Gia Lai - Land of Epic Tales

This land not only holds the music of the past, but is also writing new songs – songs of resilience in labor and aspirations for greater heights.

“ Our destination is not a place , but a new perspective . ” This quote from a businessman evokes intense inspiration upon arriving in Gia Lai , a land of vast forests rich in identity, where nature, people, and culture blend harmoniously. Travel to share and be shared with . Travel to hear the past tell the story of the national treasure, the Hand Axe, and the Roc Tung - Go Da site – one of the places preserving the cultural traces of our human ancestors – Homo erectus. This epic land is providing a foundation for the present, and the present is writing new chapters full of aspirations for the future.

The symphony of the Central Highlands mountains and forests

A famous poet once summarized, "Music is the universal language of mankind . " Gia Lai is not just a land, but also a land of a melody – the melody of gongs echoing through the vast forests. The sound of gongs is not just music, but the breath of the mountains and forests, the heartbeat of the Bahnar and J'rai people, conveying sacred prayers to heaven and earth. Seeing the children in their traditional costumes on the magnificent stage, enthusiastically joining in with the drums and gongs, further reveals the powerful force of the vast forests.

Besides its gongs, Gia Lai also preserves majestic epics such as "Ho Mon" of the Bahnar people or "Dam Blom" of the J'rai people, which are not just stories but also keep the national spirit alive. This is an irreplaceable cultural heritage, evoking pride in every person from the Central Highlands.

The white color of coffee blossoms and the value derived from Mother Earth.

Someone once remarked, " Each flower is a small dream of nature . " Every March, Gia Lai is adorned with the pristine white of coffee blossoms , covering the hillsides and valleys. This white hue is not only beautiful but also carries a sweet fragrance, awakening memories and evoking emotions. The coffee blossom season is also the time when tourists from all over come to immerse themselves in the unique scenery and capture peaceful moments amidst the vast wilderness.

From those flowers, Gia Lai produces a quintessential product – coffee blossom honey . This sweet, fragrant, golden honey is not only a gift from nature but also the pride of the Central Highlands farmers. Furthermore, the coffee blossom tourism model is gradually developing, offering unique experiences, from visiting coffee farms and enjoying authentic coffee amidst the blossoms to exploring the honey-making process and experiencing the lives of the local people. Gia Lai is pioneering the landscape coffee model, combining sustainable agriculture and green tourism. The coffee hills are not only places of cultivation but also become resort spaces where tourists can enjoy the fresh air and feel the harmonious beauty of nature and people.

The vibrant energy of the young people of Gia Lai

Today, Gia Lai is not just about vast rubber plantations or the emerald green Lake Bien Ho, but also a place where young people are working together to build the future. One morning, sitting among a group of young entrepreneurs under the shade of trees in the city's central park, I felt the intense aspiration that permeated this place. Coming to the city during sleepless nights and meeting these young people , I truly understood the saying, " The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams . "

Phùng Thủy, Lưu Quang, Thanh Tâm, etc., young people are building their dreams from coffee brands that embody the essence of Gia Lai, offering not only unique flavors but also deeply rooted in the culture of the highlands. Or Y H'Lam, a resilient J'rai girl, with her "Fragrance of the Central Highlands Forest" brand made from macadamia nuts, preserving cultural identity while helping villagers improve their lives.

A Ngui, a proud young Bahnar man, is developing a community tourism area in K'Bang – where the culture of gong music, traditional rice wine, and age-old traditions are revived in every visitor's experience. These young people are proof of the vibrant energy and relentless creativity of Gia Lai.

The breath of identity in modern times

Gia Lai is constantly innovating, preserving its identity while keeping pace with the times. Handicrafts made from bamboo, rattan, and wood, as well as instant coffee and coffee-flavored biscuits, not only bear the mark of the Central Highlands but also conquer the international market. Nguyen Hai Phong of Tropico Central Highlands, with his coffee products, is building an organic ecological raw material area, creating a quality coffee product chain for Gia Lai. There are also many ideas for freeze-dried pineapple products, combining environmental protection and job creation for local farmers. This is how young people in Gia Lai are modernizing their identity while preserving the essence of their land, like the sweet, rich flavor of traditional rice wine.

Gia Lai in songs and dreams

A philosopher summarized: " Nature is never in a hurry , yet everything is achieved ." Without sowing and nurturing, there will be no bountiful harvest. Melodies like "The Eyes of Pleiku" or "The Shadow of the Kơ Nia Tree" have touched the hearts of many, telling the story of a Gia Lai that is both majestic and gentle . But this land is not only filled with the music of the past, but is also writing new songs – songs of resilience in labor and aspirations for greater heights.

The journey continues.

" A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step . " Looking to the future, Gia Lai is not only a tourist destination but also an economic and cultural center of the Central Highlands , a hub for entrepreneurship leveraging existing resources combined with indigenous knowledge and new technologies. The people of Gia Lai are innovating, from traditional agriculture with fruit trees and indigenous herbs to unique cultural tourism tours that immerse themselves in the lives of ethnic minorities.

Come to Gia Lai, where mountains, forests, and people blend together, where aspirations and identity shine brightly. The future emerges from the epic past of this land. The past will still be found in the future of this cool land.

I fondly remember the eyes of Pleiku , the lake overflowing with water !