Chi Linh Star Golf and Country Club sits about 80 km northeast of Hanoi in the low hills of Chi Linh, a district that was historically part of Hai Duong province before being folded into greater Hai Phong through administrative redistricting. The course itself hasn't changed — it's still the same 27-hole layout carved into forested valleys that opened in 2003, designed by a Japanese firm with the kind of dramatic elevation shifts you rarely find on Vietnamese golf courses.
Whether you play golf or not, the Chi Linh area has enough going on to justify a day trip or overnight from Hanoi (하노이 / 河内 / ハノイ) or Hai Phong proper. This guide covers the practical details.
What It Is and Why People Go
Chi Linh Star Golf is a 27-hole championship course spread across three nines — Lakes, Mountains, and Valley — built on rolling terrain at the edge of the Dong Trieu range. The landscape here is different from the pancake-flat delta courses closer to Hanoi. Fairways drop 30-40 meters between tee and green, and the rough is actual forest, not manicured buffer zones.
Golfers come for the course design and relative quiet. Chi Linh never gets the weekend crush you see at courses in Hanoi's immediate orbit like Long Bien or BRG Kings Island. Green fees are lower too — expect around 1,500,000-2,200,000 VND on weekdays, 2,500,000-3,200,000 VND on weekends, caddie fee included.
Non-golfers come because the Chi Linh hills are genuinely pleasant — cooler than the delta floor, dotted with temples, and close enough to several historical sites to fill a day without the course ever being involved.
Best Time to Visit
October through December is ideal. The heat breaks in late September, humidity drops, and you get those clear northern skies that make the hill views actually worth looking at. Daytime temperatures sit around 22-28°C.
March through May works too, though April can bring haze that softens the scenery into a gray wash. Avoid June through August unless you enjoy sweating through a polo shirt by the third hole — the hills trap heat and afternoon thunderstorms roll in fast.
January and February are cool (15-20°C) but often overcast and drizzly, which makes the steep cart paths slippery and the valleys look washed out.
How to Get There
From Hanoi
The most common starting point. Take Highway 18 northeast toward Ha Long Bay — Chi Linh is about 80 km out, roughly 1.5 hours by car without heavy traffic. A private Grab car costs around 600,000-800,000 VND one way. If you're on a budget, catch a bus from Gia Lam station heading toward Hai Duong or Chi Linh town (around 80,000-100,000 VND), then grab a local taxi for the last 10 km to the course.
From Hai Phong
Drive west on Highway 10, then cut north — it's about 70 km, taking around 1.5 hours depending on truck traffic through the industrial zones. A Grab from central Hai Phong runs about 500,000-700,000 VND.
From Ha Long Bay
If you're coming from Ha Long Bay (하롱베이 / 下龙湾 / ハロン湾), Chi Linh is roughly 90 km southwest on Highway 18. About 1.5-2 hours by car, 700,000-900,000 VND by Grab.
Photo by HONG SON on Pexels
What to Do
Play the Course
Obvious, but worth noting: book a tee time at least two days ahead, especially on weekends. The Mountains nine is the most dramatic layout — hole 5 drops nearly 40 meters from tee to green. If you only have time for 18, pair Mountains with Valley. Club rental is available (around 500,000 VND for a decent set).
Visit Con Son - Kiep Bac Temple Complex
About 8 km from the golf course, this temple complex honors Tran Hung Dao, the 13th-century general who repelled the Mongol invasions. The site spans two hills connected by a walking path through pine forest. It's an active pilgrimage destination, especially during the festival in the eighth lunar month (usually September), but worth visiting any time of year for the architecture and the views from the upper pagodas. Entry is free.
Hike Around Nui Con Son
The hills behind the temple complex have informal hiking trails through pine and eucalyptus forest. Nothing marked or maintained — bring proper shoes and water. A two-hour loop takes you to a ridgeline with views north toward the Dong Trieu mountains. Early morning is best before the heat sets in.
Explore Chi Linh Town
The town itself is small and unremarkable, but the central market is worth a wander in the morning for local produce — lychees in June, longan in August, and year-round "banh cuon" stalls rolling fresh rice sheets with pork and mushroom filling. It's the kind of market where nobody speaks English and that's fine.
Day Trip to Dong Trieu Ceramics Village
About 25 km northeast of Chi Linh, Dong Trieu has been producing ceramics for centuries. Workshops line the main road and most welcome visitors — you can watch the entire process from clay to kiln. Prices are factory-direct, so expect to pay 30-50% less than Hanoi retail for similar pieces. It's a similar vibe to Bat Trang village near Hanoi but with far fewer tourists.
Where to Eat Nearby
Chi Linh isn't a food destination, but two things are worth seeking out:
"Banh cuon (반꾸온 / 蒸米卷 / バインクオン)" in Chi Linh town market — thinner and slightly chewier than the Hanoi version, served with a fish sauce that leans sweeter. A full plate with sides runs about 30,000-40,000 VND.
Goat meat in Nhat Tao village, about 6 km south of the golf course. Northern Vietnam does goat well — grilled, steamed, or in hot pot — and the restaurants here source from local farms. A full goat hot pot for two costs around 300,000-400,000 VND. Look for the cluster of restaurants along the village road; whichever one has the most motorbikes parked outside is usually the right call.
The clubhouse restaurant at Chi Linh Star itself serves decent Vietnamese and pan-Asian dishes, though priced at golf-resort levels (mains 150,000-300,000 VND).
Where to Stay
The on-site Chi Linh Star resort has rooms from around 1,200,000-2,500,000 VND per night — clean, functional, nothing exciting. It's convenient if you're playing early morning rounds.
In Chi Linh town, budget hotels and guesthouses run 300,000-600,000 VND. They're basic but adequate. Don't expect English-speaking staff.
Alternatively, many golfers base themselves in Hanoi and do Chi Linh as a day trip, which is perfectly doable if you leave by 6:30 AM.
Photo by Du Tử Mộng on Pexels
Practical Tips
- Bring cash. ATMs exist in Chi Linh town but are unreliable. The golf course accepts cards; most restaurants and temples do not.
- Sunscreen and hat are non-negotiable from March through October. The course has minimal shade on several holes.
- Vietnamese coffee at the clubhouse is actually solid — order a "ca phe sua da (연유커피 / 越南冰咖啡 / ベトナムアイスコーヒー)" at the turn between nines. It's one of the better mid-round fuel stops in northern Vietnam.
- If visiting Con Son temple during festival season, arrive before 7 AM. By midday the paths are packed and parking becomes chaotic.
Common Mistakes
- Trying to combine Chi Linh with Ha Long Bay in one day. It's technically possible but miserable — you'll spend five hours in a car and rush both destinations. Pick one or stay overnight.
- Skipping the caddie. Caddies here know the elevation tricks on every green. The fee is included in your green fee anyway, so use the knowledge.
- Wearing flip-flops to Con Son temple. The stone stairs between the lower and upper sections are steep and can be slick after rain. Proper shoes save your ankles.
Practical Notes
Chi Linh works best as a focused day trip from Hanoi or a stopover between Hanoi and Ha Long Bay. It's not a place you need three days for, but the combination of a well-designed golf course, genuine historical sites, and hill-country scenery that's actually different from the delta makes it worth the detour.
Last updated · May 19, 2026 · independently researched, never sponsored.
