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November to April is the best time. It is dry, sunny and comfortable. February and March bring coffee blossom, when the farms smell of white flowers. The rainy season runs from May to October, with heavy afternoon showers. Waterfalls are at their fullest from August to October, but roads can be muddy.

The Buôn Ma Thuột Coffee Festival is held in March every two years. Check the dates before you travel.

• Ako Dhong Village is an Ede village with traditional long houses, weaving and cultural shows.
• Tượng Đài Chiến Thắng Buôn Ma Thuột is a tank-topped monument that remembers the 1975 battle for the city.
• Coffee Street is a street of cafés where visitors can taste the local coffee.
• Chùa Phổ Minh is a Buddhist pagoda in the city.
• Chùa Khải Đoan is another city pagoda with a quiet garden.
• Đồi Thông Cư Dluê is a pine hill with views, west of the city.

The World Coffee Museum and nearby waterfalls such as Draysap and Dray Nur are other top sights outside the centre.

• Taste coffee at the source: Visit a farm to see the harvest and roasting.
• Visit the World Coffee Museum: Learn about coffee growing and local culture.
• Stay in a long house: Ede and M'nông homestays offer a quiet night near Lak Lake.
• Walk to a waterfall: Dray Nur and Draysap have paths along the river.
• Join a village visit: Choose visits that do not involve riding elephants.

• Buôn Đôn: a village famous for its elephants and the Sê Rê Pốk river, about 40 km from the city.
• Lak Lake: a large lake in the highlands with stilt houses, about 55 km south.
• Dray Nur and Draysap waterfalls: two large falls on the Serepok river, about 25 to 30 km from the city.
• Da Lat: a cool hill city about 5 to 6 hours by road.
• Kon Tum: a quiet highland province to the north.

• Province: Dak Lak covers the city and surrounding highlands.
• South: Da Lat is a popular hill station.
• North: Pleiku and Kon Tum are highland towns.
• Coast: Nha Trang and Quy Nhon lie east on the sea.

• By air: Sân bay Buôn Ma Thuột (BMV) has flights from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. The airport lies a short drive from the centre.
• By bus: Sleeper buses connect the city with Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Da Lat and Pleiku.
• By car: A private car from Nha Trang takes about 4 hours. From Da Lat it takes about 5 to 6 hours.
• By train: The city has no railway station. Vietnam Railways serves the coastal route.

• Taxi and Grab: The easiest way to move around the city and to nearby sights.
• Scooter: Rental scooters are common. Wear a helmet.
• Tours and drivers: Day tours cover Buôn Đôn, Lak Lake and waterfalls.
• Walking: The city centre is compact, but sights are spread out.

• Is a car worth it? A car with a driver is the best way to reach Lak Lake, Buôn Đôn and the waterfalls in one day.
• Roads: Highland roads are good but have long straights with trucks and scooters.
• Parking: Hotels and sites have free or low-cost parking.

The highlands are known for coffee, and Buôn Ma Thuột is the home of Robusta. Try cà phê sữa, coffee with condensed milk, or the local weasel-style coffees sold at specialist cafés. Local food includes bún đỏ, a red noodle soup, grilled bamboo-tube rice and wild vegetables. Ede and M'nông homestays cook with herbs from the forest.

Look for cafés on the main streets and for cheap noodle shops near the market.

Buôn Ma Thuột is a quiet and safe city, but some points need care.

• Mountain roads can be wet and slippery in the rainy season.
• Wear a helmet on a scooter.
• Nights are cool at altitude. Bring a light jacket.
• Avoid swimming in fast water near waterfalls.
• Buy coffee from reputable shops, since fakes are common.

The Central Highlands have long been home to the Ede, M'nông and other peoples. Under French rule, the area became a centre for coffee and rubber plantations.

The city is known for the battle of March 1975, which began the final push of the war. Tượng Đài Chiến Thắng Buôn Ma Thuột remembers that event.

Quick practical facts for Vietnam at a glance: