Admire the unique colors of Vietnam's largest deciduous forest during the leaf-shedding season.

A close-up view of the unique colors of the deciduous forest in Yok Don National Park ( Dak Lak ) during the autumn leaf fall.

Every year, around the end of November, the vast dipterocarp forest in Yok Don National Park (Buon Don commune, Dak Lak province) dons a vibrant array of colors.

The vibrant, unique new coat of orange, yellow, and red is created by the deciduous trees shedding their leaves.

Along the legendary Serepok River, with its year-round flowing water and a clear blue sky, thousands of hectares of dipterocarp forests simultaneously change their leaves, creating a breathtaking scene.

When the dry season arrives, the dipterocarp trees begin to shed their leaves, leaving behind vast areas of bare forest, followed by the emergence of new, lush green foliage. This transformation creates a unique beauty that attracts tourists to admire it.

On the ground, layers of dry leaves rustled and fell, covering the pathway and forming a shimmering golden carpet.

The deciduous forest during the leaf-changing season not only offers beautiful scenery but also creates a fresh and pleasant atmosphere for those who love exploring and learning about nature.

The leaf-changing season in the dipterocarp forests of Dak Lak usually lasts from December of the previous year to the end of February of the following year. This is the time when the forest takes on a colorful hue, creating a tranquil and nostalgic atmosphere.

Besides the falling leaves, this is also the period when forest trees shed their old, rough bark to make way for new growth. This is also when the National Park staff will burn the undergrowth to prevent forest fires; the bark on the tree trunks dries out, cracks, and peels off wherever the fire spreads. This is also a self-defense mechanism of the plants living in Yok Don National Park.

Yok Don National Park, spanning over 115,000 hectares, is the only place in Vietnam with a vast natural deciduous forest ecosystem. This type of forest is endemic to the Central Highlands of Vietnam in particular and Southeast Asia in general; it is classified as a Category A protected area of international importance.

Forest management and protection here are always given special attention, especially during the dry season and the leaf-falling season. Forest rangers regularly patrol during hot weather to deal with flammable materials and warn of potential fires that could affect the flora and fauna living in the National Park.

In addition, forest rangers also conduct patrols along streams and through forests to protect animals from human hunting.

According to Mr. Vu Duc Gioi, Deputy Director of the Environmental Education and Services Center of Yok Don National Park, the area has a characteristic ecosystem of tropical deciduous broadleaf forests, also known as dipterocarp forests. The forests here mainly consist of oil-bearing trees, which are drought-resistant during the dry season in the Central Highlands, creating a very unique ecosystem.

In November 2024, Yok Don National Park was recognized as the largest national park preserving the dry dipterocarp forest ecosystem in Vietnam.