A Conversation with the First Vietnamese Woman Appointed as an AGIF Board Member  05:36, 16/04/2025

As Managing Director of 54 in Vietnam (www.weare54.com), Dandelly brings a forward-thinking approach to how golf can drive economic value, connect sectors, and position Vietnam on the global map competitively.

“Golf is strategic infrastructure. It delivers real value, supports regional development, and attracts quality investment.”

How did you feel when appointed as a Board Member of AGIF?

This milestone is a significant part of our journey to connect Vietnam more actively with the regional golf community. At 54, we believe that the growth of golf in Vietnam should be viewed within a broader economic framework. Golf can potentially play a role in regional planning, destination development, and long-term investment strategies. Being part of AGIF provides a platform to contribute these perspectives to important discussions across Asia, ensuring that Vietnam participates with both confidence and clarity.

What are your priorities in this new role?

One of my goals is to strengthen AGIF’s ability to serve as a platform for collaboration between fast-growing markets like Vietnam and the wider international golf ecosystem. This includes improving access to operational standards, talent development programs, and strategic infrastructure planning.

Another focus is to encourage local authorities in Vietnam to recognize the economic contribution of golf. A golf course is more than a leisure facility, and it can be a core element in shaping integrated development, from tourism and real estate to industry and international investment.

How do you view Vietnam’s position in the Asian golf landscape?

Vietnam is currently one of the fastest-growing golf markets in the region. As of the end of 2024, nearly 100 golf courses are in operation and under development across the country. Many are concentrated in coastal tourism destinations and emerging industrial zones.

Vietnam’s advantages include natural beauty, strong government support for tourism, and increasing interest from both domestic and foreign investors. To fully leverage this potential, we need a clear national strategy that includes destination branding, service standardization, and competitive product design that aligns with international expectations.

Can golf act as a catalyst for broader economic and social development?

In my view, the value of golf should be considered at the regional level. In many locations across Vietnam, the presence of a golf course can unlock development opportunities across tourism, residential planning, and even industrial growth.

In areas identified for industrial or logistics expansion, a well-designed golf course can help attract international professionals to live and work locally. This increases demand for housing, schools, healthcare, and lifestyle services. As part of my doctoral research in sports tourism economics, I continue to explore the relationship between golf infrastructure and regional economic structure.

When positioned within a broader planning strategy, golf brings real economic returns through job creation, service growth, real estate appreciation, and long-term investment.

What do you see as the core pillars for sustainable golf development in Vietnam?

I believe the future of golf in Vietnam depends on three cores: data, human capital, and technology.

Data-driven management is underutilized across many golf courses, limiting their ability to track performance and optimize decision-making. At the same time, there is a gap in trained professionals—particularly in middle and senior management roles.

At 54, we are working with AGIF to introduce international benchmarking systems to help golf operators improve service standards, invest in workforce development, and adopt digital tools to understand better and serve their customers.

What initiatives is 54 currently working on to support the growth of golf in Vietnam?

We are delivering a wide range of projects, from strategic advisory and operational restructuring to professional development and revenue model transformation across golf courses nationwide.

In parallel, we are collaborating with the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and the Department of Physical Education and Sports to create a National Golf Tourism Development Plan. This plan focuses on building regional links, boosting destination competitiveness, and integrating golf with national tourism branding.

Additionally, we are rolling out a Vietnam Golf Course Rating System aligned with international standards. This initiative aims to introduce a clear, credible, consistent framework the market lacks.

These initiatives are being led under the strategic direction of Mr. Ben Styles, Executive Director at 54, who brings extensive international experience in developing and operating leading golf properties. Supporting him is our core team in Vietnam, along with more than 250 global experts from the 54 group. This team combines deep local market insight with a global mindset, united by a shared commitment to building golf as a long-term growth ecosystem, not just as a sport, but as a key component in sustainable economic strategies at both regional and national levels.

Final Thought

Vietnam’s golf industry is reaching a critical point. The opportunity is clear, but success will require strategic thinking, long-term planning, and coordinated execution. Through her new role at AGIF and the ongoing work at 54, Dandelly Nguyen represents a new generation of leaders laying the foundation for an authentic, future-ready, and competitive golf ecosystem at the regional level.