The most beautiful waterfall in the Central Highlands.

The travel website "The Local Vietnam" ranked K50 Waterfall (Kbang District, Gia Lai Province) in second place (only behind Ban Gioc Waterfall, Cao Bang) in its Top 10 most beautiful waterfalls in Vietnam. The road to the waterfall has become more accessible, allowing visitors to admire the beauty of this "princess" hidden amidst the vast forests of the Central Highlands.

Choosing the first day of July, we planned a trip to visit K50 Waterfall – a masterpiece of nature in the heart of the Kon Chư Răng Nature Reserve (Kbang district). The waterfall flows from the Kon Hà Nừng plateau down to the South Central coastal plain, merging with the Côn River and finally emptying into the East Sea. The harmonious blend of towering, millions-of-years-old rocks and rugged terrain, surrounded by towering ancient trees, has created the majestic K50 Waterfall, standing tall amidst the vast forest. It is also home to the swallows' cave, likened to the eyes of the K50 maiden.

From the center of Pleiku City to Kbang district town, the journey is 93km, taking nearly 2 hours. From Kbang town, we continued north along the Eastern Truong Son Road for another 70km to reach the Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve Management Board. From there, we decided to approach the waterfall by riding on the back of motorbikes for 16km through the forest, driven by skilled riders who regularly use their motorbikes, which have upgraded their gears to 10-tooth or even 8-tooth sprockets to overcome the steep slopes. This option allowed us to avoid walking through the forest and mountains, and we could return on the same day.

The waterfall is named K50 because its height is approximately 50 meters from the top to the bottom. It's also known as Hang En Waterfall because there's a large cave behind it, home to many swallows, their calls echoing throughout the area. Reflecting the clouds in the sky, the waterfall cascades down the cliff face vertically, creating swirling mist. Against the deep blue sky, white foam splashes, and mist rises, enveloping a vast and majestic space. The feeling of being close to the wondrous world of nature gradually unfolds before your eyes, hidden beneath the silent, pristine forest canopy.

The beauty of K50 waterfall. Photo: ANH CHIEM

To reach the waterfall, you need to be well-prepared physically, mentally, and with strong determination and survival skills. The most suitable attire is hiking boots, mountaineering boots, water boots, and non-slip shoes. To reach the waterfall, visitors must overcome many steep, winding sections made of small concrete slabs, making their hearts race. The dirt path is slippery; some sections require clinging to ropes, while others require walking down in foggy weather. Our phones started losing signal, sometimes clear, sometimes not. A wise decision at this point was to turn off our phones because the jungle demands complete presence, full concentration, and all our senses. We disconnected from everything outside and immersed ourselves in nature. It felt like we were returning to a primeval era, to the dawn of creation when the earth was still wild and untamed.

All the fatigue and difficulties of the exploration journey seemed to vanish, as a magnificent beauty unfolded before our eyes, a harmonious blend of geological layers, rocks, water, trees, and the insignificance of humanity. The waterfall gradually opened, the water cascading gently like a morning mist, then suddenly transforming into a powerful torrent, surging and winding through the rocks, creating a poetic scene. Here, the water and the air part ways. The water splashes playfully while the air rushes upwards, forming a powerful mist that keeps the surrounding vegetation lush and green in all seasons. Under the sunlight, the waterfall shimmers with a silvery, bright, and sparkling light. On sunny days, it forms seven-colored rainbows, making the scene even more magical, as if participating in a light festival with dazzling fireworks. The stream flowed day and night, playfully dancing and frolicking, completely oblivious to the crowded, noisy, and bustling world outside. Everyone in the group was stunned, amazed, and then overwhelmed by the captivating and utterly convincing beauty of nature. The feeling of being so close to the wondrous world of the mountains and forests, admiring the breathtaking scenery, was truly worth a thousand times the hardship they had endured.

I love every corner of this place, with its dense forest paths, intertwined vines, and lush green ferns swaying in the sun and wind. People often say that trips to the forest to visit waterfalls like this help them overcome their own limitations. But I think we can't overcome the power or limitations of nature. Perhaps we can only break free from the limitations in our thinking and find a way to connect with nature. Perhaps we can only step out of our comfort zone, that's all!

The allure of K50 Waterfall also lies in the challenge of conquering it, especially during the rainy season when the water flows fiercely and violently, cascading down in a torrent of foam. The wind whistles and whistles, and the footsteps of those following each other echo as they cling to ropes to descend into the cave to visit the "eyes of K50." Sometimes, exhausted, they lie sprawled beside the lush ferns, gazing up at the clouds through the endless green banana leaves of the forest, then drift off to sleep, taking a long, refreshing breath of the deep forest air and listening to the powerful sound of the water plunging into the cave.

Starting from the stream at the foot of the K50 waterfall, crossing the entrance to the cave of the grass swallows, cutting through the old forest, winding through the rocky rapids, and finally clinging to a large rock. Another route is to go over the slippery slope halfway up the waterfall—right behind the giant, shimmering white curtain of water. The quiet, mysterious stillness of the deep cave gives way to the chirping calls of flocks of swallows circling at the cave entrance, their wings swaying and their songs echoing in harmony.

Looking from the top of the waterfall upstream, one can see a vast, distant canyon with jagged rocks and jagged gorges, dimly visible amidst the mist and spray like morning mist and waves. The rocky outcrops and deep gorges shimmer and spread out in a dance of water, creating a dreamy, ethereal spectacle. With the pristine, pure sounds of the mountains and forests, standing in the heart of the waterfall, we felt even more insignificant, small in this immense and majestic space. The randomly arranged rocks, a product of nature's design, served as places to sit and admire the view, or to playfully dip our feet in the cool, refreshing water. Our dreams were strangely hidden and haunting, reflecting and drifting through each step of the great forest, illuminating the endless K50 waterfall that sings day and night.

Like a magnificent and splendid stage, the "eyes of the K50 waterfall" truly shines with the title "The most beautiful waterfall in the Central Highlands" and many fascinating stories. In the distance, a road is clearly visible; I wish it could remain peacefully nestled beside the thousand-year-old waterfall. As I left, I carried with me the charming image of an elderly Gia Rai woman singing on a dugout canoe upstream on a warm, windy morning. I know for sure that I will have many more opportunities to return to this place someday to hear the waterfalls tell their age-old stories.

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