Golf is now becoming one of the most popular sports for businessmen because it provides a casual atmosphere to strengthen business relationships. Golf tournaments hosted regularly by organisations and companies are clear evidence of the attraction the game holds.
To celebrate Vietnam Entrepreneurs Day (October 13) and the Annual Meeting between the Prime Minister and enterprises, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) will organise the inaugural VCCI Businessman Golf Tournament 2005, the biggest event for Vietnamese enterprises to date, on Saturday October 8 at the Chi Linh Star Golf Country Club in Hai Duong province.
Supported and co-hosted by the Vietnam National Committee for Sport and Physical Culture and the Hai Duong Provincial People's Committee, the tournament will gather together 200 golfers, including successful businessmen from all economic sectors in Vietnam and 30 VIP guests who are Government officials, leaders of ministries, provinces and cities, and ambassadors to Vietnam. The golfers will be divided into three divisions: A for golfers with handicaps from 0 to 20; B for those with handicaps from 21 to 31, and Callaway, and will tee off at 6:45 and 12:15. The winner of the tournament will be presented with the VCCI Golf Cup and a gift worth US$1,200.
Apart from the purpose of strengthening relations between VCCI and the business community in Vietnam, the tournament will also provide a good opportunity for entrepreneurs to exchange views and business experience, expand international relations, affirm trademarks and images of enterprises, get some exercise, and contribute to the development of the game of golf in Vietnam.
According to Dr Doan Duy Khuong, VCCI Vice Executive President and Head of the Organising Committee of VCCI Businessman Golf Tournament 2005, golf is considered the sport of international integration and therefore more and more Vietnamese entrepreneurs have spent time on playing with the aim of strengthening relations with their partners and seeking new business opportunities. ldquo;This is a new business culture in Vietnam,rdquo; he said. The tournament, he added, will include charity activities to partly ease the circumstances of dioxin victims, using funds raised from green fees and the auction of valuable gifts at the Prize Awarding Ceremony.
ldquo;Chi Linh Star Golf Country Club is proud to be selected for the tournament because this is also a good chance to introduce our image and services to golfers,rdquo; said Mr Lars Holden, General Director of the Chi Linh Star Golf Country Club. ldquo;Although this is not a professional tournament, the well-prepared organization of VCCI will set a strong foundation for following tournaments.rdquo;
The event is also aimed to introduce a new business to Vietnamese entrepreneurs - golf tourism. Chi Linh Star Golf Country Club is developing 18 more holes with international standard and nearly 300 villas and many other entertainment facilities, making the course an ideal place for golfers and tourists.
The Prize Awarding Ceremony will be hosted at a five-star hotel in Hanoi. Apart from presenting prizes to the best golfers, valuable gifts will also be given to lucky golfers and guests in a lucky draw. An auction will also be held of a pair of FIFA World Cup 2006 semi-final tickets and a book called ldquo;Vietnam - 10 Years after the US Warrdquo; by Oishi Yoshino, a freelance photojournalist, to raise funds for dioxin victims and disabled children.
Ms Nguyen Loan, General Director of HMBV - the sole, official organization in charge of raising funds for the tournament and undertaking its charity program, said the funds raised from the charity auctions will be used to carry out free operations on handicapped children and dioxin victims in Hai Duong province. The young and active general director has donated a large sum of money and effort to arranging operations for poor disabled children in many localities.
This is a very important sports event, not only for VCCI but also for the entire Vietnamese business community. Therefore, VCCI will organise the tournament each year on the Saturday or Sunday prior to October 13. VCCI is asking the National Sports Committee to add the tournament to the annual sports events list.
VCCI's Vietnam Business Forum Magazine, the Chi Linh Star Golf Country Club, the Hanoi Golf Club and the HMBV Group are responsible for the holding of the Businessman Golf Tournament 2005 - VCCI Cup.
T.N
For more information about the tournament, please contact:
Mr. Pham The Nam
Tel: 04 5743985 / 0913 571349
Email: nampt@vcci.com.vn
Vietnamese
