Wingolf Launches Hainan Golf Tour (Hainan Volcanic Golf Escape)

5D4N Hainan Golf Tour – Hainan Volcanic Golf Escape is Wingolf’s new program, fully based at Mission Hills Haikou – the world’s largest public golf club according to Guinness World Records, spanning 22 km² with 10 18-hole golf courses built on ancient volcanic lava rock. What sets this international tour apart is the direct Hanoi – Haikou flight of only about 1 hour 35 minutes, helping Vietnamese golfers avoid fatigue from long travel, while the entire journey is contained within a single resort: no hotel changes, no driving between courses.

Two Experience Packages: Land Package and All-Inclusive

The Hainan tour is quoted for a fixed group configuration of 4 golfers, with 2 guests per Twin room at the 5-star Mission Hills Resort Haikou. Depending on their needs, golfers can choose one of two packages:

Important note: the above prices are estimates and will be reconfirmed based on the travel date, flight availability, room availability, and actual tee times. Golfers choosing the Land Package must arrange their own flights, visa, and personal expenses; choose the All-Inclusive package for Wingolf to handle everything from airfare and visa to dinner parties. See more international itineraries on the international golf tours page.

5-Day 4-Night Itinerary

The three golf rounds are arranged from more accessible to more challenging, giving golfers time to familiarize themselves with the course conditions before playing Blackstone on the final day:

Three golf courses, three design philosophies

Stone Quarry – The quarry of calculation

The opening course (Course No. 7) is a tribute to Pete Dye – the mentor who shaped the design philosophy of the Schmidt-Curley Design team. The course winds through an ancient volcanic stone quarry, using sheer rock faces as hazards, along with railroad ties reinforcing the sand traps and water’s edges. With a Par 70 and a length of 6,029 yards, the course features as many as 6 Par 3s, fairways averaging just 38 yards wide, and 215 small, deep pot bunkers – demanding precise technical shots rather than brute strength. Golf carts are mandatory when playing here.

Lava Fields – Open expanses over black volcanic rock

Lava Fields (Course No. 5) offers more open space than Blackstone, with wide fairways and distinctive volcanic rock landscapes. GOLF Magazine ranked it 93rd on its list of the world’s 100 best golf courses in 2011. With a Par 72 layout and a length of 7,475 yards from the back tees, the course meets professional tournament standards. 

The fairways are generously 50 yards wide on average, with only 43 bunkers, but each is a massive waste bunker that blends seamlessly into the terrain. Strategic highlights include: Hole 6 (Par 4), a downhill hole – a shot missed to the right can take an unpredictable bounce when the ball hits the volcanic rock area; Hole 9 (Par 4, 513 yards), a test of endurance; and Hole 12 (Par 5), a double dogleg requiring risk-management thinking.

Blackstone – Asia’s black gem

Blackstone (Course No. 1) is dubbed the "Crown Jewel" of the entire complex. The course opened in 2010 and immediately made waves by hosting the Star Trophy that same year, followed by the 2011 World Cup of Golf, the 2012 WGC-HSBC Champions, and the annual World Ladies Championship. The course features a Par 73 layout with a total length of 7,808 yards from the Championship Tee; amateur golfers can play from the Blue Tee at 6,722 yards, reducing the distance by 4 to 10 strokes. 

Unique defensive feature: the course completely eliminates rough – the fairway boundaries directly adjoin sharp black lava rock fields and ancient lychee forests. The volcanic rock fields are treated as water hazards (incurring a 1-stroke penalty and requiring a drop) because hitting from the jagged rock surface is nearly impossible and carries a high risk of injury. Two signature holes: Hole 6 (Par 5, 599 yards) – the "Devil's Hole" with a double dogleg, a long sand bunker along the left and an OB line close on the right; Hole 18 (Par 5, 539 yards) – the tee shot must carry at least 190 yards over the swamp and volcanic rock fields, while the approach must clear the large lake running along the right side of the green. Golfers are required to use electric carts with caddies at a ratio of 1:1 or 1:2.

The key financial factor lies in the golf course tiers: Blackstone and Lava Fields are in the Premium category, and players wishing to book tee times at these two courses must pay a mandatory upgrade surcharge of 1.000 CNY per person per round. An individual player booking one round at Blackstone may have to spend more than 2.000 CNY (approximately 7.000.000 VND). 

