DAK LAK PROVINCE
Geography
Dak Lak Province is in Central Highland in 400- 800m high above sea. It has border with Gia Lai in the north and east-north, Lam Dong Province in the south, Cambodia and Dak Nong Province in the west, Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa provinces in the east.
Dak Lak has a large natural area. 35% the province’s area is 1,000- 1,200m high mountain area while the Buon Ma Thuot Highland occupies 53.5%. The rich, flat red soil is a great advantage to develop long day – industrial trees like coffee, rubber, tea, and pepper…, to raise cattle and to grow forest. Alluvia soil is rice paddy and natural grass field. Dak Lak’s forest has abundant wood reserve and various rare animal species as elephant, lion, tiger, beer… There are many beautiful rivers, high waterfalls and lakes.
Climate: The Dak Lak’s climate is temperate with the annual average temperature is 24oC. There is a difference of only 5oC between the hottest month and the coldest one. The dry season lasts from November to April next year. It is quite cold, windy, and dry. The rainy season lasts from May to October with high rainy amount.
Tourism
There are beautiful and famous waterfalls such as: Thuy Tien, Trinh Nu, Krong Kmar, Bay Nhanh, among many big lakes such as Lak, Dak Mil. Coming to there, tourists are able to get in the primitive forests of the Chu Yang Sin, Yok Don National parks, visit Buon Don that is a well-known local of hunting and taming wild elephants, or make tour to Dak Lak’s historical vestiges like Bao Dai Palace, Yang Prong Tower, Buon Ma Thuot Prison, Dak Tua Cave.
Ethnic groups
There is not only imposing cultural heritage of native ethnic groups such as E De, M’Nong with remarkable epics such as Dam San, Dam Bri, Xinh Nha, genie lunar New Year pole, but also valuable tangible cultural heritage: dan da (stone musical instrument), gongs, T’rung, Klong Put…
Dak Lak has 44 ethnic groups living together. Although the ethnic groups do not form separate inhabiting territories, they are concentrated in certain regions with individual identity and tradition, created unique folk culture of particular characteristics of Central Highlands.
Traditional culture of Dak Lak is very plentiful and really attractive, especially historians, culturists, phonetics. Besides, traditional professions such as sculpting statues in tombs, knitting brocade, and original cultural rituals such as celebrating harvest festival, elephant race, and gong festival.
Transportation
Road: Dak Lak is 183km from Nha Trang (by National Highway No. 26), 180km from Pleiku (by National Highway No. 14), 352km from Ho Chi Minh City (by National Highway No. 14), 200km from Dalat (by National Highway No. 27), and 1,390km from Hanoi.
Air: Buon Ma Thuot Airport is 10km from the city centre. There are daily flights from Danang and Ho Chi Minh City.
