Visiting the famous twin waterfalls of the Central Highlands during the flood season.

In Dak Lak, even during the flood season, tourists can still experience viewing waterfalls, trekking, and paddleboarding at Dray Nur and Dray Sap, the twin waterfalls considered symbols of Dak Lak.

The Serepok River is an important tributary of the Mekong River, originating in Dak Lak province, flowing through Dak Nong province of Vietnam, and into Cambodia. The river divides into two major branches, forming the Dray Nur and Dray Sap waterfalls, known as the famous twin waterfalls of the Central Highlands. Located far from major tourist routes, the area is relatively uncrowded, allowing the waterfalls to retain their pristine beauty.

Dray Nur Waterfall is a mid-stream waterfall within the system of three waterfalls: Gia Long - Dray Nur - Dray Sap of the Serepok River system. The waterfall is approximately 250 meters long and over 30 meters high, connecting the banks of Dak Lak and Dak Nong provinces. Dray Sap Waterfall, about 50 meters high and 100 meters long, is known as the "most beautiful waterfall in the Central Highlands," located a short distance from Dray Nur Waterfall, across a suspension bridge.

The scene at Dray Sap waterfall during the rainy season, September 20th. Photo : Dinh Quang Hai

During a business trip to Dak Lak on September 20th, Dinh Quang Hai (27 years old, from Thanh Hoa ) visited the Dray Nur and Dray Sap twin waterfalls. Starting from the center of Buon Ma Thuot city, the first place he visited was Dray Nur waterfall. There, tourists can enjoy activities such as archery and off-road vehicle tours. However, due to limited time, he only took pictures before moving on to Dray Sap waterfall.

To reach the base of the waterfall, Hai crossed two suspension bridges leading to a long corridor with tree-shaded steps. From the suspension bridges, Dray Sap waterfall can be seen as a giant wall of water. Beyond the rocky corridor is a forest trail, then following the cliffs to the top of the waterfall, about 50 meters away, where visitors will find a clear and tranquil pool, a stark contrast to the turbulent water outside. Here, visitors can swim, paddleboard, kayak, take photos, and there are food and rest areas available, Hai said.

According to Mr. Hoang Long (38 years old), who currently works in tourism at the Dray Nur and Dray Sap waterfall tourist area, the waterfall forms three pools. The first pool has a shallow water level, allowing visitors to swim. The second pool has a higher water level and many slippery, sharp-edged rocks, so visitors need to follow the instructions of the lifeguards. The third pool is the deepest, about 10 meters, and visitors should avoid approaching areas marked with warning signs.

Because they arrived during high tide, kayaking at the foot of the waterfall was temporarily suspended. Hai experienced paddleboarding (SUP) in the clear stream area. "Immersing myself in the majestic nature and fresh air here is like a form of therapy after tiring days at work," he said. According to Hai, the experience of paddling amidst this vast forest landscape "is truly amazing and everyone should try it at least once."

After the experience was over, he headed back to Dray Nur to leave.

Hai experiences paddleboarding (SUP) in the clear water area next to Dray Sap waterfall. Photo : Dinh Quang Hai.

"If you visit the waterfall on days when the hydroelectric dam releases water (information will be provided every morning) or on days with high water levels, you will not be able to experience the boat tour to see the waterfall," Long said. Although the tour is sold year-round, it will be temporarily suspended on unsafe days.

To begin the tour, visitors will cycle from Dray Nur waterfall to Gia Long waterfall, the largest and most majestic waterfall in the cluster, and then take a boat from there back to Dray Nur waterfall.

Along the way, visitors can admire ancient trees thousands of years old, their roots clinging to rocks, or strangely shaped, dark gray volcanic rock formations millions of years old. Hidden behind the cascading white water of Dray Nur waterfall is a cave spanning over 3,000 square meters, filled with numerous rock formations and stalactites for visitors to explore . Along the way, visitors can stop to enjoy green tea, sweet potatoes, and grilled corn.

A typical tour lasts about 2-3 hours, priced per group, with a group of two costing around 1.7 million VND, including lunch featuring typical dishes of the Central Highlands such as grilled chicken with bamboo rice, bitter gourd with dried fish, wild vegetable salad, and beef with yellow ants.

However, due to the low number of tourists, tourism services here are limited. Hai advises visitors to prepare some snacks and drinks beforehand, and bring appropriate clothing and sun protection. He recommends paying attention to safety when crossing the suspension bridge and avoiding areas with warning signs about danger within the waterfall. He also suggests bringing a camera or drone to capture the majestic scenery of the twin waterfalls.

The cost of the trip includes: entrance fee to Dray Nur waterfall (30,000 VND); entrance fee to Dray Sap waterfall (80,000 VND); kayaking service in the waterfalls (100,000 VND); and a grilled chicken and sticky rice meal for 3 people (500,000 VND). Tourists can rent hotel rooms in Buon Ma Thuot city for between 350,000 and 600,000 VND per room per night.

The best time to visit the two waterfalls is from December to June each year. If you come at the end of the year, you will be able to admire the golden color of the wild sunflowers. From February to March is the coffee flowering season, attracting butterflies and creating a dreamy scene amidst the vast forests of the Central Highlands.

Visiting the waterfall during the rainy season, from July to November, "even if you don't get to take a boat ride at the foot of the falls, just admiring the majestic and powerful scenery of the waterfall is worth it," Hai said. Large, muddy streams of water cascade down the rocky ledge that blocks the river, which is about 70 meters wide and 8 meters high, creating sounds that echo through the mountains and forests.

Located about 30 km from Buon Ma Thuot city and about 11 km from the center of Dak Mam town, Krong No district, tourists can combine exploring the Dray Nur and Dray Sap twin waterfalls with the largest volcanic cave complex in Southeast Asia - Chu Bluk.

Quynh Mai

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