LINKS November/December 2007
© Dale Leatherman 2007
Photos © Donnelle Oxley
Vietnam is a country on the rise, with a booming economy and a peace-loving attitude that ranks it among the six safest travel destinations in the world. International visitation rose 17 percent last year and continues to climb. Just over the border in Cambodia, a million people visited the ancient temple complexes surrounding Angkor Wat last year. That number is expected to triple by 2010. Americans, in particular, are seeing southeast Asia in a new light. It’s a region rich in culture, history, food and activities, including good golf.
The “American War” is forgotten by most of the population (the median age in Vietnam is 25), the welcome mat is out, and tee times are up for grabs. Vietnam has a dozen good tracks and 30 more in the making. Cambodia’s complement of four courses—one of them a real stunner--is expected to triple. And both countries have the upscale resorts, hotels and restaurants Americans expect.
Vietnam has the sea all along its eastern flank and fertile deltas sprawling across much of its interior. It’s primarily a tropical destination, but the topography and climate are surprisingly diverse. Running along the western border with Cambodia, China and Laos is a mile-high mountain range where temperatures seldom reach 80 degrees and a jacket is needed for early morning rounds.
We began our first round of golf still feeling the effects of a new time zone (the time difference between Chicago and Saigon is 12 hours) and a climate change (six degrees in Chicago, 106 degrees in Saigon), as well as a bit of culture shock. . . .
Contact me to read the rest of the article or discuss second rights or a rewrite. daleatherman@cs.com