Previously, when referring to the Central Highlands, we often think of the city of Da Lat with thousands of flowers, but few people know that there is a Gia Lai Province with countless attractions. A Gia Lai trip will bring you unforgettable experiences with several beautiful landscapes. Let’s discover together with Travel Korea Now!
Some about Gia Lai elements
Gia Lai is one of the five regions that make up the Central Highlands and is the second-largest province in Vietnam. Gia Lai is a mountainous province located in the north of the Central Highlands at an average altitude of 700-800m above sea level. Gia Lai borders Kon Tum Province to the North, Dak Lak Province to the South, Cambodia to the West, and Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, and Phu Yen Provinces to the East.
If Da Lat is famous for its romantic beauty, Buon Me Thuot is characterized by the passionate flavor of the “coffee capital”. But Gia Lai has its own liberal and wild character like “the young lady of the mountainous region”. Gia Lai is also famous for its majestic natural landscapes, unique cuisine, and colorful local festivals. Sounds really exciting for a Gia Lai trip right?
Gia Lai’s climate
Gia Lai’s climate is divided into two distinct seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. Each with different characteristics.
The dry season starts from November to the end of May. The weather at this time is dry with light sunshine. In the period from November to December, Gia Lai is immersed in the yellow color of ripe rice, wild sunflowers, and brilliant yellow cassava. If you want to see the pure white color of coffee flowers, you should visit here around February to April every year.
During the period from June to October, you should avoid taking a Gia Lai trip because this time the city enters the rainy season and is flooded with long-lasting rains. But if you adore the cool air and peaceful scenery, you can consider traveling to Gia Lai around this time.
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Means of transportation to get to Gia Lai
For a Gia Lai trip, you can refer to many means of transportation, the most popular are still plane and coach.
Plane
If you are departing from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, the easiest and most time-saving way to get to this great city is to book a plane ticket to Pleiku Airport. You can freely choose reputable big airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo, Vietjet, and Pacific Airlines,… It all depends on your needs and financial resources.
Coach
Gia Lai’s road traffic infrastructure is quite convenient, most of which are national highways. For this reason, you can completely travel by bus to get here. With a quite reasonable ticket price, only 250.000 VND/way (10.86 USD) from Ho Chi Minh City and 600.000 VND/way (26.08 USD) from Hanoi.
Obviously, the time staying on the coach will be longer for an economical means of transportation. It will take you about 20 hours if you depart from Hanoi and 8 hours if you depart from Mien Dong bus station in Ho Chi Minh City.
Tourist attractions in your Gia Lai trip
Chu Dang Ya Volcano
Chu Dang Ya is located in Ploi Lagri village, Chu Dang Ya commune, about 30km from the center of the Pleiky City to the Northeast. For those who love nature, and explore, as well as who are always looking for the unspoiled beauty of nature, Chu Dang Ya volcano is a destination not to be missed on the Gia Lai trip.
Millions of years ago, this majestic volcano used to be active in the middle of the Central Highlands, creating a huge depression that is still marked now. Currently, the lush lawns have completely covered the mouth of the mountain. The rare remnants of the red lava layers that have been covered by the green of the trees also create a beautiful picture when viewed from above.
The most suitable time for you to come to Chu Dang Ya volcano is around November when yellow wild sunflowers bloom on both sides of the road leading to the foothills, adorning the natural scenery more impressive. Or you can choose to come here when the mountain is covered with green fields of taro and sweet potato. Sounds interesting for a Gia Lai trip, right?
IaLy Hydropower reservoir
Located next to the vast Se San River, the Yaly Hydropower reservoir is a definite destination not to be missed in the Gia Lai trip. With a lake area of up to 64.5 km2 and generating electricity up to 3,650 million kWh per year, this is the second largest hydroelectric power plant in Vietnam.
Accompanying this huge project is Yaly Waterfall – a magnificent waterfall with a sad love story about Roc and H’li. The waterfall falls like the tears of the H’li girl in this tragic myth. With a height of up to 42 meters, Yaly Waterfall is always at the top of the largest waterfalls in the Central Highlands. This waterfall always makes visitors stunned every time they look at it.
