"Our top priority is to gain a foothold in the increasingly competitive Asian market from the outset. Based on its golf knowledge and track record with other courses in this region, Mandarin Media puts us in the best position to achieve that," Joe Millar, general manager of Do Son Seaside Golf Resort, said in a statement.

Mandarin Media partner James Sullivan told that theme newspapers and magazines were among the channels used to promote the golf course in and outside Vietnam.

“We aim to elevate the profile of Do Son and get it on the golf map,” Sullivan said. He added Mandarin also provided event coordination, photography consultation, translation assistance and newsletter services under a one-year initial agreement with the resort.

Do Son Seaside Golf Resort opened the back nine holes for play last December, and October is the schedule for opening the front nine holes at the resort, located on a curved stretch of Do Son Beach.

The new holes will solidify the standard 18-hole resort as a fully realized golf destination and enable the golf course to better serve the populous Haiphong city market.

"Our opening comes at just the right time for this area," Millar said. He added that Vietnam Airlines now offered service between Haiphong and HCMC three times per day, and the city’s local, business and expatriate communities continued to grow.

Jetstar Pacific also flies daily between HCMC and Haiphong. Thus, this golf course is expected to lure more domestic and overseas visitors, who want to play golf during their trips to northern coast attractions including Cat Ba National Park and the UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay.

Ngan Anh Tourism and Trading Co. Ltd. has invested VND600 billion (some USD33.6 million) out of the VND4.5 trillion needed for the whole project.

The project got off ground in June 2006. Other components of the project are 630 villas, school, hospital, and commercial area comprising of shopping and entertainment centers, supermarket and park.

Sullivan said Mandarin Media now had 31 clients with the majority based in Vietnam. Its full-service golf clients in Vietnam are the golf club Dalat Palace, Ocean Dunes, Montgomerie Links and Do Son.