The Central Highlands includes 5 provinces of Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, and Lam Dong. Traveling to the Central Highlands provinces, you not only visit beautiful landscapes but also experience the lives of ethnic minorities such as Ba Na, Gia Rai, Ede, Co Ho, Ma, Xo Dang, Mo Nong and enjoy the unique local food. In addition, the climate is cool and the people are friendly here.
Table of Contents
How to reach The Central Highlands?
From Hanoi, you can take Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air from Noi Bai Airport to Pleiku Airport, Buon Ma Thuot Airport, Da Lat Airport.
Or you can take the Minh Vuong, Nam Dung coaches from Bat Giap Coach Station to Duc Long, Gia Lai, or Buon Ma Thuot, Da Lat coach stations. In addition, you can also move by personal means.
From Ho Chi Minh City you can take Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Jetstar from Tan Son Nhat Airport to Pleiku Airport, Buon Ma Thuot Airport, Da Lat Airport or you can take Anh Khoa, Hung Thinh, Mai Linh coaches from Mien Dong Coach Station to Duc Long, Gia Lai Buon Ma Thuot, Da Lat coach stations. To actively move in the province or move to other provinces of the Central Highlands, you can rent a motorbike.
What is the best time to travel Central Highlands?
You should come to the Central Highlands between November and April. In which, December and the end of February, early March is the time when the Central Highlands is most beautiful. December is not only the season of wildflowers blooming bright yellow on the streets of the Central Highlands but also the time when coffee gardens are in the harvest season, coffee fruits ripen in a bright red. And February-March is the time when the Central Highlands is described as “white to coffee” because this is the time when coffee flowers start to bloom in the whole Central Highlands. Having to see this pure beauty with your own eyes will you see a whole Central Highlands completely different from your imagination.
What to visit Central Highlands?
When coming to the Central Highlands, you should not miss the cities of Buon Me Thuot, Pleiku, Kontum, Da Lat …
– Buon Me Thuot has tourist attractions such as Ban Don, Dray Sap Waterfall, Dray Nur Waterfall, Dak Lak Ethnic Museum, Buon Ako Dhong, Sac Tu Khai Doan Pagoda, Dak Lak Water Park, Highland Central Coffee Village, Highland Ethnic Group Museum, World Cafe Museum, Buon Me Thuot Market …
– Pleiku, Gia Lai has points such as Bien Ho (Ho To-Nung), Ayun Ha Lake, 9-storey Waterfall, Ha Tam Pine Hill, Kon Ka Kinh National Park, Kon Ja Rang Nature Reserve, Ham Rong Peak, Ialy Hydropower.
– Kon Tum has KonKlor Suspension Bridge (Konklor Tourist Village), Chu Mom Ray National Park, Ya Ly Hydropower Plant, Kontum Revolution Historical Relic, Kontum Wooden Church, Ban Don Elephant …
– Dalat not only holds visitors by the cool air but also romantic and charming landscapes such as Xuan Huong Lake, Golden Valley, Dream Hill, Valley of Love, Langbiang, Truc Lam Zen Monastery, Clay Tunnel Road, … or experience in Hiep Luc, Strawberry Garden, Biofresh Strawberry Garden or Thai Phien Flower Village.
Which special festivals are there in the Central Highlands?
In the Central Highlands there are many special festivals depending on the region:
– Buon Ma Thuot: The Coffee Festival, recognized by the Prime Minister as a national festival, is held every two years. Here, promote the image of Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak as a legendary land rich in national identity. The festival aims to honor the coffee tree.
– Pleiku, Gia Lai: The buffalo stabbing festival of the Ba Na people is a festival aiming at sacrificing gods or those who have contributed to the establishment of a village, celebrating victory, celebrating a good harvest, or other important events. This is one of the traditional festivals of the Central Highlands ethnic groups in Vietnam.
– Kontum: The Gia Rai people here have two important festivals: Benya (water wharf worshiping ceremony) and Hơk h’mô rôông râu (celebration of the new Rong house). The Rong house of the Gia Rai is very beautiful, soaring. In the festivals, there are rites of killing buffalos for sacrifice.
– Da Lat: Da Lat has the biggest festival, Dalat Flower Festival, held every 2 years, on odd years at the end of the year.
Hotels and local cuisine in the Central Highlands
You should rent hotels in big cities like Buon Me Thuot, Gia Lai, Kon Tum for convenience. Some hotels you can refer to such as:
– Kon Tum: Kon Tum Hotel and Guest House of Kon Tum Provincial Party Committee, Kon Tum Family Hotel, Binh Minh Hotel.
– Buon Me Thuot: Bach Ma Hotel, Eden Hotel, Cao Nguyen Hotel – Pleiku, – Gia Lai: Duc Long Hotel, Queen Hotel.
– Dalat: Mai Vang Hotel, Nice Dream, Rum Vang, Le Petit Paris In addition, you can stay at homestays in cultural villages such as Kon K’lor and Kon K’Tu cultural village, priced at about 40k / person. If you go to a large group, contact the village to stay.
Cuisine:
The cuisine in the Central Highlands is very diverse, each region has its own specialties:
– Buon Me Thuot: red vermicelli, grilled port wet cake, khot cake, Beef dipped; fish noodle soup, deer meat, sweet soup 57 – Pleiku, Gia Lai: seasoning sauce rice noodles, dry noodle soup, crap seasoning sauce rice noodles.
– Kontum, Dak Lak: black bamboo shoot sturgeon, black bamboo shoot grilled chicken, leaf salad, lam rice, yellow ant salad, fried cricket, cassava leaves, porcupine meat, sour fish, wine….
– Da Lat: Mrs. Hung baked rolls, chicken hart wet cake, Xuan An soup cake
What to buy in Highlands Central?
You can buy Wine, a “specialty” drink of the Highland people, rice lam, wild honey, fruits, and flowers in Dalat as a gift. You can also buy ethnic handicrafts.
Things to note when traveling to in the Central Highlands
– The climate in the Central Highlands is divided into two seasons: the rainy season from May to the end of October and the dry season from November to April, of which March and April are the hottest and driest months.
– Before entering the home of the ethnic people should inquire about the customs of the household owner because there are taboo customs of the local people.
