YokDon National Park

“The pearl of YokDon or YokDon National Park

Lying in Krong Na Commune, Buon Don District, 40km west of Buon Ma Thuot City, YokDon National Park is proud of its bio-diversity, which attracts both scientists and visitors in Vietnam tourism.

Whenever tourists joining tours in Vietnam travel to Dak Lak, they usually stop at Buon Don, a famous tourist attraction. Being proud of its bio-diversity and the largest national park in Vietnam, which attracts both tourists and scientists. YokDon national park covers 115,000ha, not including 10,000ha of its belt zone. Its jungles bear the characteristics of tropical forests in Southeast Asia. According to primary survey, YokDon boasts 464 species of flora, most of which are Michelia (ngoc lan). In dry seasons, it is still cool, just like the climate in Da Lat, and orchids are still in full bloom. 

The most attractive thing for tourists in Vietnam travel to see in this park is its diverse kinds of forest. Nowhere else in Viet Nam preserves so many species of precious birds and animals as in YokDon National Park. This natural park is home to 62 animal species, 196 bird species, 46 reptile species, 15 fresh water fish species and thousands of insect species. Of the 56 precious animal species of Indochina, Yok Don National Park preserves 38, of which 17 are listed in the World Red Book. This park is the only place in Viet Nam where great numbers of precious animals are still preserved: elephants, wild bulls, gayals, sambar deer, peacocks, water varans, and so on.

When visiting YokDon National Park, tourists can ride on elephant's back to make a sightseeing tour in the forest, or to wade across Serepok River. They can enjoy traditional specialties or drink can alcohol together with the locals while listening to village patriarch's stories about legends of this land.

Now, if you have time to come to YokDon National Park, you will have a chance to discover fascinating things, which surely leave unforgettable impressions on your mind.

The Sparkling of Dray Nur waterfall

The waterfall is created by the water of Krong Ana and Krong No Rivers. There's a cave underneath the waterfall that brings exotic experience to the adventure travellers.

The 30m falls, which are also known as Cai or Vo (wife), originate from the Krong Ana River. According to a ancient story, a long time ago, a man of Kuop Hamlet fell in love with a girl who lived on the other side of the Serepok River.

Their love remained hidden from their parents until they were inseparable. Unfortunately, they were in a sort of Romeo and Juliet situation, where the two families were old and bitter rivals. Naturally the parents did not approve, and all their efforts to stay together seemed destined to fail.

So one night, rather than being separated, the couple committed suicide in the Serepok River. Suddenly, there was a thunderstorm, water leaped up from the river and sounds came from the forest. The next morning, the people of the hamlet were surprised to see that the river had been separated in two, isolating the two families.

Ever since then the one river has been two: the Duc (husband) creates the Dray Sap Waterfall in Dak Nong Province, in the central highlands, while the Cai (wife) river feeds the Dray Nur waterfall in Dak Lak Province.

Water still flows down the falls in small streams, only to be united at the bottom. Many say that the sound it makes are echos of the delights and reproaches of that “star crossed love”.

These are some photos of the waterfall.

Ban Don

Ban Don: green island between high mountain and thick forest

Among immense mountains and forests in wind-swept Central Highland (Tay nguyen), there is a village considered as a small and beautiful island. That seems to be weird, but let’s go and discover interesting things here with your own eyes.

The destination that is familiar with people loving the sunshine, the wind and winter season every afternoon in the Central Highland is Buon Don (alternative name is Ban Don) in Buon Don district (Dak Lak district).

Ban Don is about 50 kilometers far from Buon Me Thuot city to the northeast, close to the border of Cambodia and Lao. Ban Don is “village of islands” in Vietnamese. The village was built in the middle of Se-re-pok river that is considered as the intersection of Vietnam, Lao and Cambodia.

This river is known as a stream of Mekong river and leads to 3 countries. Formerly, Laotian was attracted when coming here to do business and finally, they stayed here with native Ede people, and then built this village. Now, Ban Don has been the brand name of Central Highland tourism. In the end of rainy season and before the start of hot summer, wild sunflowers bloom all over the hillside inVietnam tourism.

In the village of islands, water covers all 4 directions. In the riverhead, water of main river flows downstream, Se-re-pok River is full of bright and cheerful red water – the color of basalt soil. When flowing through the village, the river is divided into 7 large and small streams, impetuously going through cliffs, making the huge waterfall. People call it with the name of the waterfall Bay Nhanh in N’Drech village, Ea huar commune, Buon Don district.

In 7 branches, the widest branch is about 2 kilometers, the narrowest is about 20-30 centimeters. Each branch has different features, making tourists interested. The first branch is dense with banyan trees. The second, third and forth branch have many cliffs, making different levels of water. Therefore, one part of the river is called waterfall. The fifth branch has plenty of smooth pebbles like gravels in beaches of the central. The seventh branch flows through Yok Don national park in which there are many old forests with specific trees of Central Highland.

Ban Don has existed for many centuries, but it still keeps the primitive of forests and mountains. Coming here , visitors seem to enter hundred years land, touch the space of primitive thick forests and high mountain. All of domestic and foreign travelers like this cultural and primitive land.

Setting foot here, visitors can listen to the legend of “elephant king” and people who are very good at taming elephants in the world. Y Thu (also known as N’Thu Knul) is a person taming more than 300 elephants. One of them is a white elephant that was given king of Xiem country, so the king named it -Khun-ju-nop (it means king of elephant).

From that time, he has been a legend of Central Highland. His tomb has existed among the forest and mountain until now. People in Central Highland call it Tomb of elephant king. It is hard to tell all of the Tay Nguyen legend in Ban Don. The legends are immortal and will live forever with the forest and mountain and local people who respect the cultural and natural values with Vietnam travel guide.

Wandering among the forest and mountain of Ban Don, discovering the nature, learning local culture….visitors never feel dull. Visitors surprise with not only the legends and stories, but also the landscape in front of their eyes. Ban Don is a quiet and peaceful village, but the other side of the village is a mysterious forest, making tourists curious.

When visiting to Buon Don, tourists should not forget ride elephants to go through rivers, streams, immense old forests, or go by dug-out canoe made by century-old trees, and go through suspension bridge…

House on stilt is an original culture in Central Highland. Coming here, visitors can learn about culture, history and people of the forest and mountain of Central Highland. The night of gong with local people will be an interesting memory for visitors.

Se-re-pok river and Bay Nhanh waterfall are ideal destinations for travelers to discover and take photos to keep beautiful moments here.

Elephant Race Festival

 

Buon Ma Thuot city

 

Yang Prong Cham Tower

 

Ea Kao Lake