Comprehensive Guide to Exploring Kon Tum

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Comprehensive Guide to Exploring Kon Tum from A to Z

Explore Kon Tum - a land of fascinating discoveries and the origin of unique mountain cuisine. Let's discover what this Kon Tum land has to offer with Mytour!

Comprehensive Guide to Exploring Kon Tum from A to Z

Overview of Kon Tum Tourism

Experience Wonderful Things in Kon Tum Traveling and experiencing many wonderful things in this plateau region will make you love and appreciate the people and the land here even more. Kon Tum is a province in the northern Central Highlands of Vietnam, located at the intersection of Indochina, mostly to the west of the Truong Son mountain range. Regarding the origin of the name 'Kon Tum,' according to the Ba Na language, Kon means village, Tum means lake, referring to the name of a village near a lake next to the Dak Bla River, which is now Kon Kơ Nâm village in Kon Tum city.

Transportation to Get to Kon Tum

By Air: If you want to travel to Kon Tum by air, you will have to fly to Pleiku Airport, which is 50km away from Kon Tum. From there, you can take a taxi or bus to Kon Tum. You can find good flight tickets to Pleiku only at Mytour!

From Ho Chi Minh City to Pleiku. The flight takes 1 hour and 10 minutes.

There are no direct flights from Hanoi to Pleiku, so tourists can fly to Ho Chi Minh City first and then from Ho Chi Minh City to Pleiku.

By Bus: The Hanoi - Kon Tum route is about 1080km long. On average, there are about 3 bus trips running on this route every day, with 3 bus companies for you to consider:

Viet Tan Bus - phone number: 1900888684.
Dang Khoa Bus - phone number: 0603864606.
Hong Anh Bus - phone number: 05003637153.

The Ho Chi Minh City - Kon Tum route is approximately 576km long. On average, there are about 7 bus trips running on this route every day. You can refer to the following bus companies:

Minh Quoc Bus - phone number: 02603855855.
Viet Tan Bus - phone number: 02603913999.
Thuan Phat Bus - phone number: 19008916.
Long Van Bus - phone number: 1900888684.

The Da Nang - Kon Tum route is approximately 350km long. On average, there are about 2 bus trips running on this route every day, with 2 bus companies for you to consider:

Minh Quoc Bus - phone number: 0603 866 835.
Viet Tan Bus - phone number: 1900888684.

Must-Visit Places in Kon Tum

Mang Den

Known as the “Second Da Lat of Kon Tum”, Mang Den is a town in Kon Plong district, Kon Tum province, featuring pristine forests, lakes, and waterfalls. The climate here is cool and fresh, ideal for travelers to escape the summer heat. Situated at an altitude of 1,100 - 1,400m above sea level, amidst dense pine forests and wildflowers, the weather in Mang Den is always cool. Visiting Mang Den, you will travel on winding roads lined with lush green pine trees, permeated with the scent of pine resin. Echoing in the air is the melodious chirping of birds, while the cool climate exudes the natural, majestic charm of the mountains and forests.

Dong Duong Intersection

Dong Duong Intersection is legendary as the point where Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia meet. It is where travelers often hear the tale of “a rooster crowing, heard by all three countries”. To reach Dong Duong Intersection, travelers must embark on a challenging journey through winding, twisting roads.

Upon setting foot on the border area, passing through the steps, one touches a granite milestone, 2m tall, weighing nearly 900kg, placed at an altitude of 1,086m, serving as one of the two border milestones commemorating the three nations of Laos - Vietnam - Cambodia. The milestone, triangular in shape, with each side facing the territory of the respective nation, adorned with their solemn national emblem.

Kon Tum Cathedral, also known as the Wooden Church, was built in 1913 by French priests and is now used as the cathedral, housing the episcopal see of the Kon Tum diocese. This church follows Roman architecture combined with the stilt house architecture of the Ba Na people - a fusion of European style and the culture of the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The special feature of this construction is that it is entirely made of ironwood, without the use of concrete, steel reinforcement, or lime plaster for painting. The system of columns and rafters here is meticulously carved, showcasing the natural yet majestic air of the indigenous people.

Kon Klor Suspension Bridge

When it comes to famous attractions in Kon Tum tourism, the Kon Klor Suspension Bridge cannot be missed – a bridge connecting the two banks of the legendary Dak Bla River. From this bridge, gazing across the countryside, rice fields, cornfields, and sugarcane fields surrounding along with the river flowing tirelessly beneath the bridge, travelers will feel their souls uplifted.

