Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hill-tribe guides are available for hiking and there's an impressive visitor centre, 32km
north of Dalat, with interactive displays about the flora and fauna and K'Ho hill-tribe
crafts and culture.
The pleasant 3.5km trail from the visitor centre to a waterfall only fringes the national
park; to penetrate deep inside Bidoup Nui Ba consider one of three other options, which
include ascents of Lang Biang and Bidoup mountains. The longer trails do not start from
the visitor centre itself, but staff there can organise guides and logistics.
There are five comfortable
bungalows
(300,000d)
, each with three en-suite rooms at the
visitor centre, as well as a
canteen
(meals 30,000d to 70,000d)
.
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS
It's easy to get off the beaten track in this scenic part of the country. Only Dalat makes it onto most
tourists' radars, meaning that the rest of the region still offers adventure in abundance. This is a great
part of the country to see from the back of a motorbike.
The upgrading of the historic
Ho Chi Minh Trail
has made it easier than ever to visit out-of-the-
way places such as
Kon Tum
, one of the friendliest cities in Vietnam, with several fascinating
churches in town and hill-tribe villages close by.
Buon Ma Thuot is the major city in the region, but the biggest buzz you'll get is from the coffee
beans. Nearby
Yok Don National Park
( 0500-378 3049;
www.yokdon-nationalpark.vn
; admis-
sion free as part of package) is home to 38 endangered mammal species, including plenty of elephants
and a handful of tigers. Impressive waterfalls in this area include
Gia Long
and
Dray Nur Falls
along
the Krong Ana River.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Cat Tien National Park
One of the outstanding natural spaces in Vietnam, Unesco-listed
Cat Tien National Park
(
061-366 9228;
www.cattiennationalpark.vn
;
adult/child 50,000/20,000d; 7am-10pm)
comprises
an amazingly biodiverse area of lowland tropical rainforest. The hiking, mountain biking
and birdwatching are outstanding.
Fauna in the park includes 326 bird species, 100 mammals (including elephants), 79
reptiles plus an incredible array of insects, including 400 or so species of butterfly. Leo-
pards are also believed to be present, though the last rhino was killed by poachers in 2010.
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