Mang Den Travel Guide

Mang Den is a small town, covering an area of ​​148.07 km2, located on a plateau in Kon Plong district, about 60 km from Kon Tum city, Kon Tum province. Mang Den is known as "Little Da Lat" with its primeval forests, lakes, waterfalls, pine forests, cool and fresh climate, and peaceful atmosphere.

The road leading to Mang Den town through a pine forest. Photo: Mangdentrongtoi

Beautiful season

The peak tourist season in Mang Den is from October to December each year. This is when Kon Tum experiences cool weather mixed with warm sunshine and dry conditions. The cherry blossoms bloom profusely around New Year's Day. However, depending on the weather, the flowers may bloom later.

Mang Den has flowers in bloom at every time of year. If you visit in February, you'll see mimosa and bauhinia flowers; in March or April, you'll see jacaranda trees. After that, there are also purple rhododendron flowers.

A peaceful scene in Mang Den with fluffy clouds floating over the mountains. Photo: Kontumtrongtoi

Move

Tourists from Hanoi should consider flying as it's quite far, about 1,100 km. The nearest airport to Mang Den is Pleiku (Gia Lai), about 100 km away, and the journey by car takes about 2 hours.

Tourists from Ho Chi Minh City can drive themselves along National Highway 14, a distance of approximately 600 km, passing through Binh Phuoc, Dak Nong, Dak Lak, and Gia Lai provinces.

Buses from Ho Chi Minh City, departing from the Eastern Bus Station, are available from companies such as Long Van, Minh Quoc, Phong Phu, Phuong Thu, etc. Ticket prices range from 250,000 VND to 450,000 VND. The journey takes approximately 10 to 12 hours.

There are many transportation options from Kon Tum city to Mang Den, including taxis, buses, or self-driving cars.

Accommodation

Mang Den is a small town, so there aren't many large hotels. Golden Boutique Hotel is a 4-star hotel with 63 rooms featuring large windows and balconies, full amenities, and a swimming pool. Dak Ke Mang Den is a 3-star hotel with 4 villas, a stilt house, and two hotel suites with 45 rooms.

Additionally, the main type of accommodation here is homestays. Homestays in Mang Den are beautiful and reasonably priced, ranging from 300,000 VND to 800,000 VND per night per room. Homestays often have dorm rooms, priced from 150,000 VND to 250,000 VND per bed. Some homestays to consider include: Toki, Paradiso, May Lang Thang, Sun Homestay...

Where to play

Pa Sy Waterfall Tourist Area

The center of the Pa Sy Waterfall tourist area. Photo: Luhanhvietnam

Spanning a total area of ​​25 hectares, the Pa Sy Waterfall eco-tourism area includes a system of pathways, communal houses, handicraft workshops, a cultural exhibition house, and vegetable and flower farms. The centerpiece of the tourist area is Pa Sy Waterfall, located at an altitude of approximately 1,500 meters above sea level. The waterfall is formed from the three largest streams in Mang Den, hence its name Pau Suh (meaning three streams converging into one).

Dak Ke Lake

Dak Ke Lake. Photo: Kontumtrongtoi

Dak Ke Lake, originally named Toong Ro Poong Lake, covers approximately 3 hectares and is located in the center of Mang Den town. Currently, the lake offers recreational activities such as boating, pedal boating, fishing, and dining. Visitors can rent ox carts or horse-drawn carriages to explore the lake and enjoy the scenery. In summer, visitors can see a multitude of jacaranda trees in full bloom, while in winter, cherry blossoms can be seen.

Experience picking fruits and vegetables at the farms.

The town of Mang Den has been designated by Kon Tum province for investment in the development of high-tech farms, producing clean and fresh fruits and vegetables. Tourists visiting Mang Den can experience picking and enjoying fruits right in the orchards. Popular fruits include mandarin oranges, green pomelos, avocados, tomatoes, strawberries, cantaloupes, and flowers such as chrysanthemums and lilies. These farms do not charge an entrance fee; visitors are charged separately for the produce they harvest and wish to take home.

Some suggested addresses: Ê Ban farm, Orfarm, Biophap, Măng Đen Xanh farm, Tâm An Organic farm, Hùng Ly Garden...

