Ban Me Thuot – the Highland Central

Buon Ma Thuot or Ban Me Thuat is located deep in the Central Highlands, about 360 km from Sai Gon. Buon Ma Thuot by far is relatively off the beaten track. But the area is certainly worth the trip.

Buon Ma Thuot offers the travelers the fresh nature beauty characterized by temperate climate, waterfalls, rivers, lakes and national parks. Buon Ma Thuot is home the a number of ethnic minorities of which the century-old traditions are well kept. Traveling in this area the visitor should not miss a memorable night sharing the traditional dance with a local ethnic group by the fire.

You can have a trekking trip through the ethnic villages which are surrounded by peaceful and fresh nature. You can also visit Ban Don Village where wild elephants are still being domesticated and enjoy an adventure with an elephant ride through the green forest.

Buon Ma Thuot is where you can find the best coffee in Vietnam. You may want to enhance your experience of this coffee town with some peaceful moments at a local garden cafe.

Tourist Attractions around Buon Ma Thuot

Getting closed to/ Approaching the legendary Ban Don…

Ban Don -Buon Don

The first owner of the vast, wild and serene land was Ja Wam, a rich, talent and beautiful Ede female chieftain. One day, N Thul K'Nul appeared and she generously shared the ownership with him, and they were side by side not only to wake up and grow this potential land but also they founded one of the rarest trade-villages in Viet Nam - The village of wild elephant hunters and tamers. Beside that, both legendary leaders had set a very colourfully and specially cultural crossed base for communities of Ede, M'Nong, Jrai, Lao…

Buon Don, Dak Lak

Buon Don is located northwest of Buon Ma Thuot in Dak Lak province, close to the Cambodian border, approximately 42 km from Buon Ma Thuot. Buon Don is well known as the native land of elephant hunters and trainers throughout Southeast Asia.

Buon Don has been famous for its Kru, powerful elephant tribe leaders, for a long time, and is well known in India and France for its elephant. Y Pui, a 102-year-old man (1883-1985) who tamed over 450 elephants, spent part of his life as Bao Dai King’s mahout. Elephant training and hunting has been passed down through generations.It takes 67 months to domesticate a wild elephant. In the last few years, tourists have been more eager to visit Buon Don, the elephants’ home in Dak Lak. Their main interest being to admire the animals and to understand their delicate situation. Surveys are now being conducted throughout the country to evaluate the elephant situation and to better organize protection projects.

The site is 1.400 hecta with truly natural views, vast and great "broadleaf" forest - the only one in Viet Nam. In the East, there exits the Chu Mar mountains like a greatwall protecting. In the West there lays a deep blue lake called Dak Minh like a silverplated mirror…All makes a amazingly natural scene! There has been co-existing a very colourful, various and traditional mixed culture of ethnic minorities.

When the dark falls down covering the highland forest, by the outdoor fire, it is the time for everyone to enjoy the "Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage Humanity" acknowledged by UNESCO - Gong & Ching Show, one of the most admirable cultural features of highland minoritty people. No sooner you hear the unique sound than you enjoy drinking "Can" alcohol - a special wine made by mountainous people, or listening to the legend of hunting and taming wild elephants, of ancient villages, falls and mounts…or dancing passionately and rhythmically with charming, nice upcountry girls.

"To the Land of Originality" is the fastest way for you to touch, to contact the admirable, amazing legend of "broadleaf" forests, valley of wild elephants, of the greatest tribe leaders in South East Asia, and contemplate so wonderful, marvellous a view that hard to find somewhere else!

Ban Don (Buon Don): Straddling the Serepok River, Don Village for long has been famous for domesticating wild elephants. Visiting Ban Don you'll learn a lot about their long tradition of taming wild elephants and legends of the elephant-training King. Adventurous enough, you can get a dug-out canoe and drift along the Serepok River to visit the 7-branched waterfalls. There's also an option of riding elephant through the wild of Yok Don National Park.

Tur Village is an Ede Village, located 13 km from Buon Ma Thuot. The village still preserves many of the Ede century-old customs.

Lak Lake is 56km south of Buon Ma Thuot City, on the way from Buon Ma Thuot to Da Lat. The lake covers an area of 500ha with elevation of 500m. Lak Lake is surrounded by dense forests with rich wild life.

Jun Village is home to the M'nong Rlam People who live in long houses. The village is located by the Lak Lake. The travellers to the village have the options of riding elephant, rowing in dug-out boats and staying with a local family overnight.

M'Lieng is another village of the M'Nong People. Nestled in the shadows of the mountains and decorated with the Lak Lake and Kron Ana River, M'Lieng still preserves most of its untouched traditions and customs. M'Lieng can only be reached by a dug-out boat trip or an elephant ride from Jun Village.

Dray Nur Waterfall is located 25km south of Buon Ma Thuot City. Dray Nur is of 250m in length and 30m in height. The waterfall is created by the water of Krong Ana and Krong No Rivers. There's a cave underneath the waterfall that brings exotic experience to the adventure travellers.

Dray Sap Waterfall is 30km from Buon Ma Thuot. The name of the waterfall means “Wterfall of Mist” which is just how the fall looks like when you face it. The waterfall can be heard from far away.

How to travel

Travel and Tours

Prolands Tours has got a number of biking and motorbiking tours for our adventure travellers to discover the secrets of the Central Highlands. Please contact us for further details.

Accommodation

There are many hotels in Buon Ma Thuot City ranging from standard to 3 star standard. For the adventure travellers you may like to stay at one of the ethnic villages which could be an unforgettable experience.

Getting there and away

By air: There are daily direct flights between Ho Chi Minh City – Buon Ma Thuot and Da Nang – Buon Ma Thuot. The direct flight time is about 1 hour.

By road: Buon Ma Thuot is 190 km from Nha Trang, 210 km northwest of Da Lat, 197 km from Pleiku, 350km from Ho Chi Minh City and 230km southwest of Quy Nhon.