Gia Lai tourism has an irresistible attraction thanks to its long pristine coastline, many majestic natural landscapes, rich cultural heritage and diverse cuisine. Therefore, Gia Lai has been becoming an ideal destination for a vacation and entertainment trip.
Table of Contents
General information about Gia Lai
After merging with Binh Dinh province, the new Gia Lai province has an area of over 21,000 km², a population of about 3.5 million people. This is the second largest province in the country (after Lam Dong), possessing potential and strengths in tourism with forests and seas.
Gia Lai borders Quang Ngai to the north, the sea to the east, Ratanakiri province (Cambodia) to the west, and Dak Lak to the south. The provincial capital of Gia Lai is Quy Nhon. Tourist attractions in Gia Lai are mainly concentrated in Quy Nhon city, Pleiku and neighboring areas within a radius of 20-30 km.
What’s the best time to explore Gia lai?
After merging with Binh Dinh province, the terrain and climate of Gia Lai are distributed as follows:
The old Gia Lai area (located in the north of the Central Highlands) belongs to the tropical monsoon climate zone, high humidity, heavy rainfall, no storms and frost. The weather is divided into two distinct seasons: rainy season and dry season. The rainy season usually starts in May and ends in October. The dry season is from November to April of the following year.
100 year old pine trees in Gia Lai (source: collected)
The average annual temperature ranges from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. The average temperature in the whole province is about 27 degrees Celsius, with the lowest temperature being about 20 degrees Celsius in the mountains and plateaus, and the highest temperature in the sea is about 35-36 degrees Celsius.
However, the rainy season in the areas of the old Binh Dinh (coastal areas located in the north of the South Central Coast, Central region, now Gia Lai province) starts from September to December, while the mountainous areas often have rain from May to August, due to the influence of the Central Highlands rainy season.
The dry season lasts from January to August, in which the summer months are sunny but not hot, less affected by storms and rains, so it is suitable for tourism.
Accommodation in Gia Lai
Hotels in Gia Lai are very diverse, but mainly concentrated in Pleiku, Quy Nhon and surrounding areas. In the Pleiku area, there are quite a few homestays such as Sora, Moonlight, Tien Son Pleiku, Gio, with an average price of 300,000 VND per room.
A photo from Sora homestay (source: collected).
Mid-range hotels, ranging from 300,000 to 500,000 VND per night include Cong Doan, Pleiku Hotel, Hoai Thuong Gia Lai, La MIA Lakeview, Tre Xanh, Khai Hoan, Vinh Hoi. High-end hotels include Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Duc Long Gia Lai, Boston Hotel, with prices ranging from 700,000 to 1 million VND per night.
A view from Avani resort in Quy Nhon (source: collected)
In the Quy Nhon and surrounding areas, if going on vacation, tourists often choose resorts such as Anantara Quy Nhon Villas, Avani Quy Nhon resort & spa, Maia resort Quy Nhon, Casa Marina resort, Crown Retreat Quy Nhon, FLC resort Quy Nhon. Room rates range from 2 million to about 8 million VND per night. These places are far from the city center.
How to get here?
It is easy to travel from many places in the country to Gia Lai by air, road and rail. Gia Lai has Quy Nhon seaport which is a place for receiving goods, not for cruise ships participating in sea traffic.
Airway
Gia Lai has two airports: Phu Cat Airport, 35 km from Quy Nhon city center and Pleiku Airport, about 7 km from the center, travel time by car is about 15 minutes.
Pleiku airport in Gia Lai
Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air both have flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Pleiku and Quy Nhon. Round-trip ticket prices range from 1.5 million VND to 3.5 million VND depending on departure point and flight time.
By roadway
Gia Lai has a fairly convenient road traffic infrastructure, so it is possible to travel from major cities such as Da Nang, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Pleiku, Quy Nhon and neighboring areas.
In Quy Nhon city, and Pleiku tourists can rent motorbikes for 100,000 to 150,000 VND per day; taxis or private car with driver to go to further destinations. If you only travel within the central streets but in a large group of about 10 people, you can choose an electric car or a bus.
Railway
The Thong Nhat train stops at Dieu Tri station, Tuy Phuoc district, nearly 10 km from Quy Nhon city center. Round-trip fares (from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City) range from 850,000 VND to 2.6 million VND, depending on the departure point, train type and bed type (seat).