Wooden Sculpture Garden

Mang Den Wooden Sculpture Garden. Photo: Kontumtrongtoi

The sculpture garden was built in 2013, near the Pa Sy waterfall area on a hillside covering more than 1 hectare of primary forest. Besides stone-paved pathways, the garden features 100 wooden sculptures crafted by 33 artisans from various ethnic groups in the province. The sculptures depict diverse aspects of daily life and work in the northern Central Highlands, such as men holding axes and machetes, smoking, and hunting; women pounding rice, weaving, carrying children, and working in the fields; people playing music and drinking rice wine. Along with human figures, there are also sculptures of animals familiar to the local people, such as birds, dogs, cats, pigs, monkeys, snakes, and elephants.

Khanh Lam Pagoda

Khánh Lâm Pagoda is built on an area of ​​10 hectares, 1,200 meters above sea level. From the foot of the hill, following the triple-arched gate in front, and climbing over 200 stone steps, the pagoda appears majestic, hidden beneath the trees. Standing out amidst the green space is the main hall with its three-tiered roof structure, combining traditional pagoda architecture with communal houses, reflecting the cultural identity of the Central Highlands. In front of the main hall, along with the bell tower and drum tower, is a 17-meter-tall statue of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva and a symmetrical lotus pond, creating a harmonious landscape.

Mang Den pedestrian street

Mang Den pedestrian street. Photo: Kontum Online

The Mang Den pedestrian and food street, also known as Sunset Boulevard, is located on Vo Nguyen Giap Street in the town center. The pedestrian street features a system of hotels and restaurants with fully equipped accommodations and scenic views of mountains, water, and sky, making it an ideal place for tourists to rest, relax, and enjoy the distinctive cuisine of Mang Den.

What to eat

Sichuan pepper hot pot

Szechuan pepper hot pot and chicken salad with dried bamboo shoots. Photo: Tam Anh

The dish sounds spicy just from its name, but that's exactly what makes it so suitable for the climate of Mang Den. The broth is simmered from various vegetables and herbs such as goji berries and red dates. The broth is simmered for many hours to achieve a naturally sweet and clear flavor.

Sichuan pepper hot pot is served in a similar style to Sichuan hot pot, divided into two compartments with two different flavors, one spicy and one non-spicy. To best appreciate the deliciousness of the dish, diners should try the spicy portion.

Chicken salad with dried bamboo shoots

Chicken and dried bamboo shoot salad (Nộm gà măng khô) has two main ingredients: chicken and dried bamboo shoots, along with peanuts and various vegetables such as mint, onions, and carrots. It's a dish that's no different from any other salad, with its sweet and sour taste. However, this combination creates a unique flavor not found anywhere else.

Snakehead fish noodle soup

The rice noodles are made from rice flour, the snakehead fish is steamed and filleted, the bitter greens are pickled and rinsed, along with herbs and spices such as scallions, cilantro, Vietnamese coriander, and chili peppers. The special feature of snakehead fish rice noodle soup is that it's cooked directly in individual pots on the stove before being served to customers. Therefore, the dish remains hot and simmering for a long time. Each serving of rice noodle soup includes a large piece of snakehead fish, accompanied by small bitter greens. Diners add the greens to the rice noodles and enjoy.

Grilled chicken with bamboo rice

Grilled chicken by Ms. Sinh.

This is a traditional local dish. The chickens are usually free-range, resulting in firm, succulent meat. Before grilling, they are stuffed with wild pepper leaves, onions, lemongrass, chili peppers, etc., making them very fragrant when cooked. The charcoal grill must be very hot, and each batch takes about 20 to 30 minutes to grill. Grilled chicken tastes best when eaten hot, with crispy, golden-brown skin and flavorful meat. Grilled chicken is usually served with sticky rice cooked in bamboo tubes, and peanut or sesame salt.

Here are some restaurant suggestions:

- Mang Den Inn: 55 Ngo Quyen Street
- Central Highlands Restaurant: 35 Truong Chinh Street
- Grilled chicken with sticky rice at Co Sinh's: H7RJ+4QQ, AH132, Dak Long
- Sticky rice with bamboo shoots and fish: at the intersection of Le Hong Phong and Le Loi streets.
- Snakehead fish noodle soup at Mang Den A Kay 7: Mang Den Market

Note

- The road to Mang Den is quite steep and winding, so please be aware if you are driving yourself.

- Mang Den gets chilly in the early morning and evening, so bring plenty of warm clothes.

Tam Anh