Dak Lak: Discover the wild beauty and culture of the great forest

Dak Lak, the capital of the Central Highlands, is not only famous for its vast coffee plantations but also for its unspoiled natural beauty and diverse culture. This basalt land invites visitors to explore its vast lakes, majestic waterfalls and experience the lives of indigenous people.

Unmissable experiences in Dak Lak

Going beyond the familiar image, Dak Lak offers many unique exploration activities, from admiring natural landscapes to immersing in traditional festivals.

Listening to the breath of the great forest at Lak Lake

Known as the largest natural freshwater lake in the Central Highlands, Lak Lake appears like a watercolor painting in the middle of the mountains and forests. The calm, clear blue lake surface reflects the clouds and sky, bringing a sense of peace and relaxation. Around the lake are ancient villages of the M'Nong people, where visitors can learn about the longhouse architecture and local cultural life. Nearby, Bao Dai Palace on a high hill is also a historical attraction with a panoramic view of the lake.

Lak Lake with calm water surrounded by vast green forests. — Nestled among vast forests and shimmering waters, Dak Lak possesses a captivating, romantic and poetic beauty. Photo: @phanthu1996.

Admire the legendary waterfalls Dray Nur - Dray Sap

If Lak Lake has a poetic beauty, Dray Nur and Dray Sap waterfalls represent the majesty of nature. Associated with the legend of the love story of Serepok and H'Nang, the two waterfalls pouring down from the high cliff create a spectacular scene. The water splashes white foam, cool steam spreads throughout the space. This is not only a natural wonder but also a symbol of the rich spiritual life of ethnic minorities in Dak Lak.

Dray Nur waterfall pours down strongly, creating white foam amidst the mountain and forest scenery.

Explore Yok Don National Park

With an area of over 100,000 hectares, Yok Don National Park is the second largest special-use forest in Vietnam, notable for its unique dipterocarp forest ecosystem. This is the common home of thousands of rare species of flora and fauna. In particular, Yok Don is developing an elephant-friendly tourism model, allowing visitors to observe and learn about elephants in their natural habitat instead of traditional elephant riding activities.

Tourists observe the natural activities of elephants in Yok Don National Park. — Visitors here will have the opportunity to observe the natural activities of elephants at close range. Photo: Jun Pham.

Two elephants are swimming and playing in the river at Yok Don National Park. — Photo: Yok Don National Park.

Multi-colored culture

Dak Lak is a convergence of many ethnic groups such as Ede, M'Nong, Tay, Nung, creating a rich cultural picture. Visitors can explore the cultural space of Central Highlands gongs, an intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO, or admire the exquisite hand-woven brocades. If coming at the right time, visitors also have the opportunity to participate in typical festivals such as elephant racing festival, rice god worshiping ceremony, imbued with local cultural identity.

Rice god worshiping ceremony of ethnic people in Dak Lak. — Cast and the Rice God worship ceremony. Photo: Haha Family.

Taste of mountain cuisine

A journey to discover Dak Lak would not be complete without a culinary experience. The specialties with the rich flavors of the mountains and forests will surely leave an unforgettable impression.

Grilled chicken with bamboo rice: Free -range chicken is marinated with special spices and grilled over hot coals, served with fragrant sticky bamboo rice cooked in bamboo tubes.
Can wine: Traditional drink in festivals and community activities, with a characteristic sweet and spicy flavor.
Bitter melon: A specialty fruit of the Ede people, often used to cook soup or stir-fry with dried fish, has a unique slightly bitter taste.

Experience drinking traditional rice wine of the Central Highlands people. — Jun Pham shares the moment of drinking wine. Photo: Jun Pham

Golden grilled chicken platter served with bamboo rice and wild vegetables. — A tray of golden grilled chicken is very attractive. Photo: La Phan

Green bitter melon, a specialty vegetable of the Central Highlands. — Image of bitter melon. Photo: Dat Nguyen

Dak Lak travel experience

Dak Lak has two distinct seasons: the rainy season (May - October) and the dry season (November - April next year). The best time to travel is at the end of November, when the rainy season has just ended, the weather is cool and fresh. In addition, the first months of the year are also a great time to see coffee flowers and wildflowers in full bloom.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/dak-lak-kham-pha-ve-dep-hoang-so-va-van-hoa-dai-ngan-398814.html