Central Highlands
Tây Nguyên, translated
as Western Highlands and sometimes also called Central Highlands, is
one of the regions of Vietnam. It contains the provinces of Đắk Lắk,
Đắk Nông, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Lâm Đồng.
It has a large population of
ethnic minorities such as as the people of Malayo-Polynesian languages
(Jarai and Ede) and the people of Mon-Khmer languages (Bahnar and
K'hor). Therefore, the Degar organized the FULRO (1964-1992) and the
Montagnard Foundation (1990-), and are continuing the Montagnard
Independence Movement from Vietnam. Tay nguyen is the home to most
prominent and also most endangered species of VietNam and Southeast
Asia: the Indochinese tiger, the huge gaur, the wild buffalo, the
banteng, and the Asian elephant.
This region is sometimes referred
to as Cao nguyên Trung bộ (literally "Midland Highlands"), and was
referred to during the Republic of Vietnam as Cao nguyên Trung phần
(literally "Central Highlands").
Geography
Tây Nguyên
is a plateau، bordering the lower part of Laos and northeastern
Cambodia. Kon Tum Province shares a border with both Laos and Cambodia
but Gia Lai Province and Dak Lak Province only share borders with Laos.
Lam Dong Province is landlocked, and thus has no international border
with any other nation.
Actually, Tay Nguyen is not situated on a
unique plateau, instead it lays on series of contiguous plateaus,
namely Kon Tum at the height of 500 m, Kon Plông Plateau, Kon Hà Nừng
Plateau, Pleiku with the height of around 800m, Mdrak Plateau of
approximately 500 m, Đắk Lắk of around 800m, Mơ Nông with the height of
about 800-1000 m, Lâm Viên Plateau of approximately 1500 m and Di Linh
Plateau of about 900-1000 m. All of these plateau are surrounded by the
high mountain ranges and mounts (South Anamite Range).
Tây Nguyên
can be divided into 3 subregions according to its deviation in
topography and climate, namely: North Tay Nguyen (Bắc Tây Nguyên)
(inclusive of Kon Tum and Gia Lai Provinces), Middle Tay Nguyen (Trung
Tây Nguyên) (covering provinces of Đắk Lắk and Đắk Nông), South Tay
Nguyen (Nam Tây Nguyên) (Lâm Đồng). Trung Tây Nguyên has lower altitude
and therefore has a higher temperature from other two subregions.
Tay
Nguyen has an average altitude of 500-600 m with basalt soil, suitable
for planting coffee tree, cacao, pepper, and white mulberry. Cashew and
rubber plants are also planted here. Coffee is the most important
product of Tay Nguyen.
Tay Nguyen contains in it many primitive
forests and is protected in its national parks, such as Cat Tien
National Park, Yok Don National Park, Kon Ka Kinh National Park.
Day 1: Arrival Buon Ma Thuot
Pick up from Ban Me Thuot airport.
Transfer to Bachma hotel. Overnight at Bach ma hotel.
Day 2: Buon Ma Thuot Tribal villages, water falls and elephant ride (B/ L/ -)
Visit Ethnic minority museum. Visit Tribal villages, waterfalls and Elephant rides.
Overnight at Bach Ma Hotel.
Day 3: Buon Ma Thuot Departure (B/ -/ -)
Pick up from Bach Ma hotel.
Transfer to airport for your departure flight.