Tourist attractions in Gia Lai
Cities and suburb areas
Quy Nhon City
Quy Nhon is the “heart” of the old Binh Dinh (currently Gia Lai Province), a destination that attracts many visitors every tourist season, convenient to travel. Quy Nhon is famous for its long coastline, blue water, fine sand, and gently sloping beaches. There are also a large number of accommodation areas with all segments from budget to high-end. The food in Quy Nhon is delicious, with many “exclusive” dishes such as jumping shrimp pancakes, spring rolls, and sea food.
The number of visitors to Quy Nhon has increased about 10 times in the past 15 years, making it an emerging destination for domestic and foreign visitors.
Pleiku
Pleiku used to be a first-class urban area under old Gia Lai province (currently Pleiku ward) with many advantages in natural environment and landscape and some basic infrastructure invested in recent years as a foundation for developing tourism to a new level, attracting a large number of domestic and foreign tourists.
The “mountain town” of Pleiku has a very beautiful space and has a quite natural and romantic plateau. The residents here have a simple, harmonious and hospitable lifestyle. Nature has endowed this urban area with traces of volcanoes that have been extinct for millions of years, including negative volcanoes such as Bien Ho (a big lake) and positive volcanoes such as Ham Rong, which are very special in structure, shape and landscape that not every place has, and are noticed, studied and admired by many people.
The suburban area has many valleys and hills, wide grasslands which are attractive high-class tourist and resort destinations. The scenic cluster of Bien Ho – tea hills – hundred-year-old pine trees – Buu Minh pagoda is the most famous destination in Pleiku.
Tam Quan Town
Nearly 100 km north of Quy Nhon city, Tam Quan town in Hoai Nhon district is home to endless coconut trees and tourist attractions such as Lo Dieu rock reef, Hoai Hai rock reef, Yen cave, My Binh lake. When coming to Hoai Nhon, don’t forget to enjoy specialties such as sesame candy, Hoai Thanh rice cake, Bong Son spring rolls, Hoai Duc pancakes.
To get to Tam Quan town, from Quy Nhon, visitors travel along National Highway 1A through Tuy Phuoc, An Nhon, Phu Cat, Phu My areas and then to Hoai Nhon. From Phu Cat airport, visitors can book a tour or travel by themselves with means of transport such as rental cars, taxis, a distance of 80 km. One-way taxi fares range from 700,000 VND to 800,000 VND.
The best beaches and bays
Ky Co beach
Ky Co beach is also located in Quy Nhon Dong commune, about 25 km northeast of the city. Thanks to one side facing the sea and three sides surrounded by mountains, the landscape here is “beautiful”. Ky Co sea water is blue and clear. From about April to September, the weather is nice and sheltered, which is the most suitable time to come here. To get to Ky Co beach, high-speed canoe is the most convenient means of transportation. Normally, visitors will buy a full day tour, including a lunch and drink, entrance ticket to Ky Co with tour price from 350,000 to 400,000 VND per person.
Visitors can also go to Ky Co by road, following the road around the mountain to the beach, starting from Suoi Ca bridge, along the Phuong Mai mountain slope to the south. However, this route is only suitable for people with good driving skills and should go in groups to support each other.
Xanh islet
About 30 minutes from Quy Nhon city by canoe, Xanh islet (also known as Van Phi islet) is located off the coast of Xuan Dai bay, between Phu Yen and Binh Dinh provinces.
With an area of 365 hectares and a sparse population, Xanh islet is considered one of the most beautiful islets in the Central region. The sea water is blue and clean, with not many tourists. People here mainly live in fishing villages on the south shore. The north of the islets are mountain ranges with many strange shapes. When coming to Xanh islet, you should choose the dry season (from March to September) when the weather is sunny, the sea is calm, and the water is clear.
Visitors go to Ham Tu wharf located in the center of Quy Nhon city, park their vehicles, and take a canoe to the islet. The journey takes about 30-40 minutes. The islet has many homestays with an average price of 150,000 VND to 200,000 VND per person per night.
De Gi Beach
De Gi is located in De Gi commune, 50 km from Quy Nhon city. Known as the “sleeping princess”, De Gi is pristine, deserted, with blue beaches, white sand, and abundant marine life. Going deeper, De Gi is more bustling with boats carrying fish to neighboring provinces.
