Much of the Central Highlands is a collection of flat plateaux, mainly inhabited by varied ethnic groups. Aside from Dalat, the tourist guide books are somewhat dismissive of the area. Many remarking a position sights and attractions aren't even talked about; probably as a result of they're too far off the regular tourist routes.  

At present, it is a blessing for Gia Linh Travel travelers because it gives an opportunity to go to one of Vietnam’s most fascinating areas without bumping into groups of tourists. Nevertheless, the Ho Chi Minh High approach, a brand new north-south scenic route, is due for completion in 2005, and will make the area more accessible. 

At the southern extremity of the Central Highlands is the city of Dalat. Originally constructed by the French colonists, Dalat nonetheless bears a passing resemblance to a French town, an impression that is diminishing as Vietnamese-style buildings proliferate. 

Dalat could be reached by air, however only from Ho Chi Minh City. Nonetheless the drive from the south is sort of satisfying, especially as you climb up through rubber, mulberry, coffee and tea plantations. The street from Dalat to High method 1 and Nha Trang can also be gratifying with plenty to see on way. 

There are some good hotels, the crown going to the wonderful Sofitel Dalat Palace, arguably considered one of Vietnam’s best, however there are very few eating places serving something apart from Vietnamese food.  

Around Dalat

Don’t hassle with the overbought Prenn and Datanla waterfalls. The previous is filled with style less extras - imitation wooden walkways manufactured from cement, pretend rope bridges, tiny yachts, and an entirely unnecessary cable car.  

The water is polluted, and a small military of avaricious vendors make for a gloomy experience. The Datanla waterfall is better, but not anything just like the advertising suggests.  

The Valley of Love - what’s in a reputation?

Serenity, gentle strolls via shady woodland, trailing fingers in the water as your boat glides silently across the still water? Forget it! The truth is blaring music, a proliferation of cheap souvenir stalls and the noise and scent of motorboats. As it is, it’s best left to those who like that form of thing.

Buon Ma Thuot

Buon Ma Thuot lies about 190 km inland from Nha Trang and around 200km north of Dalat. A large city in a coffee plantation area, it’s the provincial capital of Dak Lak province however its main interest for visitors are the natural surroundings and the thirty or so ethnic groups within the area. Dak Lak is warmer and more

Humid than Dalat, with a rainy season from April to November.  

The town itself is nondescript apart from the Kha Doan Pagoda, an unusual mixture of the features of an Ede long house with a roof designed in accordance with Hue imperial architecture. It was constructed to commemorate the wife of Emperor Khai Dinh - her son was Emperor Bao Dai, the final of the dynasty. 

Kon Tum

Essentially the most northerly of the three towns at the Highland plateaux, the provincial capital of Kon Tum is situated on the banks of the Dakbla River approximately 900km from Ho Chi Minh City and around 200km from Qui Nhon. It’s a pleasing, unassuming form of place. There are neatly over six hundred ethnic minority villages and hamlets in the province, mostly Ba Na, Xo Dang, Gia Trieng and Gia Rai. A sizable proportion of the population has transformed to Catholicism. 

The French used Kon Tum as their administrative centre for the Central Highlands and built a large prison to subdue the local population. They deployed the prisoners as forced labour to build Highway 19 - needless to mention, many died. 

One of the crucial best-recognized international guidebooks has so much to say approximately Kon Tum’s historical prison, concluding that the “local tourism authorities have now not fairly grasped the industrial potential of this would-be warfare museum.” Had the authors checked, they’d have identified that the prison was once demolished after the warfare and completely rebuilt between 1998 and 2000 via the tourism division to capitalise upon an unwitting tourist market. Oops! 

Pleiku

The name Pleiku is normally associated with the American warfare as one of the main theatres of operations. It was a North Vietnam Army assault on Pleiku that prompted Lyndon Johnson to authorise the ‘Operation Rolling Thunder’, a campaign of sustained heavy bombing. It was additionally the location of the war’s first conventional battle. When Buon Ma Thuot fell to the North Vietnam Military, the South Vietnam Military deserted Pleiku, leaving it little more than a ruin.  

After the war, it was rebuilt with USSR help, so it’s hardly shocking that it has all of the charm of a Soviet gulag.  

On the positive side, it has enticing countryside and some delightful home keep locations.