PA SY WATERFALL

Around 6km from the downtown of Kon Tum city, Pa Sy waterfall is located in Kon Tu Rang village, Mang Canh commune, Kon Plong district. The waterfall is lushly forested by dark green perennial woods and draped in crisp pure air and moderate climate as well. Pa Sy waterfall is formed of three largest fountains of Mang Den, at the height of 1,500m from the sea level. Far from being towering and imposing like its counterparts in the vast Central Highlands, Pa Sy is a gentle and tender flow of undertones.

Ngoc Linh cordillera. Photo: Nguyen Quang Vinh

NGOC LINH MOUNTAINS

Ngoc Linh cordillera is a continual string of mountains that blanket the four provinces of Kon Tum, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Gia Lai, stretching from Ngoc Lum Heo in the Northwest to Ngoc Ro mountain in the Southwest, of which Ngoc Linh is the tallest one. Rising 2,600m tall, Ngoc Linh mountain is magnificent and picturesque beyond compare. The mountain is draped in profound spiritual values passed on over generations of ethnic minorities. Young hikers and adventurers may opt for Ngoc Linh as a new destination on your bucket list.

DAK TO HOT SPRING

Dak To hot spring is situated in Kon Dao commune, Dak To town in Dak To district, Kon Tum. The flows of the spring typically hovers around 50 to 700C, containing a flurry of minerals of magnesium, natrium, calcium or silic… that put your mind at ease but also accelerate physical healing and prove well suited for leisure wedded to relaxation.

Chu Mom Ray national park. Photo: Pham Huy Dang

CHU MOM RAY NATIONAL PARK

Around 30km West of the city center, Chu Mom Ray national park is another must-visit for a fulfilling vacation in Kon Tum. Chu Mom Ray national park is deservedly green lungs of the northernmost portion of the Central Highlands, and famed for its highest biodiversity level of Viet Nam. Notably, in addition to its remarkable area and borderline with Virachey national park in Cambodia and Southwestern Ghong natural reserve in Laos, the national park is also home to 114 species listed in the Red list of Viet Nam and the world.

Communal house in Kon Bring village. Photo: Trinh Lam Tuyen

KON BRING VILLAGE

Kon Bring homestay village in Kon Tum is home to the M’Nam who still preserves various traditions and long standing norms in the Central Highlands through their architecture, stilt houses, extended communal houses or gong and cymbal dances… Visitors to Kon Bring village can really touch the peaceful authenticity of their culture by entering wooden houses an taking a look at the norms and daily life of the natives. More interestingly, they can even listen to the chieftain to narrate M’Nam epics and other legends of Mang Den.

The unique architecture of Kon Tum wooden cathedral. Photo: Nguyen Quang Vinh

KON TUM CITY

The most popular destination of Kon Tum is of course the namesake city. An economic and cultural hub of the province, the city excellently weds both modern facilities and traditional charm. Some touristy destinations in the city include Kon Tum wooden cathedral, Kon Tum diocese, Kon K’Tu old village, Kon K’lor extended house, Kon K’lor suspended bridge, Kon Tum museum and Bac Ai pagoda.

The foods of the locals are also equally diverse. Central Highlands foods are necessarily centered on the wild and thus taste quite recognizable. Some notable treats to the highlands include bamboo shoot sticky rice, jellyfish rice vermicelli, wrapped caked, leafy hotpot or mixed fermented ant salads…

Hien Phuong