Kon Tum Province

Region · 🇻🇳 Vietnam

Kon Tum is a quiet highland province in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, near the borders with Laos and Cambodia. The provincial city sits on the Đắk Bla River at about 500 metres. It is known for its communal houses (nhà rông), the French-era wooden church and the villages of the Bahnar, Sedang and Jarai peoples.

Most visitors spend one or two nights, often between Hội An and Pleiku or Buôn Ma Thuột.

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When to visit

November to April is the dry season and the best time to visit. Skies are clear and roads are open. May to October is the rainy season, with afternoon storms and muddy trails. Nights can be cool in winter. Festivals of the highland peoples take place in the dry season.

Best time to visit: January

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Great

24° (feels like 25°) · extremes 11°–29°
15° at night
8 rainy days
8 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in February

Great

26° (feels like 27°) · extremes 12°–32°
15° at night
4 rainy days
11 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in March

Good

29° (feels like 31°) · extremes 14°–34°
17° at night
4 rainy days
10 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in April

Fair

31° (feels like 33°) · extremes 16°–35°
20° at night
5 rainy days
7 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Humid air
Calm winds
UV index 10 · very high

Typical weather in May

Fair

30° (feels like 33°) · extremes 19°–35°
21° at night
13 rainy days
5 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Muggy, humid air
Calm winds
UV index 10 · very high

Typical weather in June

Fair

29° (feels like 32°) · extremes 20°–33°
21° at night
12 rainy days
3 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Muggy, humid air
Calm winds
UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in July

Fair

29° (feels like 31°) · extremes 19°–33°
21° at night
15 rainy days
3 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Muggy, humid air
Calm winds
UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in August

Fair

28° (feels like 31°) · extremes 19°–32°
21° at night
17 rainy days
1 sunny day
5 hours of sunshine per day
Muggy, humid air
Calm winds
UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in September

Poor

28° (feels like 31°) · extremes 19°–32°
20° at night
21 rainy days
2 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Muggy, humid air
Calm winds
UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in October

Fair

26° (feels like 29°) · extremes 16°–30°
19° at night
22 rainy days
3 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Muggy, humid air
Calm winds
UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in November

Good

25° (feels like 27°) · extremes 14°–30°
18° at night
18 rainy days
5 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Humid air
Calm winds
UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in December

Good

24° · extremes 12°–28°
16° at night
15 rainy days
5 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 6 · high

Climate data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Top sights

Nhà Rông Kon Pring is a tall communal house of the Bahnar people, near the river and the suspension bridge.
Cầu dây võng Kon Pring is a footbridge over the Đắk Bla River at Kon Pring.
Our Lady of Mang Den is the Marian shrine at Măng Đen, in the cool pine hills.
Kon Tum Prison is a former French prison with a museum, in the city.
Bishop of Kontum's Building is the old bishop's building next to the wooden church.
Thác Pa Sỹ is a waterfall in the Măng Đen area.
Hồ Đắk Ke is a lake in the Măng Đen pine forest.
Pine path is a pine-lined path near the lake.

The Kon Tum Wooden Church, built in 1913 from dark wood in a Bahnar style, is the best known building in the city.

What to experience

Visit the wooden church: Look at the carved wood and the nearby orphanage.
Cycle to the villages: Short rides lead to Bahnar and Sedang communal houses.
Stay in a pine-forest homestay at Măng Đen: Cool air, lakes and waterfalls.
Try highland food: Grilled meats, bamboo-tube rice and wild vegetables.
Drink local coffee: The highlands are a coffee region.

Tours & Activities

Kon Tum Province — Map

Day trips

Măng Đen: A cool highland area with pine forest and lakes, about 50 to 60 km east.
Bahnar and Sedang villages: Kon K'tu, Kon Tu Rằng and other villages near the city.
Pleiku: Pleiku is about 50 km south.
Dak Lak: Buôn Ma Thuột is a longer trip south.

Where to explore

South: Pleiku is the city of Gia Lai province.
South-east: Dak Lak has coffee and waterfalls.
East: Quang Ngai and Da Nang are on the coast.

Getting there

By bus: Buses run from Da Nang, Quảng Ngãi, Pleiku and Hanoi.
By air: The nearest airport is in Pleiku, about 1 hour away by road.
By road: Highway 14 (Hồ Chí Minh road) runs through the city.
By train: There is no railway to Kon Tum. Vietnam Railways

Getting around

Walking: The city centre is small and walkable.
Bicycle: Good for the river and nearby villages.
Motorbike hire: Best for Măng Đen and villages.
Taxi: A few taxis serve the city.

Driving

Is a car worth it? A car or motorbike helps for Măng Đen and the villages. The city is easy on foot.
Roads: Highway 14 is busy with trucks. Mountain roads to Măng Đen are winding.
Fuel: Fill up in the city before mountain drives.

Food & drink

Highland food in Kon Tum is simple and smoky. Try cơm lam, rice cooked in bamboo, grilled meats, wild vegetables and rice wine. Coffee, pepper and cassava grow in the province. Local restaurants cluster around the city centre.

Breakfast

Pho PhởBeef or chicken noodle soup with a fragrant broth, fresh herbs, and rice noodles; commonly eaten for breakfast.

Lunch

Bun Cha Bún chảGrilled pork patties and slices served with rice vermicelli, herbs, and a sweet-sour dipping sauce; a Hanoi specialty.

Bun Bo Hue Bún bò HuếA spicy, lemongrass-scented beef noodle soup from the city of Hue.

Cao Lau Cao lầuA noodle dish unique to Hoi An, with thick chewy noodles, pork, and greens, traditionally made with local well water.

Snacks & street food

Banh Mi Bánh mìA French-influenced baguette sandwich filled with pork, pate, pickled vegetables, and herbs.

Banh Xeo Bánh xèoA crispy turmeric rice-flour crepe filled with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts, wrapped in lettuce and herbs.

Goi Cuon Gỏi cuốnFresh (uncooked) spring rolls filled with shrimp, pork, herbs, and vermicelli, wrapped in rice paper.

Sweets & desserts

Che ChèA category of sweet dessert soups or puddings made with beans, fruit, jelly, and coconut milk, served hot or over ice.

Drinks

Ca Phe Sua Da Cà phê sữa đáStrong drip coffee served over ice with sweetened condensed milk; Vietnam's signature drink.

Bia Hoi Bia hơiCheap, light draft beer brewed fresh daily and sold at street-side stalls, especially in Hanoi.

Safety & health

Kon Tum is a quiet and safe city.

Mountain roads can be slippery after rain. Take care on a motorbike.
Respect village customs. Ask before photographing people and houses.
Nights are cool in the highlands. Bring a light jacket.
Stay on tracks near the border areas.
Medical care is basic outside the city.

History

Kon Tum was settled by the Bahnar, Sedang and Jarai peoples long before the French. French missionaries arrived in the 19th century and built a church, a seminary and a bishop's house. The French also built a prison, now a museum.

The province saw heavy fighting in the Vietnam War, particularly near the Laos border. Today Kon Tum is a quiet city that keeps its mission buildings and the villages of its highland peoples.