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| DAKLAK |
The area has a tropical climate with the distinct dry and rainy seasons. The rainy season lasts from May to November when the temperature varies between 20 and 25oC.
Dac Lac has many beautiful lakes such as Ea Kao, Eas No, Eo Don. Lac Lake is where the M’nong minority has been living for many generations. Dac Lac’s historical vestiges include Buon Ma Thuot Prison, Dak Tua underground tunnels, and Bao Dai King’s building. Daclac province is located in the Daclac plateau, one of the three large plateaus in the central Highlands. Daclac plateau, 600 meters above sea level, is blessed with basaltic soil. The southern part of the province is lower and has several bodies of water. Buon Ma Thuot which is 536 meters above sea level is the provincial capital of Daclac. It is situated in the middle of the largest settlement on the Central Highlands. The majority of the local inhabitants are the E De people, one of the several groups of ethnic minority on the Central Highlands. The peculiar trait of the city is that there are many town houses made of wood in the inner city while many other houses in the suburbs are those on stilt. The city is also surrounded by fruit gardens, rubber plantations, coffee gardens, and vegetables. Buon Ma Thuot is 1,399 kilometers south of Hanoi.
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| D'raysap Water Fall |
This is the native land of the best elephant hunters and trainers throughout Southeast Asia. the commune is located nearby the bank of the Serepok river, about 50 kilometers from Buon Ma Thuot. Constant development of hunting elephants and other big forest animals from time immemorial has made Buon Don regionally reputed as the brisk trading centre on the Central Highlands. This is the reason why unlike other regions throughout the Central Highlands, there has never been an exodus of immigrations to the area nor a nomadic lifestyle ever existed there. Visitors to Buon Me Thuot can see big wooden structures are meticulously chiseled and carved. There are other wooden houses on stilt the simple structures of which are brightly decorated with different coats of red paint. The long prosperity brought about from international trading in the city can be seen through the location of moss-covered 13th century Cham towers along side the construction of tombs where were the burial ground of ancient rich and powerful tribal chiefs whose influence and wealth had been learnt by words of mouths as far as Myanmar, India and France.
Nowadays visitors to Buon Don will still have a chance to make contact with courageous young men sitting on the back of domesticated elephants. Visitors are likely to be inclined to having a try on the bamk of an elephant. Curious visitors may also try to touch a spear head hang on the wall. that is the hunting tool of an elephant hunter.
If you are lucky enough on your visit to Buon Don you will be able to talk to the hero of the mountain who is named Kru. This man has made a record in the elephant hunting circles by successful trapping of as many as 300 elephants.
D'raysap Water Fall:
The water fall is 30 kilometers from Buon Me Thuot. D'raysap is the name in the E De language which means the Fall of Mist. This meaning is derived from an observation that the powerful flow of water that falls down from far above so fiercely that it touches the water surface below and makes it foaming. the continuous foaming of the water has made the falling water to become vaporous cloud of mist and the echoes of the falling water is heard from a long distance the year round.
The neighborhood of the water fall is covered with primitive forests through which is a small path leading to the fall. The ascending path paved with different layers of marble resembles a semi-circle fan.
Lac Lake:
The lake which is more than 500 hectares in area is 56 kilometers from Buon Ma Thuot to Ho Lac. The great body of water hemmed in between low lying mountains has from time immemorial been home to many kinds of wading birds such as wild ducks and teal.
On the lakeside of Ho Lac is a magnificent palace owned by the last Nguyen Kinh, Bao Dai. Standing on the balcony of the second floor visitors are assure of a panoramic view of the valley and the lake below. There remains the royal boat which had always been boarded for short cruises by the owner of the palace, Bao Dai, whenever he stayed in the palace. The big boat is made of Sao timber, a kink of tare wood ever used in the country to make good boats.
Giu Yok National Park:
The park is a preserved area of 58,200 hectares of primitive tropical forest. It is 40 kilometers from Buon Me Thuot.
Buon Jun (Jun Commune) :
It is on the lakeside of Ho Lac. It is the typical commune of the M'Nong, one of the several groups of ethnic minority on the central Highlands.