For many years, De Gi has been famous for the continuous appearance of whales, thanks to the marine environment, suitable temperature, and many food sources.
The De Gi – Vung Boi tour is popular with many trekkers because of its unique exploration schedule, being immersed in nature and experiencing a sense of peace. Guests are mainly locals or people from some neighboring areas coming to “change the wind”.
On average, each tour has from 10 to 20 people, the price ranges from 550,000 to 1 million VND per person for the full service package. The best season here is March-April or August-October every year.
Historical sites and ancient ruins
Quang Trung Museum
This museum is dedicated to Nguyen Hue, a national hero of the 18th century. The museum was built in his native village of Kien My at at Khoi 1, Tay Son Commune. Nguyen Hue was one of the three brothers who led the Tay Son Insurrection. In 1788, he led his troops from Phu Xuan (in Hue city) to the north. It took them 35 days and nights to reach Thang Long (Hanoi) where they defeated 290,000 Chinese invaders, thereby liberating the royal capital. He declared himself Emperor Quang Trung the same year.
Visiting Quang Trung Museum, visitors will enjoy the music and demonstration of Kungfu Tay Son, a traditional martial art of Binh Dinh. A display of Emperor Quang Trung 9th generation’s niece playing the 11 battle drums can also be seen. . Quang Trung Museum is a place visited by researchers and domestic and foreign tourists when coming to Gia Lai.
Ancient stones
The ancient stones in Van village, Ia ly commune, the Jrai people in the area call this place Jrai Pha (jrai means waterfall, pha means pool).
The stone beach has hundreds of hexagonal stone columns, arranged close together, seen from above, this place looks like a giant stone “honeycomb”. According to geologists, in terms of form, the stone beach at the stream through Van village is similar to Da Dia Rapids, which is over 100 million years old.
This location is located between La Phi commune and Ia ly commune, the stream flows through many Jrai villages before pouring into the reservoir of the Ialy Hydroelectric Plant. While the stream flows to Van village, a stone beach of about 2 hectares emerges.
Surrounding the ancient stone beach and the Da Dia stream is a vast green natural landscape, majestic and majestic mountains, creating a beautiful and rare natural landscape. Nowadays, the ancient stone fields in Gia Lai are becoming famous tourist destinations – check-in and nature exploration.
Hoang De Citadel (Do Ban Citadel)
The Hoang De Citadel is located 27km north-west of Qui Nhon City in An Nhon Ward. The citadel was built at the end of 10th century during the reign of Emperor Yangpuku Vijaaya. The was the last capital of the Champa Kingdom where the Cham Kings lived between the 11th and the 15th centuries. Several pieces of stone walls, moats, and granite-tiled roads remain from the Citadel.
Inside the Citadel, there are ancient Cham remains, such as square wells and statues of small lions and elephants. Next to the back door is Thap Thap Hill (Ten tower hill) on which there are ten Cham Towers. Of note is the 20m-high Canh Tien tower which white-stone statues of a snake, two elephants and monsters on the corners. There are many remains and objects related to Cham culture and the Tay Son movement in Thap Thap Di Da Pagoda and Nhan Thap pagoda, two ancient pagodas situated to the north and south of the citadel.
In 1778, Nguyen Nhac proclaimed himself the Central Emperor. He established the capital which he name Hoang De Citadel, expanded the citadel to the east, and built many grand monuments. In 1799, the citadel was occupied by the Nguyen Dynasty and rebaptized Binh Dinh Citadel. In 1814, the Nguyen Dynasty destroyed the old citadel and built a new one about 5km south of the old citadel.
Cham towers
The old Binh Dinh province (now Gia Lai province) has many architectural and sculptural works in the Champa style. After thousands of years, this tower system in many places is still almost intact, with a quiet and ancient look. After Quang Nam, Binh Dinh is the place with many Cham towers and is distributed in Quy Nhon, Tuy Phuoc, An Nhon, Tay Son.
Duong Long Tower
The tower is located at Go Gang, Binh An Commune, 40km from Quy Nhon City and 270km from Danang City. Duong Long is a group of the three biggest of the existing Cham towers. The highest tower, 35m high, is in the middle.
