Here are top things to do in Buon Ma Thuot:
1. DRAY SAP WATERFALL
Dray Sap waterfall is located about 39km from Buon Me Thuot city on the road towards the city. Ho Chi Minh City is the connecting point between the two provinces of Dak Lak and Dak Nong. You can travel by motorbike rented in the city or by car.
The height of the Dray Sap waterfall is about 20m and the width is quite impressive when it reaches nearly 100m. The majestic stream of water poured down from above forming white water with an impression of smoke.
The dry season in the Central Highlands has a rather dry and hot climate. When you come to Dray Sap waterfall, you will find that the water is always clear and clean, very suitable for an outdoor picnic.
If you visit the waterfall in the rainy season, the water on the waterfall is also full and stronger, you will fully feel the tropical ecosystem. However, the rain in the afternoon is often very heavy, you should also be wary.
Entering the pristine forest, passing the gorging streams, the convex rocks, sometimes meeting a waterfall falling from the cliffs makes us very excited. The deeper you go, the sound of the stream gurgling, the sound of rustling leaves or the sound of birds singing is replaced by the sound of the powerful pouring water. You will feel the very majestic scenery of the waterfall when going deep inside.
2. EA KAO LAKE
From the centre of Buon Ma Thuot city. Tourists drive along Highway 14 for about 4km, turn left and go for another 8km until they meet the Y Wang junction, ask for directions to enter Ea Kao Lake tourist area.
Ea Kao Lake means the lake that never runs out. Because the lake is always full of water at all times of the year. When the rainy season comes, from May to November, the water rises to the irrigation dam. In the dry season, the water goes down the middle of the calf. The surrounding scenery is wild and rustic with green and green forests and mountains. Soft red strips of land covered with grass and flowers … all create a lively picture that you can admire even in the rainy or dry season.
Covering an area of up to 120 hectares (not including the lake surface area). Although it is built with a modern structure, the whole project still bears the national cultural identity with diverse terrain from hillsides, slits, slope …
The point that makes visitors interested is the green space surrounding, the large lake, fresh air, creating an ideal ecological environment. The interior is divided into many small areas serving all the needs of visitors such as entertainment areas, motels, flower gardens, restaurants, botanical gardens, children’s areas, campsites, nature reserves. … Every area is conveniently arranged, rich and attractive in the landscape.
3. GIA LONG WATERFALL
As one of the beautiful waterfalls on the Serepok river. It located on the border between the two provinces of Dak Nong and Dak Lak. Gia Long Waterfall is also known as Dray Sap Thuong. The origin of the waterfall name is derived from the time when King Bao Dai arrived here to travel. Inspired by the natural beauty of the waterfall, he took the name of King Gia Long – the first king of the Nguyen Dynasty to name this waterfall.
This tower attracts visitors for its pure and rare beauty. On the journey to explore Gia Long waterfall, you seem to be lost in a “forgotten world” with a vast and majestic natural landscape. From the top of the tower that is more than ten meters high, the waterfall flows day and night rushing white foam. The sound of waterfalls and birds chirping in the surrounding green primitive forests makes you feel like you are in a magical wonderland.
4. TROHBU BOTANIC GARDEN
Not only is known as the new eco-tourism area of Dak Lak province. But Troh Bu is also known as the most beautiful landscape garden in the Central Highlands.
Located in Buon Nieng 3, Ea Neurol commune, Buon Don district, only about 13 kilometres west of Buon Me Thuot centre.
Because of the natural landscape filled with trees and cool streams. Troh Bu eco-tourism area was born. Troh Bu’s main goal is to preserve the natural forest orchids, as well as some other rare plant species in the Vietnamese highlands.
Although it is a privately owned botanical garden, people have taken great efforts in recreating the old forest environment and landscape for this place.
Stepping into Troh Bu. Visitors can not help but enjoy the many rich species of forest trees and the landscape is decorated very nicely and fancy.
The entrance gate of Troh Bu is quite special when grafted from many wooden trunks, bright red colour brings joy and luck to visitors.
Among the entrances of the tourist area are decorated with many fancy statues for the Central Highlands people.
As an ecotourism area, Troh Bu’s space is filled with plants and trees combined with an artificial lake to bring harmony and comfort.
5. SAC TU KHAI DOAN PAGODA
Located in the heart of Buon Ma Thuot, prominent with sophisticated architecture, imbued with Hue imperial appearance mixed with modern features, long history. When stopping in the sacred Central Highlands, do not forget to visit the famous Sac Tu Khai Doan pagoda.
When coming to Sac Tu Khai Doan pagoda,. Visitors not only can learn about the meaningful birth history and special architecture of the temple. But also discover more “one-of-a-kind” works.
The statue of Shakyamuni Buddha in the middle of the main hall was built of bronze with a height of 1.1m; wooden lotus 0.35m high. Many Buddha statues were built in many areas around the temple.
Especially not to mention the bronze bell 1.15m high, 2.7m in circumference, weighing 380kg, cast in January 1954, the symbol of Sac Tu Khai Doan.
