This central highland city is Vietnam's coffee capital, producing 60% of the country's beans. Local cafes serve traditional drip coffee amid cool mountain air at 536m elevation.
Buon Ma Thuot, the capital of Dak Lak Province in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, draws visitors with coffee plantations, waterfalls, and cultural landmarks. Walk through the World Coffee Museum to learn how Vietnamese coffee reaches global markets, stand near the powerful Dray Nur waterfall, or explore Khai Doan Pagoda, the final Buddhist temple officially recognized by Vietnam’s monarchy. A Soviet tank monument in the city center commemorates its role in the 1975 battle that influenced the Vietnam War’s outcome. Ethnic minority villages nearby follow matriarchal customs, and fields of coffee plants cover the hills as far as you can see.
Coffee Farming and Local Economy
Coffee defines daily life here, with the region contributing more than half of Vietnam’s total production. Begin your day at the World Coffee Museum, where displays explain how beans are grown, harvested, and roasted. At Trung Nguyen Coffee Village, walk through a simulated coffee forest and sample brews made with techniques from different regions. The Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival, held every two years, fills the streets with live music, industry discussions, and vendors demonstrating brewing methods. Small cafes throughout the city serve strong black coffee, sweetened versions with egg yolk, or creamy avocado blends.
Waterfalls and Parks
Volcanic soil in the Central Highlands shapes the area’s geography, creating waterfalls like Dray Nur and Dray Sap. Dray Nur drops sharply into a narrow canyon, sending mist into the air, while Dray Sap’s broader flow creates a haze that gives it the local name “Smoky Falls.” Gia Long Waterfall, less crowded and shaded by trees, has quiet pools where you can swim. Yok Don National Park, the largest nature reserve in Vietnam, organizes hikes where guides point out animals like elephants and gibbons. Lak Lake, a short bus ride south, lets you paddle wooden canoes or sleep in M’nong village houses on stilts.
History and Cultural Landmarks
The Buon Ma Thuot Victory Monument at Ngã 6 intersection marks the site of a decisive 1975 military campaign. A short walk away, the Dak Lak Cultural Center protects a centuries-old Kơnia tree considered sacred by local communities. Buon Ma Thuot Prison, built during French colonial rule, now hosts exhibits about the region’s resistance movements. Khai Doan Pagoda mixes architectural styles from the Nguyen Dynasty with carvings inspired by Central Highlands culture, including a large bronze bell cast in 1952. Nearby, the Vietnam Ethnic Groups Museum inside Emperor Bao Dai’s former home displays clothing, tools, and art from the Ede and Jarai people.
Local Communities and Traditions
The Ede and M’nong ethnic groups in this area follow traditions where women manage family land and lead ceremonies. In Buon Akô Đhông village, close to the city, you can enter wooden longhouses and watch artisans weave textiles on looms. Ban Don village, famous for its history of elephant training, allows visitors to ride elephants along forest paths or learn about traditional training methods. Plan your trip around a Gong performance, a UNESCO-recognized practice where musicians play bronze gongs accompanied by group dances and shared rice wine.
Transportation Options
Buon Ma Thuot Airport has daily flights to Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City. Buses from Nha Trang arrive in three hours, while routes from Ho Chi Minh City wind through mountain passes for 10–12 hours. Taxis and rented motorbikes help you reach attractions outside the city center. Local guides such as Mr. Hoang Tuan arrange trips to coffee farms, minority villages, and Lak Lake.
Food and Drinks
Food stalls near the central roundabout sell dishes like bún đỏ, a noodle soup tinted red with annatto seeds, and grilled meat from wild boar. Small restaurants around Co-op Mart serve cơm hến, a rice dish topped with clams and herbs. Cafes experiment with coffee in desserts like ice cream and hard candies. Some coffee plantations let visitors roast their own beans over open flames during guided workshops.