This group with a very beautiful architectural design was built in the late 12th century. The tower’s body is built of bricks. The corners have got motifs with stone carvings of sacred animals such as Garuda birds, elephants, and eagles. Its gate faces the east ad is rather high (about 1.5m) and the gate’s frame is made of big stones. Its upper part is built of big stones which are skillfully superimposed on each other. Many big leaf-shaped embssments describing monks, dancers and singers are found on the walls. These figures with rather big heads wear corner hats. Especially, the top of the tower looks like a great lotus with its rising petals.
All the decorative motifs of the tower are very big and carved on sandstone. They are well-preserved. This tower complex is one of the most beautiful in central Vietnam.
Banh It tower
Located at the high hill in Dai Loc hamlet, Tuy Phuoc Bac Commune, 25km from Quy Nhon City. The Banh It tower site now includes 4 towers: Main tower, Nam (South) tower, Cong (Gate) tower, and Dong (East) tower.
The Main tower is 22m in height. The architecture of Banh It towers bears the Binh Dinh sculptural style of 12th century with small, embossed lines on the walls. Leaf and flower shaped motifs are only found on edges of the roofs, and dancing senses are found on false gates. Carvings of dancing girls and many valuable sculptures such as the stone statue of Siva, statue of Ganesa, statue of goddess Uma, and bronze statue of Bhahma, were discovered here in the French domination period (and brought to France). The Banh It tower has got specific architectural characteristics and is one of the great temple-towers of Champa Dynasty, which draw the attention of researchers.
Canh Tien tower
The tower is located in the place used to be the middle of the Do Ban citadel in An Nhon commune, and 27km north-west of Quy Nhon City. The 20m-high tower has got a square base and several stories built of bricks. In the distance, it looks like two wings of a fairy flying up to the sky. This is one of the towers of typical Binh Dinh architectural style (dating back to the 12th century). Its structure is composed of the front hall and shrine (now the front hall has collapsed). The outer walls are decorated with pilasters and vertical, protruding frames. Different from the other Cham towers, the pilasters and edges of the roofs of Canh Tien tower are built of sandstone. At the four corners of each tower’s storey are stone motifs of phoenix tail. In the distance, Canh Tien tower looks like a great flashing fire.
Doi tower (Hung Thanh tower)
Located at Quy Nhon ward, 3km from the city center, the Doi tower site was built in the late 12th century and early 13th. Here, there are 2 towers of 18m and 20m in height respectively.
Both of them have got a special structure different from traditional, multi-storey towers. They are composed of two main parts, the square-shaped body and the similarly curved roof.
Besides the aforesaid towers in old Binh Dinh province, there are also Phu Loc tower located at An Nhon Bac commune (35km northwest of Qui Nhon city), Thu Thien tower in Tay Son commune, (35km from Qui Nhon City), and Binh Lam tower in Tuy Phuoc Dong commune, (22km from Qui Nhon City) which was built between 11th and 15th century in the time of Champa Kingdom.
Nature and wildlife areas
T’Nung Lake
T’Nung Lake (or Bien Ho or Ea Nueng Lake) is a freshwater lake located in Bien Ho commune, 7 km north of Pleiku city center. The lake is located in the Bien Ho – Chu Dang Ya eco-tourism complex, with a strip of land running to the middle of the lake, giving visitors a panoramic view, with cool green pine forests. This is a famous place in Pleiku, a “must-see” place for tourists.
The lake is located at an altitude of 800 m above sea level, nearly 300 hectares wide. This place is three interconnected craters, the lake shore is a high crater so even from afar you can still see it clearly. Tet is the best time of year to see Bien Ho.
With a depth between 15m and 18m, it is a natural container of fresh water fish. The fishing industry provides hundreds of tons of fish for local consumption. The landscape around the lake is unique as the quiet tranquillity of the area has been completely preserved. The already poetic scenery is enhanced by boats sailing on the lake shrouded in fog and mist.
Rang Rapids
A wild land with green mountains and blue sea, Rang Rapids is situated in the south of the poetic Quy Nhon City, 3km from the downtown. A part of the Vung Chua mountain protrudes to the sea, creating a fantastic scenery. The path to Rang Rapids is treacherous with wild flowers growing low clinging to tourists, Rang beach is a picture of rocks, sea waves. The beach is lined with scattering rocks., it turns out to be a golden sand beach at low tide. In the early 19th century, Queen Nam Phuong would bath and relax there.