Here, you can visit the Ba Na ethnic village of Kon Klor, enjoy a drink of traditional wine with them before crossing the river on the suspension bridge to reach a fertile alluvial land. There are banana orchards, coffee gardens, and various fruit trees. Crossing the winding road for about 6km will take you to Kon K'tu village, a Ba Na ethnic village that still preserves its original customs and pristine natural scenery.

Chu Mom Ray National Park

Chu Mom Ray National Park is located in the northwestern part of the Central Highlands and the western part of Kon Tum province, spanning the districts of Sa Thay and Ngoc Hoi. This place has the highest biodiversity among national parks today with nearly 1,500 plant species, including 131 identified as rare and endangered, such as orchids, trần hạt branches…

Dak Bla River

The Dak Bla River is a symbolic river in the hearts of Kon Tum residents because without the Dak Bla River, there would be no Kon Tum, both historically and geographically. When you visit the mountain town of Kon Tum, you will be amazed by the image of the Dak Bla River winding gracefully, embracing the small city of Kon Tum, and it will be impressive to see amidst the vast Dak Bla River, the rustic wooden boats floating like forest leaves drifting on the river.

The bishop's palace, built in 1935, harmoniously combines traditional indigenous architecture with Western architecture. Except for the pillars under the floor built with reinforced concrete, the entire building is made of precious wood, known for its high durability. Particularly, there is a traditional house here considered as a small museum showcasing household items, agricultural tools, and cultural artifacts of the indigenous people living in the area.

Kon K’lor Communal House

Kon K’lor Communal House is a symbol of unity and community strength. Standing 22m tall, over 6m wide, and more than 17m long, with traditional design and materials including wood, bamboo, thatch, leaves, and intricate patterns and decorations, this is an interesting destination for tourists.

Ngoc Linh Mountain

Ngoc Linh Mountain is part of the Southern Truong Son mountain range. With an altitude of 2,600m, it is suitable for mountain climbing enthusiasts and adventurous adventurers. Particularly, in the Ngoc Linh range, there is a famous Vietnamese ginseng species called Ngoc Linh ginseng, concentrated in the mountainous districts of Ngoc Linh in Kon Tum and Quang Nam, at altitudes from 1,500m to 2,100m.

Pa Sy Waterfall

The eco-tourism area of Pa Sy Waterfall is located in Kon Tu Rang village of the Rơ Măm ethnic group, Măng Cành commune, Kon Plong district, Kon Tum province, 6km northwest of the center of Kon Plong district. The eco-tourism area of Pa Sy Waterfall presents a pristine beauty with pristine pine forests and a system of waterfalls and lakes. The climate here is cool and fresh all year round.

Tasty Delicacies of Kon Tum

Kon Tum Leaf Salad

This unique dish consists of over 40 types of forest leaves, thinly sliced boiled pork, shrimp, and a dipping sauce made from fermented glutinous rice, dried onions, garlic, and chili. The proper way to eat this dish is to place cabbage or banana leaves outside, add sour leaves and other desired leaves inside, roll them into small funnels, and then add the meat and shrimp inside.

Simply rice cooked from familiar glutinous rice, cleverly combined with forest bamboo shoots has become a familiar breakfast dish for every resident of Kon Tum. Making bamboo shoot rice is quite simple and not too complicated. Fresh bamboo shoots after being harvested from the forest are peeled, cleaned, and cut into bite-sized pieces. After the pre-processing stage to remove bitterness, the bamboo shoots are stir-fried with spices to become flavorful. Good quality glutinous rice is soaked in diluted salt water with added turmeric powder for color for about 8 hours before being cooked.

Bitter eggplant is a rustic dish of the ethnic minorities in Kon Tum. Eggplants are sliced thinly, skewered on sticks, placed on a grill, when the eggplant turns dark brown, emits a fragrant aroma, and is cooked, still retaining a bit of bitterness, slightly chewy, soft, dipped in forest salt and pepper or served with grilled wild meat is very delicious. In addition, bitter eggplant is also cooked into various braised dishes with shrimp, crayfish caught under the river, or braised eggplant with eels, all of which are delicious and exude an attractive aroma.

