VietNamNet Bridge – Endowed with favourable natural conditions, many high mountains, long rivers and large lakes, the tourism industry of Lak District is relatively developed and is an important chain in tourism development of Dak Lak and Lam Dong provinces. Vietnam Business Forum invites to explore three scenic sites.

Lak Lake

Lak Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in Dak Lak Province and the second largest in Vietnam after Ba Be Lake. It is surrounded by high mountains covered with primeval forests. Jun, a famous village of the M'nong people, lies by the side of the lake. Around the lake are distinct historical architectural works like the palace of King Bao Dai and long houses of the M'nong people.

Lak Lake lies by Lien Son Town, also called Lac Thien, in Lak District which links to Buon Ma Thuot City, the capital of Dak Lak Province, by the 56-km-long National Road 27. After passing by the Lac Thien Pass, about 10km from Lien Son Town, you will see Lak Lake on the right. The Lak Lake’s space of historical forests, culture and environment covers Bong Krang, Yang Tao and Dak Lieng communes.

Elderly tell a legend about the lake, saying that it has no bottom or it goes through Tonlé Sap (Cambodia). The over-5-square-kilometre lake joins the Krong Ana River. Surrounded by high mountains, the water surface is always very calm. Legend has it that Lak Lake is created by Lak Lieng, a hero of M'nong people.

Lak Lake is also a place that keeps unique and characteristic cultural values of M'Nong people. From the Lak Lake tourist site, you can reach Jun village and stay at long houses or visit the palace of King Bao Dai.

Chu Yang Sin National Park

Chu Yang Sin National Park is situated in Lak and Krong Bong districts, about 60km from Buon Ma Thuot City to the southeast.

Chu Yang Sin is a multi-peak mountain range. Chu Yang Sin Summit is the highest in Dak Lak province at an altitude of 2,405m. The natural area of the national park is 59,667ha, characterised by tropical climate and mountainous sloping terrain. There are many kinds of forests here with a variety of plants and animals, including 44 rare animals and plants recorded in the Red Book of Vietnam like big-size kingfishers, hornbills, white-headed hornbill and flag-tailed crows.

If you are adventurers or as scientific researchers, you should make a visit to Chu Yang Sin National Park to climb to Chu Yang Sin summit to explore the wonderful and charming nature.

Jun Village

Situated by the side of romantic Lake Lak, Jun Village has a pristine beauty of a highland village imbued with traditional identities kept by generation to generation.

In the village, seeing traditionally styled stilt houses of hill-tribe peoples nestled under the shade of high trees and watching village maidens working assiduously on brocade looms, you will surely feel like returning the peaceful fairyland recorded in poetic epics. Despite undergoing historical changes, Jun village still preserves and promotes the beauty of traditional cultures, customs and traditions handed from their ancestors. Distinctive lifestyle and livelihood of Jun villagers were shaped thousands of years ago.

Visiting Jun village, you will be able to ride elephants to discover mountains, villages and lakes. If you visit Jun village once, you will feel the marvel of sitting by the window of stilt house, watching fairy-like moon and feeling gusts of strong cool winds from Lak Lake. Sitting together to taste a kind of traditional wine sucked from jars through bamboo pipes, you hear legends and myths of this land.

Another interesting experience is you can row boats on Lak Lake and enjoy bamboo-tube rice and specialties of Lak Lake like fish, eel and snail. If you visit Jun village during festive time, you will be immersed in the jubilant atmosphere of excitement with resounding gong sounds and traditional lyrical and romantic dances.

Source: Vietnam Plus