Vietnam’s Central Highlands Experience

DAY 1: PLEIKU – KON TUM

Upon arrival to Pleiku Airport, our driver will be waiting to provide transport for the 50-minute drive to Kon Tum for check in at the hotel.

After settling in, venture out to visit Gia Rai villages. The Gia Rai hill tribe group believes in the existence of genies and hold rituals connected to this faith. The group is a matriarchal society, in which the women are free to choose who they marry. The husband lives with the wife’s family and inheritance is passed on to the daughters. Each village has a communal house called a rong, a central stilt house with a tall, steeply pitched thatched roof. No nails are used in the bamboo construction.

At the end of the afternoon return to Kon Tum. Evening at leisure.

Overnight in Kon Tum.

DAY 2: KON TUM – KON KO TU VILLAGE HOMESTAY

Begin this morning with a 1-hour drive to visit the Sodra people in Kon Ray and Kon Bil villages. Their homes are long stilt houses built out of bamboo and straw, secured with rattan.

Drive on to a Jo Long hill tribe village called Kon Du, catching glimpses of hand weaving on giant looms or the eerie wooden statues in the cemeteries.  

After checking out of the hotel, drive 30-minutes to the Bhanar Village of Kon Ko Tu. On arrival, start a 4-km trek from Kon Ko Tu village along the Dak Bla riverbank, where local villagers are hard at work tending buffaloes, preparing crops for harvest, and transporting their produce to the village market. Return by a pirogue to Kon Ko Tu village.

Tonight’s dinner is a local treat, including a Gong show and Xoang dancing and the chance to sample some local rice wine.

Overnight in a Homestay.

DAY 3: KON KO TU VILLAGE HOMESTAY – BUON MA THUOT

Depart Kon Ko Tu Village and drive back 30-minutes to Kom Tum to explore the town’s old wooden church. It is an interesting blend of hill tribe and European architecture. Continue on to visit the Bahnar hill tribe groups of Pleitenghia and Kanhnogokotu, where animist beliefs are still a part of everyday life. The most famous spirits are the kings of water, fire and wind, represented by shamans who are involved in rain-making ceremonies and other rituals.

Depart the Kon Tum area on a 5 hour journey to Buon Ma Thuot, passing by countless coffee, rubber, and pepper plantations.

Close to Buon Ma Thuot, stop to enjoy the scenery and panoramic views of the lowland country. The region is inhabited by Jarai hill tribe, the largest ethnic group in the Central Highlands with an estimated population of 330,000 people.

After checking into the hotel, visit the local market with a huge array of fresh food, if time permits. It is a must to have some coffee on this journey. Buon Ma Thuot has lovely outdoor coffee shops to blend in with the locals and laze away the evenings.

Overnight in Buon Ma Thuot

DAY 4: BUON MA THUOT – LAK LAKE – DRAY SAP – DEPARTURE

This morning, drive 1.5 hr to Lak Lake. Visit the Jun ethnic minority village, where people still follow their ancestral ways of fishing, weaving brocade, and water farming. Enjoy an elephant ride through Lak Lake.

On the way back to Buon Ma Thuot visit Dray Sap waterfall in the middle of hardwood rainforest (30 km from Buon Ma Thuot).

Drive to Buon Ma Thuot airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City (depending on flight details).