Rang Rapids is marvelous for its vermilion twilight and moonlit rights amid the vast water and sky. From the Queen beach to the garden of rock “animals” and strange rock eggs are many modest garden houses nestling amid the plants and trees.
The path to Rang Rapids passes by the modest of poet Han Mac Tu. Looking at the dazzlingly yellow chrysanthemums, visitors may feel full of pity for the miserable life of this talented poet. The grave all the year round is drenched in sunlight, clouds, winds, moonlight and the murmurs of the sea.
Thi Nai Lagoon and Bridge
Located 8 km northeast of Quy Nhon city, Thi Nai is the largest lagoon in Gia Lai. The lagoon has an area of over 5,000 hectares of water surface, stretching over 10 km. This place has valuable resources, diverse in biology with a rich mangrove ecosystem. Historically, Thi Nai lagoon was the naval base of the Tay Son dynasty, where naval battles took place between the Tay Son army and the Nguyen Anh army in the early 19th century.
Thi Nai bridge is nearly 2,500 m long, and was once the longest sea-crossing bridge in Vietnam before the Tan Vu – Lach Huyen bridge (Hai Phong) was inaugurated with a length of more than 5,400 m. Thi Nai bridge connects Quy Nhon city and Nhon Hoi economic zone, and is a highlight for tourists when coming to Gia Lai.
Kon Ka Kinh National Park
Kon Ka Kinh National Park is an ideal eco-tourism destination, with a cool climate all year round. The park is located in the northeast of Gia Lai province, 50 km from Pleiku city. Kon Ka Kinh has been on the list of special-use forests in Vietnam since 1986, with a rich flora and fauna.
The attraction of this National Park is also in the system of rivers, streams, waterfalls, natural rapids such as Dak Pooc waterfall, Knia stream, Dak Ko Bung, Dak Pooc waterfall, the most famous and beautiful waterfall 95 with a height of about 40 m. Kon Ka Kinh has the highest peak of 1,748 m above sea level, in addition there are many mountain ranges with an average height of 1,200-1,500 m, gradually decreasing from north to south.
K50 Waterfall
K50 Waterfall (also known as Hang En Waterfall) is located in Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve, Son Lang commune, in the north of Gia Lai Province, about 150 km from Pleiku center. The best season to explore the waterfall is from March to June every year when the weather is sunny, there is no rain, and the waterfall flows smoothly.
Visitors can go during the day from Pleiku, but according to many people’s advice, they should stay overnight in the surrounding area, or camp in the reserve.
The waterfall is called Hang En (Vietnamese: Én means swallow, hang means cave) because behind the stream of water is the habitat of many species of swallows. The name K50 refers to the height of the waterfall at 50 m. Previously, to reach the waterfall, visitors had to walk through the forest for about 8 hours, but now there are more concrete roads, allowing motorbikes to get close to the foot of the waterfall. After the concrete road, visitors walk for about 20 minutes. Visitors need to wear long-sleeved clothes, high socks and a walking stick to avoid insects and snakes.
Nine-story waterfall
Not high but winding and stretching along the large cliffs from the top of the mountain to the foot, the nine-story waterfall is considered an ideal tourist destination for those who love to explore and experience. Located in Ia Hrung commune, 30 km from Pleiku, the waterfall is surrounded by a pristine forest ecosystem. Originating from a river on the top of the mountain, with a strong flow, the waterfall creates a majestic landscape.
The nine-story waterfall does not fall straight down but winds, weaving along the cliffs, dividing the waterfall into 9 floors. Each floor is from 5 to 10 m high, the last two floors are about 15 m. From a distance, the waterfall looks like a dragon bending, preparing to fly to the sky.
Ham Ho Tourist Area
The tourist area is located in Binh Phu commune, 5km from Quang Trung Museum. In the middle of the vast green forest at the foot of the majestic Truong Son mountain range. Ham Ho is a magnificent natural wonder, a miracle of creation with the Troi Lap River, with a diverse forest ecosystem.
Coming to Ham Ho tourist area, visitors feel like they are returning to majestic nature, immersing themselves in the world of fairyland and seeming to be freed from all worries of modern life. Ham Ho is known for its diverse ecosystem, from the cool green primeval forests, the majestic rocks forming a spectacular cave system, to the crystal clear river. The majestic mountain and forest scenery combined with the fresh air create a vivid natural picture, making anyone who comes here feel a rare sense of relaxation and tranquility. Most visitors when coming here explore nature on their own such as trekking through the forest, water cycling, kayaking.
