietNamNet/government’s website