A Vietnam That Still Speaks in Its Own Voice

Rising across the heart of Vietnam, the Central Highlands form a vast plateau of red basalt soil, pine-covered hills, and mist-wrapped valleys, home to more than a dozen ethnic communities, among them the Ede, Gia Rai, Ba Na, and M’nong. Here, culture is not performed for visitors but lived in the rhythm of the seasons: in the longhouses that anchor each village, in the harvest festivals that mark the year, and in the resonant sound of gongs, a tradition recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. This is a destination for travellers who seek depth over spectacle, and a Vietnam that still speaks in its own voice.

The region’s landmarks reveal its range. In Da Lat, the “City of Eternal Spring”, pine forests, French-era villas, and cool, flower-scented air offer a gentler pace, with Xuan Huong Lake and the Truc Lam Zen Monastery at its heart. In Buon Ma Thuot, the capital of Vietnamese coffee, the Dak Lak Museum of Ethnology and the nearby Buon Don elephant region reveal the traditions of the highland communities. Further afield, Dray Nur and Dray Sap waterfalls thunder through the forest, Lak Lake mirrors the longhouses along its shore, and Kon Tum’s wooden Rong House and Communal Church recall a heritage shaped by both highland and colonial influences.

The highlands reward travellers at the table and beyond it. Cafe Buon Ma Thuot, grown in the region’s volcanic soil, is best savoured at its source, while Com Lam (rice cooked in bamboo), grilled meats flavoured with wild herbs, and Ruou Can, rice wine shared through long bamboo straws in a gesture of community, capture the character of highland hospitality. Among the most memorable experiences are a coffee journey through the plantations of Buon Ma Thuot, an evening gong performance beside a communal fire, and a homestay in a traditional longhouse. In the Central Highlands, every encounter invites you to listen, slowly, to a culture that has never needed to raise its voice.