Entrance fee is 20,000 VND per person, free for children under 1.2 m. Boat rental price: 100,000 VND for a 4-person boat, 45,000 VND for a personal boat.
Scared temples and pagodas
Buu Minh Pagoda
Buu Minh is the oldest pagoda in Gia Lai, located in the middle of Bien Ho. The pagoda was built in 1936, originally named Buddhist Temple, then restored and renamed Buu Minh in 1961. The facade of the temple faces the West, looking towards T’Nung Lake, “resting” on Tien Son Mountain. This is a good geographical and feng shui position for the pagoda’s spiritual flow and circulate.
Buu Minh is also considered one of the pagodas with the highest peak in Vietnam. The roof of the pagoda, the soft roof of the tower is like a dugout canoe, the architecture is made of reinforced concrete, the main hall is 520 m², more than 47 m high. The pagoda has a roof similar to the Central Highlands communal house, but has architectural features of Japanese and Korean pagodas.
On the right side of the temple yard is an open-air statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, over 3 meters high in a meditating position, and a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha in a lying position (11 meters long) with a serene, self-possessed face. These are two works of art made by the abbot himself and a number of craftsmen over many years.
Leading the way to the pagoda is a row of hundred-year-old pine trees, quiet all year round, leaning against the sacred temple roof. On major holidays, this place is quite crowded with local people to visit and pray for peace.
Minh Thanh Pagoda
Located on a hill 2 km from the city center, Minh Thanh Pagoda was built in 1964 and has become a familiar pilgrimage and worship place for local people. The pagoda is 20,000 m² wide, including many buildings designed with curved roofs, with architecture similar to Japanese pagodas.
The statue of Bodhisattva Guanyin is placed in the middle of the entrance and decorated with green trees, stone pillars, and a symmetrical stone unicorn statue, which is elaborately carved, 7.5 m high, and weighs 40 tons. The temple yard is spacious and decorated with miniature landscapes, stone statues, and elaborately carved wooden materials. In addition, the temple also has a green space designed by monks with trees and miniature landscapes, making the atmosphere fresh and peaceful.
Long Khanh Pagoda
Located in the centre of the city of Quy Nhon, Long Khanh Pagoda was built during the 18th century under the reign of Emperor Le Du Tong. During that time, Buddhism was preached there.
The main hall was built majestically with large ironwood pillars, a quiet yin-yang tiled roof and walls decorated with reliefs and elaborate carvings imbued with Buddhist culture.
Inside the main hall, the atmosphere becomes extremely solemn and sacred. The most prominent is the 1.5 meter high bronze statue of Amitabha Buddha, with a compassionate, peaceful face, exuding a sense of transcendence. Next to it are the statues of Bodhisattvas, Dharma Protectors, and Arhats arranged in balance and harmony, each statue has its own spirit, lively and inspiring. The soft light from the lanterns and the lingering incense further enhance the magical and tranquil atmosphere of the worship space.
Today, the pagoda still preserves two valuable objects from the reign of Emperor Gia Long: Thai Binh Hong Chung (Hong Thai bell) cast in 1805, and a seal engraved with the words “Long Khanh Tu” in 1813.
Specialities of Gia Lai
Gia Lai is a culinary paradise with many delicious dishes, flavors that cannot be found elsewhere.
Soft thin vermicelli noodles with pork organs
Made from rice flour, soft thin vermicelli noodles or fine rice vermicelli is like another variation of fresh vermicelli but with many small strands stacked on top of each other, drizzled with a little oil and chopped chives. When ordering, the seller will bring out a plate of soft thin vermicelli noodles with pig intestines including heart, liver, kidney, and sausage.
Diners will take a piece of soft thin vermicelli noodles with pig intestines, dip it in a little fish sauce mixed with chili and enjoy it, served with raw vegetables. A full portion of the cake also has porridge. Porridge is usually cooked with blood stewed with minced lean meat, both sweet and fragrant.
Crispy pancake
Jumping shrimp pancake is a famous specialty of Binh Dinh people. The pancake has its own delicious taste and uniqueness. The shrimp used to make the pancake must be carefully selected, caught at night from the lagoon, and must be fresh. The pancake batter is completely hand-ground so the batter is quite crispy. The accompanying fish sauce is also an indispensable part to make the dish more delicious.
