In an effort to maintain enough of the nation’s soil for rice cultivation, the Vietnamese government has temporarily suspended the approval of any licenses for new golf course developments.
Vietnam has been faced with rising food costs and steady inflation in recent months and is seeking to protect its farmland by putting a halt to new golf course development.
Additionally, the government has asked local authorities to review all existing course developments and freeze those that do not meet certain land-use and environmental protection requirements.
Vietnam had become a hot-bed for new golf course construction, with development licenses reportedly being approved at a rate of more than one per week since early 2006.