Worlds Apart

What can make a better vacation than the perfect combination of sun, sea and sand? Sand was what Marilyn Lum enjoyed the most on a golfing getaway in central Vietnam.

- YANNI TAN

Together, balmy weather, endless shorelines, swathes of pristine greenery, and empty floodplains with commanding mountains in the backdrop make the most unbeatable ingredients for a golf resort. And Vietnam, with its rapid growth in prosperity and modernity, has been building world-class courses at a break-neck pace. Today, it stands head and shoulders above all its Southeast Asian neighbours for being the go-to spot for luxury golf experiences in the region.

Vietnam's breathtaking central coast, in particular, is the epicentre of the country's burgeoning golf hospitality scene. It is here, at the new Hoiana Resort & Golf, where Marilyn Lum and her husband Shaun Tay found respite from frantic city living and indulged in a four-day escapade, with their two kids in tow. The agenda: the spectacular 18-hole course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr, and some much-needed family bonding.

In this travel diary, Marilyn shares with us the surreal, faraway beauty of the destination, and highlights her most unforgettable experiences.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

"Upon arrival at Da Nang International Airport, we were immediately received by the Hoiana team after disembarkation. From going through immigration to boarding our car transfer, the chaperoned experience was seamless. We were promptly on our way to the property in no time - just 30 minutes.

Helmed as Vietnam's first and finest integrated resort, Hoiana certainly lived up to that reputation. I was certainly impressed with the level of service and attention to detail demonstrated as we arrived at the stunning beachfront resort.