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Bien Ho Lake ( T’Nung Lake)
T’Nung is a freshwater lake located in the North of Gia Lai Province, formed from three interconnected ancient craters that have been inactive for hundreds of millions of years. From a distance, Bien Ho is like an immense sea with clear jade green water, spreading over an area of more than 220 hectares.
The lake is oval, with an average depth of about 12 to 19 meters. To experience Bien Ho Lake to the fullest, try once sitting on a canoe, floating down the cool water and slowly looking at the surrounding scenery. The mouth of the lake is a volcanic crater, so it can be seen clearly even from a distance.
The huge amount of fresh water contained in the lake and many different types of fish is the source of the daily life of the ethnic people here. This is always an interesting destination for a Gia Lai trip that is loved by many tourists.
Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve
Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve is located in Son Lang commune, K’Bang District, in the North of Gia Lai Province. This site is located in the East and West regions of the Truong Son Mountain range and possesses a diverse ecosystem with a coverage of up to 99%.
This place is deemed a jewel of the Central Highlands because it owns 1.6 million hectares of primeval forest with 833 species of higher plants. Moreover, there are 392 different species of animals and even species listed in the red list.
Along with that, when coming to Kon Chu Rang on your Gia Lai trip, visitors shouldn’t pass the largest waterfall system in the country with 12 majestic waterfalls. Of which the most favorite is the experience of trekking through the forest to touch the majestic K50 Waterfall.
Additionally, when you come here, don’t forget to visit the village of the Bana people to learn about their unique traditional beauties.
Kon Ka Kinh National Park
Another place not to be missed when you take a Gia Lai trip is Kon Ka Kinh National Park. This famous destination is located in the Northeast of Gia Lai province, less than 50km from Pleiku City. Kon Ka Kinh National Park is distributed over the scope of 5 communes including Dak Roong, Kron Pne, K’Bang, Dak Doa, and Mang Yang.
Kon Ka Kinh is suitable for those who love nature and want to experience the wildness of this land. Arriving here, you must experience the trekking trip through the forest to touch the highest mountain of the Pleiku plateau. Kon Ka Kinh Mountain has an altitude of up to 1,748m above sea level. Standing from the top of the mountain and enjoying the panoramic view of the Truong Son range will be an unforgettable experience for you on your Gia Lai trip.
Tan Son Dam
Located right on the road leading to Chu Dang Ya mountain, Tan Son Dam is a recently emerging check-in coordinate, more than 25km from the city center. Located in the basin of Bien Ho, Tan Son Dam includes a dam, a system of canals, and a reservoir in the middle of immense mountains.
The beauty of this dam comes from the pristine essence of nature, from the gentle blue water surface, and cool green forest trees to the coastal wildflowers when the water recedes. Therefore, in any season this place is beautiful and worth a visit.
In particular, in the dry months, the valleys on both sides of the river are full of flowers, reeds, and iridescent flowers. This deserves to be one of the must-come tourist attractions when you make a Gia Lai trip right?
Dai Doan Ket Square
One of the places not to be missed on your Gia Lai trip is Dai Doan Ket Square. Located in the heart of the city center with a 12-hectare campus. This is considered the heart of the people of Pleiku City in particular and Gia Lai people’s pride in general.
The square was officially recognized by the Vietnam Record Book Center as achieving 3 Vietnamese records. They are the largest Uncle Ho monument in Vietnam, the largest stone relief in Vietnam, and the largest bronze gong in Vietnam. Together with the Ho Chi Minh Museum, the Museum of Antiquities, and the Heroic Monument, this place creates an architectural and cultural complex imbued with the identity of the Central Highlands.
True to its name, this place is the convergence and crystallization of the culture – politics – long history of Vietnam. This place promises to be an extremely memorable attraction on your Gia Lai trip.
Bien Ho Che green tea field
Bien Ho Che not only has the beauty of green tea fields but also is a very suitable choice for those who want to seek fresh air. The amazingly peaceful features or the majestic scenery of Bien Ho Che on the Gia Lai trip will make many people feel impressed. The vast fields together with the beauty of tea trees create that this place has left many indelible imprints on an unforgettable, hard-to-fade beautiful land.
