Dak Lak Province has several natural treasures that make it a tourist magnet all year long: Buon Don Tourist Village, created entirely to please visitors with several attractions and services such as an elephant ride along Seropok River, restaurants, souvenir shops all throught the area, mattresses on which guests can rest, among others; Draysap Waterfalls, meaning “smoky falls,” ideal for trekking; and Trinh Nu Waterfalls, perhaps made famous because of its legend of a girl who took her own life in the name of love.

But the pride of the Central Highlands is its Lak Lake (Ho Lak), situated 50 kms. South of Buon Ma Thuot City on National Highway 27. Composed of 550 hectares, it is considered to be the biggest body of natural water in Lien Son Township. In the rainy season, it can even expand to around 700 hectares, while it can shrink significantly to 400 hectares in the summer due to the hot and dry weather.

And unlike most lakes which are surrounded by either coffee plantations or pepper farms, Lak Lake is instead embraced by a large area of rice paddies, an unexpected yet charming feature which makes it stand above the others.

The lake has a breathtaking scenery. And for tourists who want to take the most and best shots, sunrise and sunset are the best times to visit the place. But in between, visitors can also enjoy their stay by taking a bicycle ride around the area. Bicycles for hire can be easily found for VND250,000 (US$22) for a 30-minute ride per couple/ pair. Two kilometers away in the village of Jun, guests can also take an elephant ride which will surely be an adventure they will never forget and forever treasure.

Lak Lake is a fairly new tourist destination which still leaves some room for development. But with its simple and natural beauty which already attracts people from all over the globe as it is, imagine its potential as long and as soon as the tourism sector works on developing it further. Then, Lak Lake is truly the pride of the Central Highlands of Dak Lak Province.