Central Highlands: Whispering Forests and Timeless Coffee Afternoons

CENTRAL HIGHLANDS – WHERE FORESTS WHISPER AND COFFEE AFTERNOONS STAND STILL

1. Overview & Highlights

The Central Highlands welcomed me with silence and softness. I visited Gia Lai and Buon Ma Thuot, where red earth meets green forest, and coffee scents linger in the wind. Each place whispered stories of land, time, and tradition.

 
2. Culture & People

People here live in harmony with the forest. In villages, gongs still echo through cultural ceremonies, and children run freely under stilt houses. The spirit of the highlands feels ancient and grounded.

3. Must-Try Foods

Gia Lai dry noodles (Pho Kho)
Grilled chicken with wild salt, bamboo rice
Buon Ma Thuot drip coffee – bold, black, unforgettable.
 
4. Practical Travel Tips

Best time: November to March
How to get there: Flights to Pleiku or Buon Ma Thuot Airport
Essentials: Hiking shoes, light jacket, avoid jewelry in remote areas
 
5. Recommended Clothing

Casual clothes: jeans, shirts, sneakers. For photography, bring a flowy dress or brocade shawl to capture poetic shots in nature.

 
6. Best Photo Spots

T’Nung Lake
Phu Cuong Waterfall
Coffee Museum
Trung Nguyen Coffee Village
 
6.1. Must-Visit Attractions

Gia Lai: T’Nung Lake, Chu Dang Ya Volcano, Minh Thanh Pagoda, Phu Cuong Waterfall
Buon Ma Thuot: Buon Don, Dray Nur Waterfall, Coffee Museum, Ede Village

 
7. Suggested 3-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Fly to Buon Ma Thuot – Coffee Museum – Trung Nguyen Village
Day 2: Buon Don – Dray Nur – Travel to Gia Lai
Day 3: T’Nung Lake – Phu Cuong – Flight from Pleiku

 
8. FAQs & Reference Costs

Estimated cost: $85–$150
Local guides: Optional but enriching
Souvenirs: Coffee beans, wild honey, brocade, wooden crafts
 
Come here not to be amazed, but to be quiet. To breathe slower, sip longer, and walk gentler through the forest’s hush. Gia Lai and Buon Ma Thuot will not rush you. They’ll simply wait, like the trees do—until you’re ready to listen.