In 2026, under the theme “Dak Lak - Journey to a Land of Heritage”, Dak Lak Province is launching a wide-ranging series of tourism initiatives aimed at celebrating the cultural, historical and human values of the Central Highlands, while creating new momentum for tourism to become one of the province’s key economic sectors.

A Living Heritage in the Heart of the Highlands

Exploring Dak Lak is, in many ways, an encounter with a living heritage set amid the vastness of the Central Highlands. It is not a destination for hurried travel; rather, it invites visitors to slow down and savour the many layers of culture and nature that define this remarkable land.

At dawn in the highlands, as the first rays of sunlight filter through rows of rubber and coffee trees, Buon Ma Thuot gently awakens in the scent of red basalt soil and the faint aroma of freshly roasted coffee. This landscape, at once contemplative and expansive, forms Dak Lak’s first greeting to travellers, a region increasingly establishing itself as one of Vietnam’s most distinctive heritage and cultural experience destinations.

From Buon Ma Thuot, just over an hour’s drive brings visitors to Buon Don, a land steeped in the legendary elephant-hunting traditions of the M’nong and Ede peoples. Swaying suspension bridges spanning the Serepok River, traditional longhouses, and the resonant sound of gongs during village festivals create the feeling of stepping into another world, untamed, vibrant and deeply rooted in tradition.

Dak Lak captivates through the harmony of nature and indigenous culture. Lak Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake in the Central Highlands, unfolds like a delicate ink painting. Wooden dugout canoes glide across the calm water, while distant mountain ranges frame the immense, dramatic beauty of the highland wilderness.

Cultural Heritage as the Foundation of Tourism

Any conversation about Dak Lak inevitably leads to the Central Highlands Gong Culture, recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Across many villages, the sound of gongs continues to echo through festivals and traditional ceremonies, from celebrations of the new rice harvest to funeral rituals and wedding rites. These powerful, resonant tones are more than music; they are the spiritual voice of the community.

Village elder Y Ho Eban of Knia 4 village in Ea Nuol commune embodies this living heritage. He has mastered the crafting and performance of a remarkable range of traditional instruments, from the thunderous kram gongs, echoing like cascading waterfalls, to the lyrical goong strings and a variety of instruments such as dinh nam, dinh tut and dinh buot. In his hands, each instrument seems to be infused with spirit, giving voice to the soul of the Central Highlands.

It is precisely this unique cultural richness that now forms the foundation for Dak Lak’s community-based tourism offerings. Visitors can stay in traditional villages, savour authentic highland cuisine, listen to epic storytelling, and take part in local ceremonies and festivals.

In 2026, the province is organising an extensive tourism stimulus programme, beginning with the Opening Ceremony of Dak Lak Tourism Activities 2026, centred on the theme “Dak Lak - Journey to a Land of Heritage”.

The programme blends artistic performances, cultural expressions and contemporary elements to showcase the spirit of the Central Highlands. A wide range of accompanying events, including a Trade and Tourism Fair featuring local specialties, cultural performances for visitors, familiarisation trips for travel companies, journalists and KOLs, as well as expanded tourism sports competitions, are expected to generate strong media attention and broaden Dak Lak’s reach to domestic and international markets.

Layered Travel Experiences

The evolution of tourism in Dak Lak is driven not only by government initiatives but also by the dynamism of local businesses. Many travel companies have developed specialised tours, including Buon Ma Thuot coffee experience tours, Central Highlands village discovery journeys, forest and waterfall ecotourism adventures, and indigenous culture and festival tours.

One of the destination’s greatest attractions lies in its diversity of experiences. Within a single journey, travellers can savour coffee in Buon Ma Thuot - Vietnam’s coffee capital, listen to gongs echo through an Ede village, explore Yok Don National Park, paddle across Lak Lake in a dugout canoe, and sample the distinctive cuisine of the Central Highlands.

Local gastronomy itself is a form of heritage. Dishes such as com lam (bamboo-cooked rice), charcoal-grilled village chicken, canh la bep (wild leaf soup), and ruou can (traditional jar wine) each reflect the cultural rhythms of the communities who have lived here for generations.

Towards a Sustainable Destination

Honouring the cultural values and people of Dak Lak has been identified as both the spiritual foundation and the internal driving force behind sustainable tourism development. At the same time, the province continues to promote its image as a destination that is safe, welcoming and rich in cultural identity, in order to attract both visitors and investors.

Many tourism experts believe that, if its natural and cultural resources are effectively developed, Dak Lak has every potential to become a leading tourism hub of the Central Highlands.

As evening descends over Buon Ma Thuot, the last rays of sunlight cast a crimson glow across the coffee plantations while the distant sound of gongs drifts through nearby villages. It is in moments like these that the quiet beauty of this land reveals itself most deeply.

Dak Lak is neither loud nor ostentatious. Yet the sincerity of its people, the raw splendour of its landscapes and the profound depth of its culture combine to create a truly distinctive allure.

Within the broader journey of Vietnamese tourism today, Dak Lak is gradually emerging as a living heritage landscape, where past, present and future blend seamlessly within the rhythms of the highland forests. And with new steps taken in 2026, this land of the Central Highlands is sending out a compelling invitation:

Come to Dak Lak, return to a land of heritage!