When in Sa Thay district, Kon Tum - the home of the Rơ Măm ethnic group, you should indulge in the unique and exotic dish of golden ant salad. Though the name may sound unfamiliar, many people feel afraid at first, but once they try it, they want more. Freshwater fish of appropriate size, about the width of three fingers, are caught, cleaned, finely chopped, and drained to reduce the fishy smell. Golden ants are chosen from young ant nests, while fish eggs are separately crushed. A mixture of rock salt, green chili, forest pepper is combined with fish and ants, along with a bit of toasted rice flour to enhance the aroma. When eating, wrap the mixture in sung leaves, enjoy the sweet taste of the fish blending with the tender texture of the young ants, the spicy kick of the pepper and chili, creating an exquisite flavor.

Roasted Black Piglet

The Black Piglet breed is native to the local ethnic groups. Raised on natural mountain forest foods, the meat is firm and highly nutritious. Even when fully grown, they weigh less than 20kg. The piglet is cleaned, gutted, and then marinated with spices made from ingredients sourced from the Măng Đen forest. It is roasted whole over charcoal until the skin turns golden and crispy, emanating a fragrant aroma.

Stewed Giant Gourami with Bamboo Shoots

In the Măng Đen plateau, Kon Tum, there are many lakes and cool, cold water all year round. Therefore, giant gourami fish thrive and grow well here. Giant gourami is a cartilaginous fish, with its entire bone structure and head made of cartilage. The flesh of giant gourami is white, firm, fatty, with high nutritional content, easy to absorb. Here, you can enjoy a dish of freshly caught giant gourami from the sparkling lake. The fish is cleaned, marinated with spices made from medicinal herbs from the Măng Đen forest, then steamed, braised, or grilled.

Red Vermicelli of the Highlands

Red vermicelli of the highlands is one of the must-try dishes in Kon Tum. Unlike other noodle dishes like beef noodles, fish cake noodles, or fermented fish noodle soup, red vermicelli of the highlands is simpler both in preparation and enjoyment.

Fried Kon Tum Crickets

When in Kon Tum, don't miss the chance to taste the specialty of fried crickets to experience the fragrant, savory, and rich flavor without feeling overwhelmed. While cricket dishes may seem unfamiliar to those from the plains, they are a beloved and popular choice among the ethnic minorities of Kon Tum. There are various types of crickets, such as rice crickets, bamboo crickets, and fire crickets, but only rice crickets are suitable for cooking.

Souvenirs to Bring Back from Kon Tum

Ngọc Linh Ginseng

One of the most valuable gifts to bring back from a trip to Kon Tum is Ngọc Linh ginseng. This is one of Vietnam's most precious medicinal herbs, with a much higher concentration of saponins than other types of ginseng around the world.

Dak Ha Coffee

Dak Ha Coffee has a pleasant bitterness and characteristic rich sweetness, with a strong and unadulterated aroma. It is the finest pure Vietnamese product for those who enjoy delicious and clean coffee. If you're unsure what to buy when traveling to Kon Tum, this is perhaps a great suggestion for you, as an ideal gift for your loved ones and friends.

Wild Kon Tum Red Bananas

Wild Kon Tum red bananas are small in size with thin skin. Locals often peel and dry the bananas to soak in alcohol or cook for consumption. This is always a popular gift choice for many tourists to bring back to their families as it offers many excellent benefits and is highly appreciated by recipients.

Dried Kon Tum Bamboo Shoots

One of the signature dishes in Kon Tum is undoubtedly dried bamboo shoots. Good quality dried bamboo shoots have a light yellow color, an amber appearance, and a shiny surface. They retain their distinctive aroma and have thick flesh. When touched, they do not feel damp, and they can be easily snapped.

Wild Pepper

The wild pepper plant, also known as forest pepper, or wild black pepper, is a woody plant with a straight trunk, multiple branches, smooth bark, and no thorns. Its leaves are smooth, green, and deeply lobed into three leaflets on each side, giving them a velvety texture. When dried, the wild pepper fruit turns brown or black, making it distinguishable by sight. To differentiate this type of pepper from cultivated pepper, one only needs to identify its highly aromatic and slightly less pungent scent.

Smoked Huệ Tâm Black Pig Meat

The rich flavor of the meat combined with the aroma of the kitchen smoke is a tradition passed down by the locals here. Meat is hung over the kitchen rack, with special Ghẹ wine reserved for esteemed guests. The finest pieces of meat are carefully selected and mixed with wild cardamom, forest ginger, wild pepper,... all sourced from the vast mountains and forests. This would be an amazing gift to give to friends and family.