Tet travel guide in Vietnam - from forests to sea in Dak Lak
Dak Lak presents a rare Tet journey that unfolds from vast Central Highlands forests to calm blue seas, weaving nature, culture and local life into a single experience, including highland chill, the echo of gongs, coastal light and gentle waves.
THE HANOI TIMES — Dak Lak offers a rare Tet (the Lunar New Year) journey that moves from vast Central Highlands forests in the west to calm blue seas in the east, blending nature and culture into a fresh holiday experience.
The World Coffee Museum - a new symbol of the “world’s coffee capital” - comes alive during Tet with brewing performances and cultural exhibitions in the heart of Buon Ma Thuot, the central part of Dak Lak Province. Photo: The World Coffee Museum
The west of the Dak Lak sets the tone for the new year with mild highland chill and a slower rhythm of life. Visitors often find themselves drawn to stilt houses and evening fires, a setting that feels intimate and grounding.
The World Coffee Museum in Buon Ma Thuot, a new landmark of the so-called global coffee capital, will be a key stop for visitors.
Inspired by Ede longhouses and Central Highlands communal houses, the museum tells the story of coffee culture worldwide while standing out as a striking architectural space. During Tet, it often hosts brewing performances and cultural exhibitions that engage all the senses.
From Buon Ma Thuot, the journey continues to Buon Don, where spring seems to settle gently over each village. Hanging bridges cross the Serepok River, century-old stilt houses remain in use and local legends are shared with visitors.
Remarkably, Dak Lak has shifted away from elephant riding in favor of humane tourism models, allowing guests to walk with elephants, feed them and observe their daily routines more respectfully.
For those drawn to raw natural power, the Dray Nur - Dray Sap waterfall complex is a highlight. Water plunges from great heights through deep forest, creating a dramatic landscape softened by wildflowers that appear along forest paths in spring.
After these intense impressions, Lak Lake offers a quieter pause. There, morning mist or glowing sunsets turn the water into a mirror, best explored by a dugout canoe.
As Vietnam's second-largest natural freshwater lake, it is also home to Mnong communities in Jun and Le villages, where daily life and lakeside cuisine add depth to the western leg of the journey.
Leaving the red basalt plateau behind, travelers head east toward a gentler landscape often compared to yellow flowers on green grass. Tet by the sea feels slower and warmer, shaped by the easy smiles of residents.
Meanwhile, in Tuy Hoa Ward, Nghinh Phong Tower has emerged as a new architectural symbol. Inspired by Ganh Da Dia and the Lac Long Quan - Au Co legend, the structure features modern hexagonal stone blocks designed to interact with sea winds. It is equally appealing at sunrise and after dark.
Welcoming the first sunlight of the lunar year at Mui Dien and Dai Lanh Lighthouse is a meaningful Tet experience. From the height, the open sea stretches endlessly, evoking a sense of renewal and hope.
Nearby, Nhan Tower reflects the quiet elegance of Cham architecture and hosts cultural activities during the holiday season.
No eastern journey is complete without Ganh Da Dia. The site showcases unique stacked basalt columns where clear blue water meets gentle waves, creating one of the most distinctive coastal scenes in Vietnam.
In western Dak Lak, specialties including grilled chicken with ant salt and chili, bamboo-tube rice, grilled wild pork and cassava leaves stir-fried with dried fish carry bold mountain flavors.
To the east, visitors can enjoy stewed tuna eyeballs with herbs, fresh tuna dishes, Hoa Da banh hoi with pork offal and seafood from O Loan Lagoon.
A Tet journey from forest to sea in Dak Lak is a return to essential values, where gong echoes from the highlands meet the sound of waves, offering space to recharge and begin the new year with renewed energy.
Spring journeys in Buon Don offer visitors a gentle walk alongside elephants, feeding them and capturing meaningful moments that welcome the new year through harmony with nature. Photo: Hua Quoc Anh
The Dray Nur-Dray Sap waterfall complex, among the most majestic in the Central Highlands, radiates powerful energy and inspiration for a vibrant new year. Photo: Phuong Dong/The Hanoi Times
Lak Lake appears like a gentle muse, offering a peaceful pause amid the spring journey across the Central Highlands. Photo: Ninh Ton
Nghinh Phong Tower - a new icon of the “land of yellow flowers and green grass” - invites visitors to capture artistic moments while breathing in the vast openness of sea and sky. Photo: Duy Thuong
Few experiences are more complete than welcoming the first day of Tet with the nation’s earliest sunrise at Dai Lanh Lighthouse (Mui Dien), Vietnam’s sacred easternmost point. Photo: Dak Lak Tourism
Nhan Tower stands quietly at the heart of Tuy Hoa. From Mount Nhan on a spring night, the coastal city glows below, blending ancient calm with modern life. Photo: Dak Lak Tourism
Ganh Da Dia (stone plates) - a remarkable masterpiece of nature - is an unmissable stop on the journey through eastern Dak Lak. Photo: Huynh Le Vien Duy
Eastern Dak Lak captivates visitors with distinctive culinary experiences, where ocean tuna stands out as a signature flavor of the coastal area. Photo: Dang Trinh