For golfers playing all three courses during their itinerary, booking a package may be more cost-effective than arranging the hotel, tee times, transfers, and surcharges separately—while also giving Wingolf greater control over checking and arranging tee times at the highly requested courses.

Stay at the Guinness World Record–Holding Hot Spring Resort Complex

Mission Hills Resort Haikou integrates a hotel, golf courses, hot springs, a spa, entertainment facilities, and shopping within a single complex. The 18-story main building has 535 standard rooms and suites, each with a private balcony overlooking the fairway. The highlight is the Volcanic Mineral Springs hot spring system – certified by Guinness in 2012 as the world's largest volcanic hot spring complex, with mineral water extracted from an underground source 800 meters deep, supplying 168 hot and cold soaking pools divided into 5 architectural zones representing the healing cultures of the 5 continents. 

Golfers staying at the hotel can use the entire hot spring system free of charge (walk-in guests must pay CNY 198 for one continent or CNY 398 for all 5 continents). The hot springs are open daily from 13:00 – 23:00.

The complex also features Mission Hills Spa with 90 treatment rooms, Lava Lagoon water park – the only aquatic-themed water park in Hainan, with an artificial beach and a Lazy River, Centreville commercial area with the Lan Kwai Fong bar/pub complex franchised from Hong Kong, and Feng Xiaogang Movie Town, just a 5-minute drive from the hotel. 

Haikou Meilan International Airport (HAK) is only 14.6 km from the resort, while downtown Haikou is 13.2 km away; internal buggy shuttles connect the hotel lobby with the hot springs, the clubhouses of the 10 golf courses, and the shopping area within 5 – 10 minutes. Check-in is at 14:00, check-out is before 12:00, and the front desk provides 24/7 assistance.

Seamless logistics (one-stop destination): the biggest weakness of many golf tours in Thailand or Taiwan is that golfers often have to wake up at 5 a.m., spend 1 – 2 hours traveling between courses, or change hotels continuously. At Mission Hills Haikou, you only check in to one room for the entire 4-night stay, enjoy a leisurely breakfast in the morning, step out to the lobby and board an internal electric vehicle, and just 5 minutes later you are at the first tee of any of the 10 courses.

Language barrier: English is fairly common at the hotel reception and clubhouses, but on the course, most caddies communicate only in the local Chinese dialect. Golfers should bring a personal laser range finder, download a yardage book app on their phone, and learn some basic Chinese terms (left, right, distance) to coordinate better with their caddy.

Direct flights & golf luggage

The Hanoi – Haikou route (507 km) is operated by Hainan Airlines using a Boeing 737-800, with a flight time of approximately 1 hour 35 minutes. Flight times and frequency may vary depending on the operating schedule during each period; Wingolf will confirm the specific schedule according to the departure date. From Ho Chi Minh City, Hainan Airlines also operates direct SGN – HAK flights, with a flight time of approximately 2 hours 20 minutes for a journey of about 1,097 km. 

Evening flights do not interrupt the workday: passengers board immediately after work, sleep at a 5-star hotel, and head out to the course refreshed the following morning. Thanks to the short flight time, golfers significantly reduce travel time and fatigue – the total door-to-door duration (from home to hotel) may be shorter than that of a Hanoi golfer traveling to play golf in Da Lat or Nha Trang. Direct flights also reduce the risk of delayed or lost luggage caused by connecting flights.

Hainan Airlines golf baggage policy: the airline defines a standard golf equipment set as consisting of up to 14 clubs, 12 golf balls, and 1 pair of specialized shoes, which must be packed in a hard-sided box or a wheeled soft travel bag. Golf baggage is included in the free baggage allowance if it simultaneously meets two limits: total weight does not exceed 23 kg and total linear dimensions do not exceed 203 cm (80 inches). If either limit is exceeded: a weight of 23–32 kg or total linear dimensions exceeding 203 cm (with the longest side still ≤ 203 cm) incurs a penalty of 1,200 CNY per piece; weight over 32 kg (up to 45 kg) or a longest side exceeding 203 cm incurs a penalty of 2,000 CNY per piece and requires prior airline approval. Golfers should remove excess clothing and accessories from the golf bag to keep its weight under 23 kg and avoid unnecessary charges at the check-in counter.