Up to now, although it has been through many decades, Sac Tu Khai Doan pagoda still retains the inherent ancient architectural features, added more elaborate new works.
Currently, Sac Tu Khai Doan committed suicide is the largest place of Buddhist worship in Dak Lak. It is a must-visit destination for sightseeing and worship when travelling to Buon Ma Thuot city.
6. THANH TAM CATHEDRAL
Thanh Tam Church is located at 02 Phan Chu Trinh Street, Tan Loi Ward, Buon Me Thuot City. It is the cathedral of Buon Ma Thuot diocese, the first missionary facility in the highlands.
Coming to Thanh Tam Church, visitors will feel familiar with the design as the E De people’s longhouse. It is made entirely of wood, bringing the unique characteristics of the people of the Central Highlands. Thanh Tam Church has a length of 45m and a width of 12m, located on an area of 828m2, where there is a spacious space that can hold up to 1,200 seats. The church has a unique and delicate architecture so visitors can take souvenir photos with friends, relatives and family.
Initially, about 45 households were living in the area near Thanh Tam Church, scattered on the plantations, who were from many other localities to live. Only after the migration movement in 1954, the number of parishioners reached 4,000. Up to now, the number of parishioners over 11,000 people, of which the Kinh has 10,579 people, the Ede ethnic group is 521 people …
7. BAN ME THUOT BISHOP’S RESIDENCE
The bishops’ residence in Dak Lak is an old architectural work, built with mainly wood material, with a unique fish-scale tile roof. The special thing that makes the unique physique of the bishop’s building is the distinctive design of the local architecture – the communal house in the Central Highlands. In terms of creativity, the bishop’s building is considered a highly creative and artistic work, when it is very skillfully combining between the architecture of the communal house in the Central Highlands of the Gia Rai people, to the longhouse of the E- de ethnic people. In it, areas such as guest houses, living houses, and chapels are inspired by the Ede longhouse.
Coming here, visitors will not help to enjoy it when witnessing first-hand the unique, harmonious beauty of this project.
Surrounded by a green garden with many trees. Buon Ma Thuot Bishop House is considered a unique architectural work located in the middle of the landscape garden. Both simple and unique, superficial and very close to the cultural and religious life of the local people, Buon Ma Thuot bishops have always been a destination that captures a lot of love from far away visitors.
8. HOUSE EXILED BAN ME THUOT
Located in the centre of Buon Ma Thuot city, the Buon Ma Thuot (Dak Lak) exiled house was one of the most brutal of the prison camps. That the French-built to imprison and exile patriotic Vietnamese.
Despite being detained in harsh conditions and brutally tortured. The colonial government’s brutal tricks could not crush the resilient and indomitable will of patriotic soldiers.
At the Buon Ma Thuot exile house, the communist inmates united, overcame their physical and spiritual pain, organized many struggles against the harsh French colonial regime. Besides, persistently study, enlighten the revolution, turn the exile into a school of culture and politics.
Up to now, the monument still intact the old architectural model, including the gates, cells, tubs, the prison’s house, the infirmary, the kitchen and the fence. After many restorations works, the exiled house of Buon Ma Thuot has become one of the attractive places to visit in Dak Lak. The current cells are the place to display pictures and some artefacts to help visitors better imagine the difficult, but heroic years of the revolutionary soldiers here.
9. TRINH NU WATERFALL
Coming to Trinh Nu waterfall, visitors will be told about the legend of the M’nong village of the local people. Long ago, there was a beautiful H’wing who fell in love with a handsome and healthy boy in the village. They love each other, swear to the sea, but meet many difficulties in love. The girl immersed herself in the waterfall to keep her full of beautiful love, this waterfall is called the Virgin Waterfall.
Follow the winding roads, the stone steps, you can go along the flow of the Virgin waterfall to see the blue-green landscape here. After tired, visitors can take a break in the lovely leaf huts to mingle with nature, plants and cool water. Virgin Waterfall is simply a river rapid. In the dry season, the waterfall seems to be nestled on the rugged rock steps to wait for the rain to come, the water is pouring down, wild and extremely intense. All bring to Virgin Waterfall a wild beauty captivating human hearts.
Surrounding the waterfall are quartz rocks with various shapes, making the water more clear. Ruffling each cool water, visitors can feel the purity of the mountains and forests of the Central Highlands. The flat rocky beaches are often chosen by tourists as a camping ground to grill the fragrant meat after struggling under the fresh stream.
10. DAK LAK MUSEUM
Also known as the Museum of Ethnic Culture in the Central Highlands. Built on the main Bao Dai Palace – a historical relic of Dak Lak.
The museum has about 1,000 artefacts and images, organized into 3 main exhibition spaces (biodiversity, ethnic culture and history). This is a cultural architecture built in a modern style combined with special ethnic cultural traditions.
Dak Lak Museum is also one of the pioneering museums in the use of indigenous languages in the display.
