Buon Ma Thuot Vietnam, Dak Lak, Cycling, Biking, Travel Destination

Find out how to plan your most enjoyable trip to Buon Ma Thuot Vietnam with our best Buon Ma Thuot tours and Buon Ma Thuot travel guide including Buon Ma Thuot bicycle adventures, budget Buon Ma Thuot bike tour, off the beaten path Buon Ma Thuot cycling holidays, Buon Ma Thuot biking itinerary, Buon Ma Thuot cycle package.

Buon Ma Thuot Map

Buon Ma Thuot is the capital city of Dak Lak province, Vietnam central highlands. Located at about 360 km from Saigon, Buon Ma Thuot is much farther off the beaten track than Dalat and sees far fewer tourists. However,But Buon Ma Thuot is certainly worth the trip. The area is an elephant training center and offers visitors that ability to go elephant trekking in Vietnam.

The region is home to a number of ethnic minorities, including the Rhade and Jarai groups. The area also boasts some impressive waterfalls. Buon Ma Thuot has the distinction of being the site of the last major battle between the North Vietnamese Army and South Vietnamese troops during March 1975. As a testament to that battle, the first North Vietnamese Army tank to enter the city is perched in the center of town as a monument to Buon Ma Thuot’s “liberation.”

Buon Ma Thuot makes a great base for cycling Vietnam central highlands. The longhouses of the Rhade and M’nong groups are particularly impressive. A popular stop is at the Rhade village of Buon Tuo, about 13 km from town. Thirty-five kilometers to the north, in the village of Ya Liao, can be found a 13th-century Cham tower. In town, visit the hilltribe museum on Me Mai Street, which houses artifacts, ancient weapons, clothing and other relics of the Montagnard and Rhade ethnic groups.

Surrounding waterfalls worth a visit include Drai Sap, Draylon, Drayling and Draynor Waterfalls. The best are found at Drai Sap, and often appear on Vietnam postcards and calendars. About 12 km from Buon Ma Thuot, the falls aren’t particularly tall but are expansive and dramatic.

Coffee is the major cash crop here, however, this mountainous region is heavily deforested, the hillsides bald and brown during the winter months. Much of the region’s wildlife has been driven away by deforestation or through the misfortune of getting stuffed by wannabe taxidermists. The best time to visit Buon Ma Thuot is during the dry season, between November and May. Though the scenery isn’t as lush as it is during the rainy season, it’s a lot easier to get around!