Thundering waterfalls, endless coffee plantations, remote ethnic villages — these are the first things you’ll hear about Dak Lak, if you hear anything at all. This under-the-radar province in Central Vietnam is in no hurry to reveal its treasures. Of course, that's half the appeal. Where else can you go glamping on a vast lake, get up close with elephants in the forest, and sit down to coffee with ethnic groups?

The simple rustic beauty of this place not only comes from the natural mountains but also from the traditional culture of the ethnic group in the Central Highland. However, the special thing which make this place more significant is imposing waterfall. Take a look at some waterfalls you can’t ignore when coming to Dak Lak.

1. Dray Nur and Dray Sap waterfalls

Photo: Yeudulich

The land adjacent to the two provinces of Dak Lak and Dak Nong has two wild, magnificent and romantic waterfalls of the legendary Central Highlands. They are Dray Nur waterfall (Wife waterfall) and Dray Sap waterfall (Husband waterfall).

Dray Nur waterfall is situated in Kuop hamlet, Dray Sap commune, Krong Ana district, Dak Lak province. Not very far away, visitors can walk across the red steel cable-stayed bridge and down another short forest road to reach Dray Sap waterfall in Nam Ha commune, Krong No district, Dak Nong province.

Dray Nur and Dray Sap are the two most beautiful waterfalls on the Serepok river. According to the Ede ethnic minority, legend has it that the Serepok river was just a winding stream in the jungle many years back in the past. At that time, a young man in Kuop hamlet fell in love with a girl from another village across the river. However, the two families had had a feud so the two could not be together. The couple chose to commit suicide in the Serepok river so they could be together forever. Feeling angry because of the villagers' selfishness, Giang (a God) created a storm and split the Serepok river into two streams, cutting the connection between the two villages. These two branches were named, the Krong Ana river (Female river) which forms the Dray Nur waterfall, and the Krong Kno river (Male river) forming the Dray Sap waterfall. Since then, Dray Nur and Dray Sap waterfalls are bound together in one stream.

In the rainy season, Dray Nur waterfall, which is over 250m wide, rushes down with white foam from 30m high cliffs creating a wild, breathtaking scene in the middle of the forest. In contrast to the fierce scenery of the waterfall, the waterfall base is a vast expanse of shallow water that flows over rocks. In the dry season, the Dray Nur waterfall has less water so the stream at the waterfall base is gentler and visitors can walk barefoot to enjoy the feeling of stepping on the smooth moss-covered rocks lying under the stream bed.

Photo: Saigonriders

Equally attractive to visitors is the hexagonal rock, evenly layered at the base of the waterfall. According to researchers, the rock formations at Dray Nur have a structure quite similar to those in the famous Da Dia cliff of Phu Yen. This is really a strange gift of nature, formed by lava blocks, an amazing phenomenon of volcanic activity millions of years ago.

Unlike the grandeur of Dray Nur waterfall, Dray Sap has a poetic and gentle beauty. From the 20m high valley, two streams cascade down creating a misty fog. That is probably where the name "smoke waterfall" comes from. The beauty of Dray Sap blends into the green nature of the vast forests. From the edge of the forest, the water at the base of the Dray Sap waterfall looks like a large turquoise lake. Along the lake shore are black stones with layers that protrude out of the edge of the water. There are large and flat rocks like an artificial bed shaded by the dipterocarp forest, a typical forest commonly found in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, creating beautiful scenic stops for visitors.

2. Krong Kmar Waterfall

Photo: My Daklak

From the centre of Krong Bong district toward the direction of Chu Yan Sin Mountain range about 3 km further, you will see a beautiful attraction of Dak Lak that is Krong Kmar Waterfall.

From the highest mountain top of Chu Yang Sin Mountain range which is called the ceiling of Tay Nguyen, Krong Kmar stream flows to the mountain bottom, creating Krong Kmar waterfall having wild, poetic landscape that everyone who has came here once will remember it forever.

In the upstream, on the Chu Yang Sin mount, the stream falls down, making up continuous waterfall steps. Water from Krong Kmar waterfall is poured to rock steps spreading white foams, creating a string of sound which is rumbling vibrant in the forest.

Behind the water pillars of the waterfall, there are many large and flat stones like the tables for visitors to stop, contemplate the scenery or hold the small party in the middle of stream.

From here, people who are interested in discovering the mountainous landscape can walk following the waterfall, go oppositely to the upstream direction. They will be surprised of a large blue lake that is dozens-of-meters deep, located in a pine forest where there are melodic birdsongs of many kinds of birds all year.

3. Thuy Tien waterfall

Photo: Saigon Riders

Location: Far from 7km northeast of Tam Giang Commune in Krong Nang District, Dak Lak Province.

Characteristics: Thuy Tien Waterfall is a poetic beautiful waterfall. It has many stones of various shapes and sizes, which are heaped up so that they look pleasant to the eyes.

Coming to this place, visitors can immerse themselves in nature; listen to the sound of spring in a wide majestic forest. Atop the waterfall, water falls down onto rocky terraces, creating much white spume, which make the waterfall looks like a lively picture, fanciful scenery of mountain landscape of the Central Highlands.

The waterfall consists of three layers. The first one has a low slope with steps; the spring is narrow, flowing gently through foliages of green leaves like flower trellis. Trees' roots fall down look like swinging hammocks. The second layer has rocky tiers. Here, the water creates various small and shallow lakes, where tourists can take a bath. From a far, the water looks like white flowers blossom under the sunshine of the Central Highlands.

At the third layer, water falls vertically to the ground, creating a deep lake, from which water flows gently, snaking its way through the tranquil jungles.

Together with other waterfalls such as Dray Sap, Trinh Nu, or Krong Kmar, Thuy Tien Waterfall is one of the places of interest for tourists. Thuy Tien Waterfall is a fairy hidden in the green jungle of Tay Nguyen, inviting tourists near and far come to enjoy its poetic beauty.

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