When is the best time to travel to Buon Ma Thuot?
There are two main seasons in Buon Ma Thuot: dry season starts from November to April next year and the rainy season starts from May to October.
However, you can go to Buon Ma Thuot at any time of year because the weather is relatively mild and the annual average temperature is 23 - 24 degrees Celsius, especially, in December (wildflowers and local festivals) or in February or March (coffee flower season and attractive elephant race).
How to get to Buon Ma Thuot
Buon Ma Thuot is about 350 km from Ho Chi Minh City and about 1,400 km from Hanoi. You can go there by land or air:
- From Ho Chi Minh City: you can take 7 hours to 8 hours if you take by cars or buses with the ticket price is from 200,000 VND to 240,000 VND. Alternatively, you can go by air such as Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Jetstar, which cost about 1 million VND to 1,5 million VND. It only takes an hour to fly to Buon Ma Thuot.
- From Hanoi: You can buy air tickets from Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Jetstar around 2 million to 3 million round trip and it will take about an hour and 40 minutes.
The best hotels you can stay
Sai Gon Ban Me Hotel
Address: No.3 Phan Chu Trinh, Thang Loi Ward, Buon Me Thuot City, DakLak province
Tel: 0262 3685 666
Dakruco Hotel
Address: No.30 Nguyen Chi Thanh, Tan Lap Ward, Buon Me Thuot City, DakLak province
Tel: 0262 3970 888
Dam San Hotel
Address: No.212 Nguyen Cong Tru, Tu An Ward, Buon Me Thuot City, DakLak province
Tel: 0262 3851 234
Besides, there are many local foods you must try when visiting Buon Ma Thuot
Red Noodle (Bun Do)
Red Noodle is a special food of this city. Its name originates from a bowl of vermicelli with specific red color of the broth. Dishes are combined with many materials such as crab bricks, eggs, vegetables ... You can enjoy this popular dish at the intersection Tran Phu and Y Zut, corner of Phan Dinh Giot and Le Hong Phong or in Le Duan corner and Phan Dinh Giot.
Gio Chia Noodle Soup
Gio Chia noodle soup is quite similar to Hue beef noodle. However, the biggest difference is the ingredients. The local people use the meat of pig’s legs instead of beef. Whenever customers order, the shopkeeper takes a turn and put noodle to a pot of hot water, then adding a little sauce, then the scallion, onion and hot water in the bowl. You can enjoy it at 222 Nguyen Tat Thanh street or 18 Tan Da street.
Banh uot thit nuong (Steamed thin rice pancake and barbecue)
Banh uot thit nuong is made from variety of ingredients: a plate of steamed thin rice pancake, a plate of barbecue, cucumber, green mango, pickle, herbs,etc. All is rolled and eaten with spicy fish sauce. You can visit at E45 Tran Nhat Duat to enjoy it (opened from 3pm).
After enjoying the delicious dishes of this land, you must be curious to discover the beauty of central highland area. So, here are some must-see destinations for you
Elephant Mother rock (Da Voi Me)
Elephant Mother rock is located in the Yang Tao (Lak District). Yang Tao Elephants consist of a pair of elephants (father and mother) telling about the mysterious legends. This is the largest monolithic rock in Vietnam. From the ground, it only takes about 15 minutes to reach the top of this one by climbing. Then you can see many landscapes in nearby area such as Yang Reh Lake and Chu Yang Sin - the roof of the Central Highlands from here. It is not difficult to reach the top of the Elephant, but you should be careful. Specially, do not climb up to the top of Elephant on rainy season because of it is very slippery.
Trung Nguyen Coffee Village
Trung Nguyen Coffee Village is not only a famous coffee shop but also designed as a miniature park. The scenery is eye-catching designed such as large waterfalls, bridges, streams, lakes, stilt houses attracting to many tourists. Significantly, you can visit this place without fee entrance.
Ea Kao Lake
Ea Kao Lake belongs to the Ea Kao commune, formed by blocking the Ea Knin, Ea Kao, Ea Chat and Cu Mblim streams to build irrigation systems for rice and coffee fields. But one of the most interesting things is the wildness of Ea Kao lake although the irrigation systems is operated since 1983. A diverse ecosystem with variety of fishes and shrimps under the lake will make you fall in love with this land.
If you go to Buon Me Thuot in the period from May to October, do not forget to bring raincoasts, umbrella, warm clothes, antimosquito cream and especially anti-slip shoes.