Endowed with favourable natural conditions, many high mountains, longrivers and large lakes, the tourism industry of Lak district isrelatively developed and is an important chain in tourism development ofDak Lak and Lam Dong provinces. Vietnam Business Forum invites toexplore three scenic sites.

* Lak Lake

Lak Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in Dak Lak provinceand the second largest in Vietnam after Ba Be Lake. It is surrounded byhigh mountains covered with primeval forests. Jun, a famous village ofthe M'nong people, lies by the side of the lake. Around the lake aredistinct historical architectural works like the palace of King Bao Daiand long houses of the M'nong people.

Lak Lake liesby Lien Son town, also called Lac Thien, in Lak district which links toBuon Ma Thuot city, the capital of Dak Lak province, by the 56-km-longNational Road 27. After passing by the Lac Thien Pass, about 10km fromLien Son town, you will see Lak Lake on the right. The Lak Lake’s spaceof historical forests, culture and environment covers Bong Krang, YangTao and Dak Lieng communes.

Elderly tell a legendabout the lake, saying that it has no bottom or it goes through TonléSap (Cambodia). The over-5-square-kilometre lake joins the Krong AnaRiver. Surrounded by high mountains, the water surface is always verycalm. Legend has it that Lak Lake is created by Lak Lieng, a hero ofM'nong people.

Lak Lake is also a place that keepsunique and characteristic cultural values of M'Nong people. From the LakLake tourist site, you can reach Jun village and stay at long houses orvisit the palace of King Bao Dai.

* Chu Yang Sin National Park

Chu Yang Sin National Park is situated in Lak and Krong Bongdistricts, about 60km from Buon Ma Thuot city to the southeast.

Chu Yang Sin is a multi-peak mountain range. Chu Yang Sin Summit isthe highest in Dak Lak province at an altitude of 2,405m. The naturalarea of the national park is 59,667ha, characterised by tropical climateand mountainous sloping terrain. There are many kinds of forests herewith a variety of plants and animals, including 44 rare animals andplants recorded in the Red Book of Vietnam like big-size kingfishers,hornbills, white-headed hornbill and flag-tailed crows.

If you are adventurers or as scientific researchers, you should make avisit to Chu Yang Sin National Park to climb to Chu Yang Sin summit toexplore the wonderful and charming nature.

* Jun village

Situated by the side of romantic Lake Lak, Jun village has a pristinebeauty of a highland village imbued with traditional identities kept bygeneration to generation.

In the village, seeingtraditionally styled stilt houses of hill-tribe peoples nestled underthe shade of high trees and watching village maidens working assiduouslyon brocade looms, you will surely feel like returning the peacefulfairyland recorded in poetic epics. Despite undergoing historicalchanges, Jun village still preserves and promotes the beauty oftraditional cultures, customs and traditions handed from theirancestors. Distinctive lifestyle and livelihood of Jun villagers wereshaped thousands of years ago.

Visiting Jun village,you will be able to ride elephants to discover mountains, villages andlakes. If you visit Jun village once, you will feel the marvel ofsitting by the window of stilt house, watching fairy-like moon andfeeling gusts of strong cool winds from Lak Lake. Sitting together totaste a kind of traditional wine sucked from jars through bamboo pipes,you hear legends and myths of this land.

Anotherinteresting experience is you can row boats on Lak Lake and enjoybamboo-tube rice and specialties of Lak Lake like fish, eel and snail.If you visit Jun village during festive time, you will be immersed inthe jubilant atmosphere of excitement with resounding gong sounds andtraditional lyrical and romantic dances.-VNA