Visa: What Vietnamese Golfers Need to Know

In 2018 (expanded in 2024), China introduced a visa-free policy of up to 30 days for Hainan Island, applicable to citizens of 59 countries (the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, etc.). However, Vietnam is not included in this list of 59 countries. From July 30, 2024, the 144-hour (6-day) visa-free entry policy for Hainan applies to citizens of all countries that have diplomatic relations with China (including Vietnam), but only to travelers participating in tour groups (of at least 2 people) organized and sponsored by legally registered travel companies in Hong Kong and Macau, entering from Hong Kong/Macau under the “group entry, group exit” mechanism.

Therefore, when flying directly from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to Haikou, Vietnamese golfers holding ordinary passports are required to apply for a Chinese Tourist Visa (Visa L) in accordance with the regulations of the Embassy/Consulate, or apply for a Group Visa with documentation supported by the tour organizer. The usual processing time is 4–6 working days; golfers should submit their applications at least 15–20 days before departure. The reference fee is USD 60–90, depending on whether the application is submitted independently or through an authorized agent and on the exchange rate at the time of submission. Required documents include: an original passport valid for more than 6 months, 2 passport photos sized 4x6 cm with a white background, a visa application form, a photocopy of the Citizen Identity Card, confirmed round-trip flight tickets, and confirmed hotel accommodation (booking documents provided by the tour organizer).

Best Time to Go

The ideal period for playing golf in Hainan runs from the second half of October through the end of March: perfect temperatures, gentle sunshine, and virtually no risk of storms. Conversely, golfers should carefully consider weather risks when departing from July to September – the tropical storm season is active over the East Sea, potentially disrupting flight schedules and causing golf course closures. From December to February, early-morning or late-evening temperatures may drop to 17 – 18°C, combined with sea breezes, so golfers should bring a lightweight vest or windbreaker.

Additional costs (self-funded)

Reference exchange rate for August 2026: 1 CNY ≈ 3,500 VND (subject to daily fluctuations). Golfers choosing the Land Package need to prepare the following additional expenses themselves (already included in the All-inclusive Package):

Budget management advice: in addition to the payment to the travel company, each golfer should prepare an emergency fund of approximately 2,000 – 3,000 CNY (equivalent to 7,000,000 – 10,000,000 VND) for the most comfortable experience during the 5-day trip. China is a cashless society – link an international credit card (Visa/Mastercard) to Alipay or WeChat Pay before departure, while also carrying a small amount of Chinese yuan in cash.

Non-golfing companions

Spouses, family members, or friends who do not play golf can fully join the tour with the resort package (Non-golfer package): soak in 168 hot spring pools, enjoy Lava Lagoon water park with its artificial beach, use the services at Mission Hills Spa (90 treatment rooms), stroll through Feng Xiaogang Movie Town, shop at Centreville, or visit the international duty-free area.

Discover Hainanese culture and cuisine

Qilou Old Street: located along Zhongshan and Bo'ai streets in Longhua District, this neighborhood is one of the largest original Nanyang architectural complexes in China, established around 1820 – 1840 with capital from overseas Chinese merchants returning from Southeast Asia. The 3 – 4-story Qilou buildings have recessed ground floors forming continuous arcades that allow pedestrians to avoid the rain and sun, while their facades feature European Baroque carvings blended with Indian, Arab, and traditional East Asian motifs. Visitors can explore the area free of charge 24/7, stroll along the old stone pavement, and take photos with the nearby Haikou Clock Tower (built in 1928).

Lao Ba Tea culture: the “tea gathering of old fathers” – an afternoon tradition of sipping tea while enjoying dim sum, meat buns, and sweet treats, reflecting the leisurely pace of life among Hainan’s residents. This is a gentle local experience, ideal for relaxing after rounds of golf.

The “Four Great Delicacies”: the island’s four famous dishes include Wenchang chicken (firm meat, the predecessor of the globally renowned Hainanese chicken rice), Jiaji duck (thin, richly fatty skin), Dongshan goat (tender, odorless meat), and Hele crab (sea crab with golden roe). Don’t forget the cooling Qingbuliang dessert soup – a must-try street specialty on hot summer days.

