BUÔN MA THUỘT or sometimes Buon Ma Thuat or Ban Mê Thuột, is the capital city of Dak Lak province - center of the Central Highlands of Vietnam. This is the largest city and unofficial administrative city in this region. It is famous as the regional "capital of coffee".
FACT AND FIGURES
Population: 340,000 people
Total area: 377,18 sq. km
Distance:
Buon Ma Thuot - Hanoi: 1,399km (national road 1A)
Buon Ma Thuot - Ho Chi Minh city: 350km (national road 14)
Buon Ma Thuot - Da Lat: 193km (national road 27)
Buon Ma Thuot - Nha Trang: 194km (national road 26)
Airport: Fly to Buon Ma Thuot by Vietnam Airlines from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh city (Flight info here).
Ban Me six way crossroads
The majority of the local inhabitants are the Rhade 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.
Lak lake
Dray Nur waterfall
DraySap waterfall
Dak Mil lake
This is our first trip to Buon Me Thuot city where we had never come to before so that we encountered some untruthful problems.
As plan, the time that was ok for us was on holiday: Dec 31 2009 - Jan 3 2010. It was out of tickets so that there were so many passengers had to wait for selling these from bus company hours by hours. Fortunately, we had enough tickets for all members from Rang Dong express. The problem was the driver arranged other passengers 2 our seats regardless of they were sold to us. After an argument, they had to arrange other seats for us. It was unacceptable and we will never use service from this company! Finally, all members had their seats and the bus started. It took about 8hrs to finish the trip from 10:30PM on Dec 31 in Mien Dong bus station.
Arrived at Buon Ma Thuot city in the early morning, it was so cool, not as cold as DaLat. Taking a taxi to hotel to start a few days in the capital of coffee.
Hotel services are ok
After check in hotel, the first work was to enjoy coffee at the Sunrise coffee shop.
Sunrise coffee shop
Sunrise coffee: coffee with ice, milk and an atiso tea cup! So tasty!
The next works? Having receptionist hire 5 moto-bikes 120k VND/day, having breakfast, booking return tickets, coming to the first place: Lak lake.
For us in this strange city, MaiLinh express is the most popular bus company to come back to HCMC. Unfortunately, they were out of tickets. We collected "piece by piece" of hope that they gave, even we rode to their branch. Finally, we called other companies but hopeless! Having no choices, let's use the last chance, coming to Buon Ma Thuot bus station, booked tickets from private company in spite of they will welcome passengers along the road and fill us into their bus. To this time, booking tickets was almost done. Phew... Another good experience to trip on holiday, huh? :)
Contact to bus companies
Riding moto-bike along national road 27 to the first destination about 56km far away from BMT (stands for Buon Me Thuot) at about 12:00PM.
All members (excluded photographer :))
A peaceful valley along national road 27
Riding leisurely along national road, joking together almost arriving at Lak lake bank, suddenly, the rear wheel tube of one iron horse gets flat.
It took almost 30 minutes to replace new rear wheel tube for this motor-bike
Arrived at Lak lake after 2hours riding. Lake lake carrying the legend about Y Lak brave guy. It is said that once upon a time, in scorching season, the rice fields are not planted any trees. Before the scene who died of starvation, because the sun, Y Lak brave guy went looking for water for villages. The young guy follow eels slithering trail that goes, until he met a deep blue lake opened.
On the road to Lake
This charming lake is encompassed the forested hills, famed for trekking, hiking, and fishing activities. Nearby, there situates the Jun minority village which offers a possibility of an overnight stay to visitors. Around the lake, one can take a canoe with one of the locals on the calm lake.
Lak resort
A corner of Lak resort
Everyone got very hungry but still smiled when the camera lifted.
Waiter, please serve us very quickly!!! :D
Oh yeah, we were full. Come on guys. Let's enjoy together!
All members ( excluded photographer again :))
This is "Lak style" hihi
Long house
Gather tamarind in Lak resort :)
There are many small village on the Lak lake bank
This is a huge lake and the wind blowed so strong. It was so cool to take fresh air huh :)
Wow...
Everyone looked so excited.
Walking around the lake and relaxing together satisfactorily. It almost got out of time to visit other beautiful places such as: Emperor Bao Dai palace, Jun villages (reveals an enigmatic slice of traditional M'nong life), the primitive forests of the Chu Yang Sin. But, on the way back to BMT, we got to Giang Son Mary hill where there're many peach trees with flowers along the road to the top of hill. It was a nice place!
This is the end of first day in BMT. Before going to bed, let's enjoy a little stem wine with jerky.
This is the end of part 1! Part 2 will lead you to the new place of Central Highlands: Buon Don.
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