How climate change is reshaping golf travel in Southeast Asia

The golf industry across Southeast Asia is undergoing a quiet but significant change in tackling climate change.

The region’s golf market is now increasingly shaped by sustainability, weather resilience, and shifting traveller expectations.

From water conservation to biodiversity protection and seasonal messaging, resorts are adapting to ensure consistent playing conditions in a region vulnerable to heat, monsoons and changing rainfall patterns.

Golfers travelling to Vietnam and neighbouring destinations such as Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia are asking more detailed questions about climate, comfort, and the best weather windows to travel.

We asked Hien Ton, Director of Sales at Laguna Lăng Cô in Vietnam, to explain how climate awareness has become an important part of course management and destination marketing.

The industry has shifted toward greater sustainability. What was once optional is now essential. Courses focus on water conservation, reduced chemical use, better drainage to handle heavier rain, and biodiversity protection.

Guests increasingly care about ‘green’ operations – balancing healthy turf with environmental responsibility - and courses that adapt well stand out. This evolution has moved the market from purely great play to responsible, long-term enjoyable golf that addresses climate resilience, especially in a region vulnerable to extreme weather like monsoons or heat.

In recent years, travellers are asking specific questions about weather, rain chances, heat levels, humidity, and the most comfortable months. They want to know the best window for dry, mild play, especially families or groups mixing golf with relaxation.

We get these questions often during inquiries, and it helps us guide them to our peak dry season (February to August in Central Vietnam) for the smoothest experience.

The very first question many guests ask once they hear about Vietnam is: “What is the best time to play?”

I always explain it depends on their needs – some prefer cooler, milder weather like in Europe, so we suggest shoulder or early dry months. Others just want sunshine and don’t mind warmer days, and some simply need to play because their home courses are closed in winter.

Vietnam has more variety because of its long shape from north to south. In Central Vietnam where Laguna Lăng Cô is, we have a clear dry season from February to August with comfortable temperatures (25-35°C) and low rain.

The wetter months (September to January) bring more showers, but they’re usually short and don’t last all day. Thailand and Malaysia often have stronger monsoons from May to October with heavier, longer rain that can disrupt play more consistently. Indonesia tends to be more uniform year-round but stays quite humid most of the time.

Vietnam’s Central coast offers a nice balance, with reliable dry periods during the winter-sun season, especially December to February for Europeans, without the extreme wet seasons some neighbours experience.

It’s not super common at Laguna, thanks to our location and course design. With excellent drainage, constant sea breeze, and plenty of shaded areas under trees.

Extreme heat is rarer in Central Vietnam compared to hotter inland or southern spots, and rain is usually brief tropical showers that pass quickly. Play resumes fast, often within 30-60 minutes. We see very few last-minute cancellations due to weather; most guests simply rebook or adjust tee times if needed.

We encourage guests to stay and play. They can easily plan for multiple in-house activities such as water sports, spa, biking, or golf depending on the weather. To make the most of warmer days, we always recommend early morning or twilight tee times for cooler, more comfortable rounds. 

We highlight our mild tropical climate and year-round playability, especially for winter escapes from colder places like Korea, Japan, and Europe.

We promote the dry season for ideal conditions with cooler mornings and ocean breezes, and talk about our sustainable practices, like eco-management and resilience to weather changes.

Humidity in Southeast Asia, often 70-90%, makes the heat feel stickier than the dry heat in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, where it is 40+°C but low humidity.

Some golfers prefer dry heat because sweat evaporates faster and they feel less drained. But in Asia, the humidity comes with lush green courses, cooler evenings, and ocean breezes that help. 

We’ve always had a clearly defined dry season, and while climate change brings more variable rain globally, our local weather in Lăng Cô remains fairly predictable year after year.

Some seasons show slightly more showers during the shoulder months (like late October or early March), but it’s not to the point where any month becomes truly unreliable for golf. The course’s excellent drainage, sea breezes, and our proactive monitoring of forecasts help keep play smooth even on unexpected wet days. 

The riskiest window is usually late November, around a two-week period, when we might catch the tail end of the monsoon or early seasonal storms, so we often advise guests to avoid that time if they want the most consistent and worry-free golf experience.