DAK LAK, NATURAL JEWEL OF THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS
Still little visited, the province of Dak Lak is a popular destination for travellers who want to get off the beaten track. A sublime region that reveals to adventurous travellers grandiose landscapes, fascinating history and culture, and an exceptional terroir.
The superb Dray Sap waterfall
Located about thirty kilometres from Buon Me Thuot in an exceptional natural setting, the superb Dray Sap waterfall is one of the natural wonders of the region. 100 meters long and 30 meters high, the Dray Sap falls appear as an impressive curtain of water falling heavily in deafening roars and forming a wide veil of refreshing mist. An ideal place for swimming, relaxing and picnicking.
Ethnic minority villages
The Dak Lak region, located in the Central Highlands, is the territory of many Proto-Indochinese ethnic minorities, including the Edê, who are distinguished by their longhouses, the traditional residence of the large families of this ethnic group. The longhouse of the Edê is a stilted house built of bamboo and wood, with a green roof. The house is built in a north-south direction and responds to the divinatory art of geomancy. You will observe with your guide all the symbols contained in the house such as the staircase which is the soul of the longhouse of the Edê. The villages of these ethnic minorities always revolve around the communal house where rites, morals and customs are preserved and valued. It is here that all the village ceremonies are held, including that of the sacrifice of the buffalo to the sound of bronze gongs.
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Discovery of the Gong culture area
Your stay in the province of Dak Lak would not be complete without discovering the space of gong culture, the soul of the land of Dak Lak, inscribed in 2008 by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. To this end, we invite you to attend a performance of traditional gong music, punctuated by folk dances and songs. Closely linked to daily life and the cycle of the seasons, the belief systems of the ethnic groups of the Central Highlands compose a mystical world where the playing of the gong constitutes a privileged language between men, divinities and the supernatural world.
The sublime lake of Lak
This vast natural body of water in the Central Highlands is one of the most beautiful natural sites in the region. Nature has surpassed itself by composing here a picture of great beauty: an immense expanse of water surrounded by rice fields and sleeping volcanic mounts. Formed in an ancient crater, Lak Lake is the second largest natural lake in Vietnam, covering some 650 hectares, with a length of about 5 km, and a width of 2 km. A pleasant boat ride will allow you to appreciate all the beauty of this natural jewel. Perched on the heights of the lake, you can see the former residence of Emperor Bao Dai who liked to come here to relax and go hunting.
Taste the Vietnamese soil
Benefiting from a temperate climate and fertile land, the Central Highlands and Dak Lak province are blessed with prosperous agriculture. As you travel through this beautiful hilly region you will have the opportunity to see various plantations: rubber, coffee, tea, pepper or cocoa. Stops in the farms will be an excellent opportunity to taste the products of the exceptional Vietnamese soil.
Yok Don National Park
Yok Don National Park is one of Vietnam's largest nature reserves, with 120,500 hectares of mainly deciduous forest in the middle of which the Serepok River flows. Yok Don National Park has one of Vietnam's richest forests in terms of biodiversity, which has become an important site for the conservation of globally threatened species such as the Indochinese tiger and leopard, the Indian elephant and the gaur.
Best season:
Dak Lak province can be visited at any season of the year. Beware of heavy rains between July and September.
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