Located in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, Buon Ma Thuot, also known as Buon Me Thuot or Ban Me Thuot, is the provincial capital of Dak Lak. In Vietnam’s Central Highlands region, the city is dubbed as the “capital of coffee” with approximately 500,000 in population.

The quiet town is still a work in progress but is quickly developing thanks to its internal investments.

History

Lê Hồng Phong street, Buôn Ma Thuột 1960s and now. Photo: Khánh Hmoong

The town sits on a flat highland that is about 536 m above sea level. This unassuming town also played a huge role in the history of the Southeast Asian country when it was declared the provincial administrative center when the French established the Dak Lak Province.

In 1975, the historical “Battle of Ban Me Thuot” happened which destroyed South Vietnam II Corps Tactical Zone. Furthermore, the battle played a major part in an operation called “Campaign 275” that led to the fall of the Tay Nguyen region.

Main Attractions

Ban Don

This tourist spot is about 40 km northwest of Buon Ma Thuot and has a mix of ethnic groups like Mnong, Edeng, and Lao. For tourists who want to make a stop at this area, it’s advisable to arrange a tour to get around the village more effectively and make most of the activities available. The village offers visitors to ride elephants which should be a treat!

Lak Lake

It is said to be the mother lake in the Central Highlands. For tourists who want to visit the lake, you can go to this spot via bus which should take you approximately an hour.

Dray Nur and Dray Sap Waterfalls

Dray Nur Waterfalls. Photo: David Brewer

The waterfalls are almost joint because of the broken bridge in between them. But in order to see both, tourists will have to travel around 23 km full circle. Although swimming is prohibited, the road to Dray Nur and Dray Sur is a pretty drive and the waterfalls are a majestic sight to see.

Rice Paper Village

There are a lot of popular Vietnamese dishes that make use of rice paper but there’s not a lot of people that still make them by hand. One village in Buon Ma Thuot still upholds this food craft and it’s nice to watch this traditional food-making process.

Recreational

Book an Easyrider – For $55, you can rent a motorbike and go around Buon Ma Thuot. It would be fun to navigate around the city as quiet and peaceful as this one.

Enjoy the Coffee – Since it’s the “capital of coffee” in the region, why not look for the best coffee in town? There is limitless coffee everywhere. There is also a coffee museum operated by the “Trung Nguyen” company which also serves as the town’s attraction.

Festivals

Coffee Festival – This event is held every two years to promote their coffee and to advertise Vietnamese coffee in general. The festival consists of parades, expos, coffee-making contests, and carnivals.

Elephant Racing Festival – This festival takes place along the banks of the Serepok River. Long before the festival takes place, elephant owners make sure to feed their elephants to bulk them up. During the race, elephants race against each other on the beat of the drumming gongs.