The ingredients include pancake batter, crispy fried flour, shrimp, chicken eggs, cooking oil, lettuce, bean sprouts, spicy mustard greens, herbs and rice paper.
First, thinly slice the meat and wash the vegetables. Then, dissolve the crispy fried flour and pancake batter in a large bowl and mix well with a few eggs. Place the pan on the stove, add a little cooking oil, when the oil boils, add the shrimp. Scoop each ladle of batter into the pan and spread it thinly around the pan. Then add the bean sprouts and cover. Wait 2 minutes, when the pancake is crispy, fold the pancake in half and take it out on a plate. The dish is served with fish sauce, rice paper and raw vegetables.
Sticky rice cake
Ingredients to make sticky rice cake include ramie leaves (a type of leaf with one green side, one silvery white side, slightly rough), sticky rice flour, peanut oil, coconut and green beans. Making the cake requires many steps and the cake maker needs to be skillful.
Previously, sticky rice cake was only made on occasions of worship and death anniversaries for children and grandchildren to show their filial piety to their deceased parents and ancestors, because although it does not cost much, it is laborious. The finished cake has a black shell, covering the filling, when eaten it feels chewy and smooth without sticking to the teeth. The cake has the sweetness of sugar, the aroma of sticky rice, the fat of oil, and the richness of beans.
Seafood
In addition to the above dishes, coming to Dak Lak without enjoying seafood is a mistake because the seafood here is fresh and delicious, notably lobster, king crab, and snails.
Places to buy seafood directly include Ham Tu fishing port, Dam market, Quy Nhon zone 2 market, and Ong Giau warehouse. In addition, there are many seafood shops in the center of Quy Nhon city and coastal areas.
Grilled chicken with bamboo tube rice
Coming to Pleiku, diners will often be introduced to grilled chicken, especially chicken from Teng village (Tan Son commune, Pleiku city). The owner named the restaurant after the village and today it is called Plei Teng. The restaurant space is spacious and cool, with lots of trees, and diners sit on the floor on stilt houses. There are nearly 10 stilt houses, each with a capacity of about 20 people. The space in the middle of the restaurant is reserved for organizing group exchange programs.
The most typical dishes here are grilled chicken, grilled pork (skewers or whole), served with bamboo rice. Chickens chosen for grilling are usually free-range chickens with little fat and firm meat. Chickens are grilled directly on hot coals, with a skewer inserted into the body to rotate the chicken sides to cook evenly. Food is made on the spot, diners can wait and watch the dish gradually cook. When served, the meat is still hot, chewy and delicious, with golden crispy skin. The price of a chicken is about 200,000 VND.
Some other grilled chicken restaurants: Gia Lai Bazan grilled chicken with bamboo rice, Ksor Hnao artisan restaurant, Ia Gui restaurant.
What to buy as gifts?
Pink cake and sticky rice cake are specialties that almost every visitor buys as gifts. In addition, there are a few other snacks and easy-to-make gifts that visitors should try in old Binh Dinh area such as: Bau Da rice wine, coconut water rice paper, Huyen market spring rolls, fish cakes, pink cake, squid with fish sauce and sugar.
pink cake
Beef in the sun and dew: cows in the Krong Pa highlands are raised naturally, when they are 5-7 years old, the meat meets the standards of beef in the sun and dew. Beef that has been dried in the sun and dew can be dipped in chili sauce, salt, pepper and lemon, but the best is with yellow ant salt. This is a spice of the Ede people, roasted dry, pounded with chili, salt, Vietnamese coriander, Vietnamese coriander and then len leaves.
Beef in the sun and dew (source: collected)
Gia Lai is the province with the fourth largest coffee area in the country, along with Buon Ma Thuot, a famous coffee-drinking spot in the Central Highlands. The soil and climate of Pleiku bring premium quality coffee. If you want to buy coffee as a gift, you can choose famous roasted coffee brands such as Thu Ha, Phien Phuong, Dinh Dien, Thanh Thuy. Pleiku also has many famous, large and beautiful coffee shops such as Omely, Maya, Cuoi Acoustic, Java Coffee, Pleiku Old Shop, V7 Coffee.
Source: collected by An
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