The Ministry of Planning and Investment is preparing a draft Government decree on the construction of and business conditions needed for golf courses, including a proposal to convert low-income one-crop rice farms into golf courses if these farms are eligible for conversion for other purposes.

A golf course in Dalat City

The proposal is in line with golf course development regulations. Specifically, land for national defense and security, rice cultivation, industrial parks and urban areas, natural forest land and riverside and coastal land must not be used to construct golf courses.

However, one-crop paddy fields with low productivity that are eligible for the conversion of their land use purposes can be allocated to golf course projects.

Also, the regulation was stated in Decision 1946/2009/QD-TTg, approving the planning of Vietnam’s golf courses up to 2020, issued in 2009 by the then-prime minister.

However, land earmarked for rice cultivation, including low-income one-crop rice farms, has been blocked for use in golf course projects, as stipulated in the then-prime minister’s Directive 11/CT-TTg on the intensification of management, inspection and supervision of the execution of golf-course plans.

According to the draft decree being prepared by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, a golf course with a maximum of 54 holes cannot be larger than 270 hectares.

In addition, investors in golf course projects are not allowed to use the allocated land to build commercial houses or for other purposes and must put the golf course into operation within 36 months of receiving the land.

Tenders will be held for projects involving two or more investors. The investors must commit to resettling households affected by their golf course projects and must offer jobs to those whose land lots are being taken back.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment is consulting with the relevant agencies on the draft decree. If approved, the decree will come into force next year.

SGT