Laguna Landing

Wedged between the imposing mountains of Bach Ma National Park and the crashing surf of the South China Sea at Lang Co Bay, about an hour's drive from both Danang and the ancient Vietnamese capital of Hue, the club's setting is blissfully – and luxuriously – remote. As the course is the centrepiece of the Laguna Lang Co resort, which, when fully developed, will comprise upwards of six low-rise hotels containing some 2,000 rooms, there will soon be no shortage of accommodations to choose from, although the recently opened Banyan Tree, with its 49 all-pool villas (see Trip Planner sidebar) and an array of fine dining and opulent amenities, must surely be considered, even at this stage, to be one of the country's most exclusive stays.

While the integrated nature of the resort is an advantage, it isn't what makes Faldo's creation exceptional. Like all world-class courses it's the quality and diverse nature of the site that the six-time Major champion and his team have worked with that puts Laguna Lang Co firmly in this category. Incorporating sand dunes, rice paddies and exposed rock formations, this undulating tract of land lends itself to golf in the same way the linkslands of the British Isles and Melbourne's sandbelt do. The captivating coastline, which hoves into view most prominently around the turn of this traditional out-and-back layout, and tropical peaks that rise grandly to the south of the property add a visual splendour that brings to mind some of the more spectacular vantages of the Hawaiian Islands. Simply put, Laguna Lang Co adds another magnificent dimension to Vietnam's Central Coast golf experience, an experience that, as word gets out, will surely be savoured by more and more visitors from Hong Kong and beyond.

Faldo is unlike many player-architects in the amount of input he has on the design projects that bear his name. It's no secret that many courses around the world simply pay for a notable professional's signature, while the pro himself has really had little to do with the project itself save cutting a ribbon at the grand opening. But Faldo is different. Since retiring from a full playing schedule, the Englishman has built up a flourishing course design business and is very hands-on at every stage of the process. When he's not busy commentating on PGA Tour events – another sphere of the game in which he has built up an excellent reputation – he'll often drop in unannounced at his courses to cast an expert eye over proceedings. Faldo loves little more than discussing architecture – I once listened to him speak nonstop for 10 minutes at a press conference after a mainland Chinese journalist asked him what he thought made a good golf course – and alongside his lead architect, South African Paul Jansen, Faldo has produced a highly strategic layout that flies in the face of what resort courses have come to mean.