In particular, the road leading to Bien Ho Che is surrounded by two rows of pine trees that are more than 100 years old. With beauty like Korea, this is the familiar check-in coordinate for photography enthusiasts when coming here.
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Minh Thanh Pagoda
Gia Lai land not only has deep green forests, white hillsides of coffee flowers, or the poetic scenery of the wonderful Bien Ho Lake. There is also an extremely special pagoda with the architecture and breath of Phu Tang – Minh Thanh Pagoda.
Not only a spiritual destination for Buddhists in the region, but Minh Thanh Pagoda is also a place that is always crowded with incense smoke on major holidays. This place has an ancient beauty with curved pagoda roofs and many miniatures created to create an extremely peaceful space and give visitors a quiet and peaceful space. This is a must-come destination not to be missed for travel enthusiasts on the Gia Lai trip.
Pleiku Da Moutain
An emerging tourist destination that you need to immediately add to your list of destinations on your Gia Lai trip is Pleiku Da Mountain. Located in the suburbs but not too far from the city center, this place was originally an old quarry and was used by locals as a grazing ground. However, Pleiku rocky mountain attracts a lot of followers because of its rustic beauty.
From Da Mountain, you can zoom out into the distance to catch the beautiful scenery of Pleiku City below, from the green forests, and clear lakes to the distant city. Everything seems to shrink only at this destination. Because Da Mountain is still quite wild, you can camp overnight and cook by yourself after trekking here.
Phu Cuong Waterfall
Phu Cuong Waterfall is considered the most majestic and magnificent waterfall in Gia Lai. Coming here, visitors seem to be immersed in the space of forests and mountains with green forests, and rocky mountains. The highlight of this place in your Gia Lai trip is a waterfall pouring down from above, blowing white foam to erase the whole area.
Tourists who love adventurers can experience climbing up a few high rocks and jumping down into the cool water. Or just sitting at the foot of the waterfall to chat a few stories.
Dong Xanh Park
One of the suitable tourist destinations on the Gia Lai trip for you to have the opportunity to admire the local beauty is Dong Xanh Park. This is a cultural space imbued with the national identity of the North Central Highlands with many monuments of cultural and spiritual works in the vast natural space. Travel Korea Now has to mention thousands of years old fossil trees, the Temple of Hung Kings, King of Fire, King of Water, One Pillar Pagoda, Botanical Park,…
Besides, visitors can also learn and discover the unique and mysterious features of the Central Highlands culture through the architectural model of the tomb house, communal house, and longhouse. All that is shown through legend combined with patterns and motifs synthesized and stylized on the symbol of the Central Highlands Monument.
Must-try dishes for a Gia Lai trip
Pho Kho (Dry noodles with 2 bowls)
If asked what is the dish “haven’t tried yet, you have not come to Gia Lai”, surely dry pho (also known as two-bowl pho) is the most popular answer.
The dish is served in 2 bowls – 1 bowl of pho, and 1 bowl of soup. Noodles are made from ground rice flour and then processed into small, soft, chewy fibers that are not lumpy and not crushed. The broth is simmered from chicken or beef depending on the secret of each store.
A bowl of pho full of topping will have noodle soup, shredded chicken, minced meat, topping, lettuce, basil, and bean sprouts. Add a little brown sauce with chili sauce, and mix well before serving to have a great taste.
The special thing with this dish is that you can actively reduce the seasoning when mixing pho according to your own taste. This is also considered a favorite part of many people when enjoying special dishes on the Gia Lai trip.
Smelly Bun Cua
Smelly Bun Cua is considered a specialty of Gia Lai’s picky eaters because of the characteristic flavor of the crab paste. Copper crab is the main ingredient, the chef must especially choose firm crab meat. After cleaning, and removing the shell, it is pureed and filtered to get the water. This water will then be fermented for 1 day and a night.
This type of crab paste is left to naturally ferment, so it gives off a rather strong taste that many people will have to be afraid of at first contact. A bowl of Bun Cua will have vermicelli, a little bit of fat, fried onions, peanuts, and a hot broth with bamboo shoots and duck eggs. However, if you are used to experiencing unique dishes in the Central Highlands, this Smelly Bun Cua dish has an undeniable attraction.
