VN · Dak Lak · 12.67°N 108.05°E

buon ma thuot

Strong robusta at the source, waterfalls and Ede longhouses in the Central Highlands.

Best time
November to April is the dry season. The coffee harvest runs from around November to January, and the plantations flower white in early spring. Rain sets in from May to October.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly from KL to Ho Chi Minh City (about 2 hours), then about an hour on a domestic flight to Buon Ma Thuot. By road it is a long day from Saigon, or about 4 hours from Nha Trang.
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VN · Dak Lakbuon ma thuot12.67°N 108.05°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Strong robusta at the source, waterfalls and Ede longhouses in the Central Highlands.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingBuon Ma ThuotVN, Dak Lak
KLbuon ma thuot
≈ 1,270 km from KL, as the crow flies
Buôn Ma Thuột city square (Central Highlands, Vietnam) - ISO code VN-E-DL

Photo: Rdavout · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

The main city of Vietnam's Central Highlands and the heart of its coffee country. Plantations cover the hills around it, and the region is home to Ede and M'nong communities, waterfalls and lakes.

Makan

  1. Cà phê phinRobusta dripped slowly through a metal filter, black or with condensed milk.Map ↗
  2. Bún đỏChunky red rice noodles in a crab broth, a Buon Ma Thuot speciality.Map ↗
  3. Cơm lamRice cooked in bamboo tubes over a fire, often eaten with grilled chicken.Map ↗
  4. Avocados and duriansDak Lak grows both, and they're plentiful in season.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. World Coffee MuseumA striking building inspired by Ede longhouses, telling the story of coffee around the world.Map ↗
  2. Coffee farmsVisit a plantation to see how the beans are picked, dried and roasted.Map ↗
  3. Dray Nur and Dray Sap fallsA pair of wide waterfalls on the Serepok River, about 30 minutes' drive away.Map ↗
  4. Lak LakeA highland lake with M'nong villages and dugout canoe rides, about an hour south.Map ↗
  5. Ako Dhong villageAn Ede village of traditional longhouses on the edge of the city.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Skip elephant rides. Look for programmes that let you watch the elephants instead.
  • Buy beans or grounds straight from local roasters to take home.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.