Duty-free shopping: Hainan is being developed by the Chinese government into the world’s largest free trade port. International visitors are granted a duty-free shopping allowance of up to 100,000 CNY per person per year for luxury goods such as watches, cosmetics, and fashion items (regulations should be reconfirmed with the local customs authorities at the time of entry).

What international golfers say about Mission Hills Haikou

Based on reviews from international golfers on travel platforms, Blackstone and Lava Fields are mentioned most frequently for their volcanic rock landscapes and challenging layouts. Guests also highly appreciate having the golf courses, hotels, and hot spring area within the same complex – with no need to travel between locations – as well as the attentive butler/concierge service, spacious rooms with large bathtubs, and varied international breakfast buffet.

Honest notes from reviews: the resort is approximately 13 km from central Haikou, making it more suitable for guests focused on golf and relaxation than on exploring the city; some hot spring areas may close on a rotating basis; WiFi at the resort may be weak in certain areas; the spa has high listed prices but may be negotiable; the Lava Lagoon water park is not free for resort guests. These are points Wingolf will advise you on specifically so you can plan your itinerary proactively.

FAQ about Hainan golf tours

What is the minimum number of members required to organize a tour group?

Based on the Land Package pricing structure with the standard of 2 guests per room, the ideal and minimum group size is 4 golfers (enough to form 1 flight on the course).

Are Vietnamese passport holders eligible for visa-free entry to Hainan?

No. Although Hainan applies a 30-day visa exemption policy to citizens of 59 countries, Vietnam is not on this list. Unless traveling in a group sponsored from Hong Kong/Macau (visa-free for 144 hours), all direct flights from Vietnam to Haikou require a Chinese tourist visa (L-Visa) or a group visa arranged with the tour company’s assistance.

Do I have to pay an additional fee to transport my golf clubs on the flight?

No, provided the set of clubs complies with Hainan Airlines’ two rules: the weight must not exceed 23 kg and the total dimensions must not exceed 203 cm. If these limits are exceeded, a surcharge of 1,200 CNY to 2,000 CNY applies.

What is an appropriate tip for the caddy at Mission Hills?

The standard and expected tip at this resort ranges from 150 to 200 CNY for an 18-hole round, paid directly to the caddy at the end of the round.

How does the golf course handle rainstorms?

Hainan’s typhoon season runs from July to September. If the extreme weather warning system is activated (for lightning or flooding), forcing the course to close, course management usually assists by moving the tee time to the following day or switching to another course with better drainage conditions within the same 10-course system.

What is the fundamental difference between the Blackstone and Lava Fields courses?

Both are Premium courses built on volcanic rock and without rough grass. The difference lies in the landscape: Blackstone is densely wooded, winding through lychee orchards and featuring 147 intricately designed bunkers; Lava Fields is more open and windswept, with extremely wide fairways and only 43 enormous waste bunkers.

Is the Volcanic Mineral Springs bathing service subject to a fee?

For guests booking tours and staying directly at Mission Hills Resort Haikou, access to the mineral springs in all areas is included free of charge in the room rate.

Is English commonly spoken at the resort and on the golf course?

English is fairly commonly used at the hotel reception and clubhouse. However, on the course, most caddies speak only Chinese – a personal distance-measuring device is essential.

What alternative recreational activities are available for non-golfing spouses and children?

They have a long list of options: soaking in 168 mineral spring pools, enjoying Lava Lagoon water park with its artificial beach, using the services at Mission Hills Spa (90 treatment rooms), strolling through Feng Xiaogang Movie Town, and shopping at Centreville or the international duty-free zone.

Are caddy fees and buggy fees included in the tour cost?

Yes, the listed tour prices (Land Package and All-Inclusive) include the green fee (including all upgrades for Premium courses), caddy fee, and buggy (shared by 2 people) for all 3 rounds.

Register and get advice through Wingolf

Wingolf organizes Hainan golf tours for Vietnamese golfers. By booking through Wingolf, you receive comprehensive support with visas, flights, tee time reservations, and coordination of internal electric transport and golf luggage guidance. The advisory team is ready to check tee times and rooms for your group’s preferred travel dates, while also recommending upgraded itineraries through the customized golf tour service if your group needs a different itinerary.

Still undecided between a Hainan tour and other destinations? Explore more domestic and international options on Wingolf’s golf tours page.