Traveling to the Central Highlands, tourists will not only admire the beautiful landscapes in five provinces, Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Lam Dong, but also experience the life of ethnic people such as Ba Na, Gia Rai, Ede, Co Ho, Ma, Xo Dang, and enjoy the local specialties. For tourists coming to the Central Highlands at least once, the cool, and mild climate and friendly people always engrave in the heart of each person. From Hanoi, tourists can take a flight from Noi Bai Airport to Pleiku Airport, Buon Ma Thuot Airport, and Da Lat Airport or take passenger cars from the Bat Giap bus station to Duc Long, Gia Lai bus station or Buon Ma Thuot bus station, and Da Lat bus station. From Ho Chi Minh City, tourists can fly from Tan Son Nhat Airport to Pleiku Airport, Buon Ma Thuot Airport, Dalat Airport or can take Mien Dong Bus Station to Duc Long Gia Lai Bus Station or Buon Ma Thuot Bus Station, Da Lat Bus Station. If near the Central Highlands, tourists can move by motorbikes to conquer the bazan featured terrain of the Central Highlands.

The best time to travel to the Central Highlands is between November and April. Especially, December, the end of February, and early March are the most beautiful seasons of this area. December is not only the season of wildflowers blooming on the highlands, but also the time when the coffee garden in the harvest, covering the red over the hills. From February to March is the time when the Central Highlands is described as white cafe sky because this is the season of coffee flowers beginning to bloom. Walking between two sides of these flowers on the way to the area of the Central Highland, tourists will realize the gentle beauty of Kon Tum tranquility in different styles.

Referring to the Central Highland, first impression is the majestic mountainous beauty. Chu Dang Ya volcano is hidden in the mountains of the Central Highlands meaning silent, quiet, and charming. From there, tourists will be pleasured by the harmonization between the nature and the sunshine every morning, creating such a magical appearance of the valley. Also, Mang Den ecological area wears the beauty of nature in the Central Highlands that should be discovered by tourists. With total area of mangrove forest is about 140,000ha, tourists can blow their mind with the long green vegetation wide opening to the farm of purple flowers covered the range of mountains behind, far away is the dozens of lakes and white foam waterfall running day and night. Because of its beautiful, romantic, and peaceful appearance, Mang Den ecological area is considered as the second Da Lat of the Central Highlands. In addition to sightseeing, tourists can have opportunities to immerse in the life of the ethnic people by enjoying many specialties here such as rice in bamboo tube, black spinach, grilled chicken, wine, sturgeon, and so on. Yok Don national park, one of the forest specialties in Vietnam, stretching both Dak Lak and Dak Nong will enhance the natural experiences of tourists in the Central highlands. The most interesting experience is the elephant riding through Srepok river, finding out the wild beauty and unique species of rare animals in the lakes, rivers and waterfalls. Especially in the days of December and January, when entering the Yok Don National Park, tourists will admire the immense leafy forest, turning to the red color, leaving tourists the strong impression about the strange of natures in here.

Coming to the Central Highlands, the indispensable side that tourists have to explore to understand thoroughly about this area is the spiritual works. Nestled in the midst of evergreen forests, Kon Tum’s centuries-old church is a popular destination to discover the historical and cultural value of the Central Highlands. The unique feature of the church is the combination of Roman architecture with the Bana house, as a kind of the perfect harmonization between Western culture and Vietnamese culture. The church was built entirely by hand with the material is wood. The church displays ethnic and religious products, communal house, in addition to orphanage, sewing facilities, brocade weaving, and carpentry …

The Central Highlands in the eyes of tourists is also very peaceful and gentle. Kon Klro suspension bridge, an iron suspension bridge standing from two banks through the Dak Bla river, is the most beautiful suspension bridge in the Central Highlands for its poetic appearances at sunset and dawn. Walking on the bridge to enjoy the peaceful scenery, the gentle flow of water, the boat moorings anchored on the shore, the children bathing in the cool river bring tourists unforgettable memories about the magical childhood of ancient Vietnamese people in here. T’Nung lake, one of the most beautiful natural lakes in the Central Highlands formed from a volcanic crater with full of water all year round, performs the beautiful and romantic Pleiku every moment of the day. Tourists coming here can rent a boat gliding smoothly on the lake, dumping in the harmonization between the lake and the cool climate, listening to the mysterious legend of the lake. Also, experiencing the elephant rides around the lake will create the exciting moments for tourists about a little cultural aspect of the Central highlands.

Buon Don is the reputable central highlands village on the Dak Lak plateau, located in Krong Na commune, Buon Don district, about 40 km from north of Buon Ma Thuot. The last days of the third lunar month, the elephant festival in Buon Don starts to attract a lot of tourists coming here to blow their mind with very special cultural features in here like buffalo killing, and gong dance and song. The elephant race is held annually in March in Buon Don. The racetrack is about 400 – 500m in length and about 30 elephants join. After the race on the land is the contest of elephants across the Srepok River, elephant tug, elephant soccer and so on… To the elephant racing festival, tourists will be attracted in the jubilant atmosphere of the festival, witness the spectacular performances of gong dance by the elephants of the forest in Buon Don. The elephant race is a major cultural event in the Central Highlands, honoring the martial spirit of the M’Nong people in here. Spring Festival is the time to pause the production to participate in the festival, visiting friends, and village.
Tourists have the opportunity to attend the gong dance, buffalo stabbing, the unique ritual in the big festival of the Buon Don village. On the first day, the sound of gong rises to invite and welcome all the participants with the warm atmosphere of the festival. Buffalo festival is a combination of many factors, associated with the traditional cultural activities of the Central Highlands. The significance of the buffalo carving festival is reflected in the sacred atmosphere, when the master announces the situation of the village in the year, pray for the blessings of the gods. The ceremony did not settle down after the buffalo killing ceremony. At this time, the whole village gathered around the jar of wine, along the meat trays, dancing together, eating around the fire, and enjoying the fruits of the holidays, the rewards of the gods.

Coming to the Central highlands, tourists cannot ignore the variety of the specialties. In any festival, especially, New Year, the ritual of people in here is drinking alcohol. Drinking alcohol in the middle of forests or the Buon Don village, welcoming the vast wind of the Central Highlands, around the fire forest will impress any tourists coming here. Rice in bamboo tube is very special cuisine bringing the special aroma of the forest in every slide of rice in the tube. Enjoying the rice with meat or chicken grilled will create the wonderful experience for tourists in here. Leaf salad, the very strange dish of the Central Highlands, with more than 40 different types of leaves such as sesame seeds mixed with meat, or shrimp served with the special sauce made from wine, duck eggs, and pepper displays the featured life of the Central Highlands people.

Let’s come to the Central Highlands and dive in the beauty and very special cultural habits of the people in here!