Grilled chicken and Lam rice
Lam rice and grilled chicken are what make many diners nostalgic for this mountain land. Lam rice is cooked from upland glutinous rice, boiled in the embers of the embers until the tube turns yellow and gives off a fragrant aroma. Lam rice in Gia Lai has the delicious taste of rice grown in the fields, and the smell of natural cork is fresh
The chef will choose a type of chicken cleaned, and marinated with spices such as granulated salt, É leaves, green chili, etc. The chicken will be clamped on two bamboo sticks and placed next to the smoldering fire for 2 – 3 hours, creating a characteristic smoky aroma.
The chicken after grilling is still moist and sweet. Dipping it with salt and eating it with a piece of Lam rice is nothing better. What a special dish for a Gia Lai trip, right?
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Bo Mot Nang (Half-dried beef)
Originally, Bo Mot Nang in Gia Lai trip is loved by many people because the fresh ingredients are taken from naturally grazed cows. So the meat is firm, sweet, and low in fat. The beef is selected and cut into bite-sized slices. Then it is carefully marinated with spices such as chili, fish sauce, and salt mixed in a separate recipe.
Finally, it is dried in the sun and wind of the Central Highlands. The right amount of dried beef will produce a delicious and beautiful beef that makes many people infatuated.
Forest Vegetable Hotpot
Coming to the land of Gia Lai where majestic nature brings a feeling of youth and full of life. Wild forest vegetable hotpot is also a special gift that nature here bestows on people. Forest Vegetable Hotpot – Gia Lai’s specialty dish is not only a rustic and genuine hometown taste, but also a food that visitors should definitely try once.
Just a pot of hot broth, familiar side dishes such as mushrooms, tofu, meat, seafood, and a basket of wild vegetables with around 10 different types is that you have a true Forest Vegetable Hotpot.
Some familiar vegetables to eat with hotpot can be mentioned as sesame buds, cloves, happy vegetables, plantain, and earthen boats,… With a mildly bitter taste and characteristic throne, dipped in sweet hotpot broth. This wild but super “roll” flavor of wild vegetables will make diners remember it forever.
Weaver ant Salt
A special dish that only when you make a Gia Lai trip you can try – Weaver ant Salt. Weaver ant Salt is made from forest weaver ants from Ayunpa. The captured ants are lightly roasted and then pounded with chili, a few types of forest leaves, and grain salt.
Not only has a high nutritional content, but weaver ant salt also has a unique taste. The salty taste of salt combines the sour taste of ants and the pungent taste of chili and forest leaves to create a perfect dipping salt. Visitors on the Gia Lai trip who have enjoyed this salt all want to buy it gradually or as a gift.
Gia Lai Coffee
Deemed one of the coffee capitals, taking a Gia Lai trip without enjoying this delicious drink is a mistake. Gia Lai coffee has its own unique flavor, aroma, and good aftertaste in the mouth.
Besides the usual coffee, there is also Weasel Coffee. This coffee is very expensive, unique from taste to processing is a specialty that attracts a lot of attention from tourists. Weasel coffee is not bitter but fragrant and has a fleshy aftertaste that makes even the most fastidious coffee connoisseur must nod in approval.
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Quality accommodations for a Gia Lai trip
Visitors will have a lot of options for accommodation to bring a comfortable space when coming to hotels or homestays during their Gia Lai trip. These accommodations will usually be right near the city center or near tourist attractions so that you are able to conveniently travel.
Hotels
Tre Xanh Hotel
If you are looking for a cheap hotel in Gia Lai with the accompanying standards and services, the 3-star Tre Xanh Hotel is a great choice. The hotel is located right near the center and is very convenient for traveling during your Gia Lai trip.
Tre Xanh Hotel consists of 120 bedrooms with modern facilities, besides a system of restaurants to organize events, weddings, conference rooms, and seminars also served here. You will be able to use the service at the spa center, sauna, or hot tub, and eat at the restaurant right below.
- Address: 180 Le Lai Street, Pleiku City, Gia Lai.
- Price: 500.000 VND (21.73 USD) for one night.
