The document discusses golf course development in Vietnam and debates the environmental and social impacts. It notes that the Vietnamese government aims to build 144 golf courses by 2020 to attract tourism, but this could damage the environment through deforestation and pollution from chemicals. Locally, it may displace farmers and cause social problems. While golf tourism provides economic benefits, the document argues the project should be banned and funds used instead to reform education and reduce inequality.

1. Golf courses in Vietnam By Takeyuki Koike

2. Introduction Nowadays golf is the best sport to attract tourists Tour companies started to include golf tour in their plan (Swing) Vietnam started the golf project (Hoang) - 144 courses by 2020 Economical benefit, but environmentally and socially unsustainable

3. My point of view The Vietnamese government should ban the golf course project. - Environmental problem - Social problem - Negative influence from mass of tourism

4. Counter 1: Improve environment Few cases Some golf courses in undeveloped area (First) Good golf course condition One of the golf courses got the international environmental award (First)

5. Argument 1: Destroying Environment A lot of area – golf courses and hotels or other resorts Cutting trees – increase CO2 ⇒global warming(Thanhnien) Too many chemicals - keep the grass green ⇒Water pollution(Thanhnien) Not good water clean process – poor people drink that water

6. Counter 2 : Economic Benefit Number of tourists increasing in previous years Vietnam can host golf tournament (Thai Airways) ⇒attracts many people. Tourists bring a lot of money into Vietnam (PM) Not only golf courses, other resorts also gets money

7. Argument 2 : Social Problem Most of Vietnamese - farmers Golf courses are built in rural areas, not urban areas Loss of land which sustains the farmer’s life style Poor people have to move because of golf course construction (Thanhnien) Farmers are not well educated – difficult to get new jobs (Thanhnien)

8. Argument 3 : Tourism Problem Garbage disposal problem (Thailand) - Increasing tourists = increasing garbage Water shortage (Thailand) - Too many tourists uses a lot of water Inflation for the local population (Thailand) - Merchants set the price higher to get more money from tourists

9. Conclusion & Solution Although golf courses bring money into Vietnam, golf project should be banned because of environmental and social problems caused by golf course construction No solution from the government If the government stop the project, Vietnam can use project’s money to other way of develop the country such as reforming education - close rich - poor divide

10. Works Cited "First Vietnam Golf Course Receives Int'l Environment Award." Vietnam News Briefs (Vietnam) 23 Mar. 2009,: NewsBank. Web. 2 Dec. 2009. ＜http://iw.newsbank.com＞ Hoang. "Planning for Golf Courses Project Needed." Vietnam Investment news, Vietnam Investment Projects, Vietnam investment consultant. 10 June 2009. Web. 01 Dec. 2009. <http://vietnaminvestment.net/news/tag/vietnam-golf- course-projects/>. "PM urges greater efforts to meet GDP target." Vietnam News Agency, The 1 Sep. 2009,: NewsBank. Web. 27 Nov. 2009. ＜http://iw.newsbank.com＞ “Thai Airways Organizes Golf Tournament in Vietnam." Vietnam News Briefs (Vietnam) 1 Aug. 2005,: NewsBank. Web. 26 Nov. 2009. ＜http://infoweb.newsbank.com＞ Thailand for Sale. Dir. David Jacobs. New Zealand Connected Media, 2007. DVD. Thanhnien News. "Regulate haphazard golf course development: conference." UNI- BROS., Project Services in Vietnam. 07 May 2009. Web. 02 Dec. 2009. <http://www.uni-bros.com/en/news.php?cid=4&id=11836>. "Swinging Golf Tours." Saigon Times Magazine (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) 14 Sep. 2006,: NewsBank. Web. 9 Dec. 2009. ＜http://iw.newsbank.com＞