The defining feature of golf in Vietnam is that a caddie is mandatory. As in Thailand, there is simply no 'no-caddie, self-play' option — every course assigns a caddie, and most don't allow walking either. You'll usually get one caddie per player, and most are female caddies — well trained and friendly, with English that varies by person. Work with your caddie and even a brand-new course feels easy and fun. The one thing to remember: the caddie fee is included, the tip is separate.
A Vietnamese caddie does far more than carry the bag. She carries and cleans your clubs, calls out the yardage, and recommends the club for the shot. On the green she reads the line; in the rough she finds lost balls; she rakes bunkers and will happily take your photos. At first the level of help can feel almost surprising.
Yardage & club
Ask 'how far?' and you get yards/meters. Treat the club suggestion as a guide — the final call is yours.
Green reading
Ask for a 'read' before putting and she'll point out the break with a hand or words.
Finding balls & bunkers
She quickly locates balls in rough or hazards and rakes the sand after bunker shots to keep pace.
Photos & scoring
Ask for a group photo on a scenic hole and she'll gladly oblige; she also helps keep score.
Vietnamese caddies usually wear a number (e.g. #168) and a name tag on the uniform. Noting the number and name at the start makes it easy to tip your own caddie correctly at the end and to call her during play. They're well trained — often knowing the lines, wind and green speeds intimately — and reviewers frequently say the caddie was the highlight of the round.
Basic golf words in English — 'seven iron', 'how far', 'read', 'good shot' — cover most situations. A smile and a few gestures are enough for a happy round. A word or two of Vietnamese (Xin chào / Cảm ơn) warms things right up, and using her name from the name tag makes the round friendlier still.
Vietnam's courses are gorgeous and full of photo moments. Caddies are used to group shots and swing videos, so just ask: ‘Chụp ảnh giúp’ (please take a photo). A frame each at the signature holes — sea, lake or mountain backdrops — makes a lovely trip memory. Hand over the phone already unlocked to keep it smooth.
- Note your caddie's number and name at the start
- Ask freely for yardage, club and line (suggestion = guide, you decide)
- Offer a drink/snack to your caddie too in the heat
- 'good!' on a fine shot, 'Cảm ơn' for help
- Tip your own caddie in cash, directly, after the round
- No asking for personal contacts or excessive physical contact
On hot days your caddie shades you with an iced towel, umbrella or parasol and keeps your water and drinks topped up from the cart cooler. In a sudden squall she knows best where to shelter and when to resume. Golfers often write that 'thanks to the caddie I could finish 18 in the midday heat' — that's how much she's both companion and on-course lifesaver.
This is the part people mix up. The caddie fee (service charge) is already in your package/green fee, so you don't pay it separately. The tip, however, is separate, and it makes up a large share of a Vietnamese caddie's real income. The tip isn't compulsory but it's the firm custom — a direct thank-you for good service.
The custom is 300,000–500,000 VND per 18-hole round (≈375–625 THB) in cash, handed directly to your own caddie after the round. Even in a fourball each player has their own caddie, so each tips their own. Prepare clean 100,000 and 200,000 dong notes in advance. Coins can be seen as impolite, and very crumpled notes are best avoided. A simple ‘Cảm ơn’ as you hand it over is all you need.
Your caddie is a professional. Treat her with respect and avoid over-familiarity, physical contact or heavy joking. If English stalls, don't get frustrated — gestures and a smile solve it. When buying drinks or snacks on course, offering one to your caddie too leaves a good impression. Remember she carries a heavy bag and walks the heat with you all day, and good manners follow naturally.
① Assuming the tip is included and giving nothing ② tipping in coins or badly crumpled notes ③ one person paying every caddie's tip 'on behalf' of the group (where possible, each tips their own) ④ asking for personal contacts or excessive physical contact ⑤ raising your voice when English fails. Steer clear of all of these.
- GreetSay 'Xin chào' with a smile on the 1st and note her name from the tag.
- Use her helpAsk freely for yardage, club and line; take suggestions as guidance, decide yourself.
- Look after herOffer a drink/snack in the heat and share the fun — 'good!' on a nice shot.
- TipAfter the round, hand your own caddie a cash tip directly with 'Cảm ơn'.
In the morning at the hotel, split out each person's tip (say 300k VND) in clean notes into a pocket or small envelope, so you're not fumbling for change after the round. For a group of four, agree before you start on 'how much each gives their own caddie' to keep it tidy.
The tip amount is a guideline, not a rule — adjust it to how satisfied you were with the service. In golfers' own reviews, the common pattern is 'around 300k VND (≈US$13), 500k VND (≈US$22) for a caddie who was really good'. When a caddie has worked especially hard in extreme heat or on a tough course, many happily go to the top of the range or beyond.
Caddies' English varies a lot. If green reads and yardage talk matter to you, it's wise to request an English-speaking caddie when booking (some courses, like Vietnam Golf & Country Club, are known for strong English and experienced caddies). Just tell us on LINE @233uigab and we'll pass it to the course.