Ngoc Se Hotel
Ngoc Se is one of the hotels in Gia Lai that many tourists are interested in and rent a room every time they have the opportunity to go on a Gia Lai trip. All that shows the enthusiastic care service from the staff which makes you very satisfied.
Especially below the hotel, there is an impressively designed coffee shop, creating a space for you to relax with a cup of fragrant Tay Nguyen coffee. Not only is the room service extremely good, but when you rent a room in a central location, it’s also easier for you to move around.
- Address: 02 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, Pleiku City, Gia Lai.
- Price: 300.000 VND (13,04 USD) for one night.
Khanh Linh Hotel
Khanh Linh Hotel has a prime location, right on the main traffic route of Pleiku City Center. This hotel is quite familiar to merchants, travelers as well as domestic and foreign tourists who know about their trip to Gia Lai.
Consisting of 52 rooms with balconies, including 3 types of Suites, Deluxe, and Superior rooms, with complete and modern facilities. Moreover, Khanh Linh Hotel provides high-quality services that come with such as enjoying the restaurant, spa, and sauna,… Travel Korea Now sure this accommodation will give you an ideal place to stay.
- Address: 232 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, Pleiku City, Gia Lai
- Price: 850.000 VND (36,95 USD) for one night.
Homestays
XOM Organic Farm Stay
XOM Organic Farm Stay has been a familiar name to tourists when coming to the peaceful city of Pleiku during the Gia Lai trip. This place is large, there is green grass spread wide and also vegetable and fruit gardens for visitors to visit and experience.
The small house with full facilities and warm also has a direct view of the garden where the fun BBQ parties take place. XOM Homestay also has a unique glass-covered coffee shop around, delicious mixed drinks.
- Address: Village 5, Tra Da Commune, Pleiku City, Gia Lai.
- Price: 550.000 VND (23,91 USD) for one night.
Tien Son Homestay
Coming to Tien Son homestay, you will no longer feel tired, and suddenly forget the city full of dust. This homestay is designed in a modern style, the lovely triangular houses are enough for a family of 4.
Homestay is designed mainly from wood and bamboo materials and classic and luxurious vintage furniture. The large campus is covered with green grass, luxuriant trees, and cool weather not inferior to a resort. Overall, each room exudes a luxurious and elegant beauty that is not available everywhere.
- Address: Tan Son Commune, Pleiku City, Gia Lai.
- Price: 1.200.000 VND (52,17 USD) for one night.
The Stay Villa
The Stay Villa is located in the city center and has a modern and luxurious appearance with a square design, and strong lines. The homestay is very large, surrounded by transparent glass doors, and high-class dark wood furniture.
The garden is planted with many green trees, dotted with ornamental plants, wooden swings, BBQ area with romantic tea tables and chairs. Every corner inside the apartment is meticulously designed by the owner, in a simple but very trendy style.
- Address: 206/55 Phu Dong Street, Pleiku City, Gia Lai.
- Price: 500.000 VND (21.73 USD) for one night.
Some special attention during your Gia Lai trip
- Gia Lai is a land with many mountains and forests, so you should choose neat, sweat-absorbing clothes. Along with that are durable sports shoes for ease of movement.
- The terrain is hilly and steep, so when riding a motorbike, pay attention to the speed and steady the handlebars to stay safe.
- Gia Lai has mainly mountainous and steep terrain, so when renting a motorbike to explore, always keep your hands on the wheel, go at the right speed, and know the rules of going uphill.
- Bring mosquito repellent, and insect repellent because here is mainly primeval forest, dense trees, so there are a lot of insects.
- Learn about the customs and habits of the people in Gia Lai when visiting the village. Do not arbitrarily enter the fields of locals without their permission.
- Absolutely follow safety rules when trekking in the forest. Do not separate the group and arbitrarily go deep into the forest. Should go in a large group or need support from a local porter.
- Avoid going on a Gia Lai trip in the rainy season. Especially going to the forest and going to the waterfall because this period of rain is long and very dangerous if you are not experienced enough.
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Above is a complete set of travel experiences for a detailed Gia Lai trip with interesting destinations and the most attractive delicacies. With this useful information, Travel Korea Now believes that the upcoming trip will definitely have countless wonderful experiences waiting to be discovered.
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