Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong presents the appointment as Vietnam’s Tourism Ambassador for the 2025–2030 term to Greg Norman in Hanoi on July 18.
The appointment was presented by Deputy Minister Ho An Phong, who said Norman’s renewed role aligns with Vietnam’s national tourism strategy, which aims to not only increase international arrivals but also boost visitor spending, extend length of stay and attract more high-end travelers.
Greg Norman, a global golf icon, has served as Vietnam’s Tourism Ambassador since 2018. In his new term, he will continue to promote Vietnam as a world-class golf destination while also highlighting the country’s cultural heritage, cuisine, and distinctive tourism experiences to global audiences.
Nguyen Thi Hoa Mai, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, praised Norman’s contributions during his previous term from 2018 to 2021. “He played a crucial role in elevating Vietnam’s golf tourism, helping the country earn the title of Asia’s Best Golf Destination for eight consecutive years and World’s Best Golf Destination twice, in 2019 and 2021, according to the World Golf Awards,” she said.
Norman has designed several signature golf courses in Vietnam, including The Bluffs Ho Tram, KN Golf Links Cam Ranh and Legend Danang Golf Resort, contributing to the country’s rising status as a premier golf destination in Asia.
“With his global influence and extensive network, Norman has actively collaborated with Vietnam’s tourism authorities, helping promote the image of Vietnam’s land, people and tourism worldwide,” Hoa Mai added.
In the 2025–2030 term, Norman plans to focus on promoting Vietnamese golf tourism through digital platforms, raising the country’s international visibility as a golf hub. He will also work to attract international golf tournaments to Vietnam, including potential collaboration with LIV Golf to host a major event in the country.
As part of his new term, Norman will launch a series of Greg Norman Golf Academies to train young players and promote golf as part of physical education. He will also advise on sustainable, eco-friendly golf development policies, support international-standard course assessments, and promote green tourism.
He is expected to help connect golf tourism with cultural heritage through events such as the Heritage Golf Festival in Quang Tri, Hue and Danang. Norman will also represent Vietnam at major international travel expos in the US, Australia and other key markets.
Vietnam’s tourism industry has shown strong growth in recent years and is seen as a bright spot in the country’s socioeconomic development. In the first six months of 2025, the country welcomed over 10.6 million international visitors, up 20.7 per cent year-on-year. Among them were an estimated 3 million golf tourists.
