Embarking on the conquest of the dormant Chư Đăng Ya volcano, nestled amidst the lush greenery of the majestic Tây Nguyên mountains.

There exists a dormant volcano that ceased activity millions of years ago, now concealed within the vast emerald expanse of the Tây Nguyên wilderness. This is none other than Chư Đăng Ya. When in Pleiku, one must undoubtedly undertake the challenge to conquer and experience the pristine, mysterious essence of the Chư Đăng Ya volcano.

The heart of the Chư Đăng Ya volcanic crater.

People often get caught up chasing the shadows of famous tourist destinations like Sapa, Đà Lạt, and inadvertently overlook the untouched, pure lands that remain less affected by human interference. If you find yourself in Tây Nguyên, do not miss the mountainous town of Pleiku, a rugged, magnificent, and abundantly rich region in Gia Lai province. Pleiku stands as a pivotal economic hub and the most significant city in northern Tây Nguyên.

Pleiku, a land blessed by nature with a cool climate year-round, fresh air, and strong potential for tourism development in the future. Known for ages, Pleiku boasts an area called Chư Đăng Ya - a place frequently mentioned when visiting Pleiku. This area is home to a dormant volcano that ceased activity millions of years ago. The remnants of volcanic rocks have formed a rich and fertile red basaltic soil. The soil here is abundant in minerals, perfect for cultivating crops like corn, potatoes, pumpkins, and more. The natural scenery surrounding Chư Đăng Ya is diverse and captivating. During our visit, we dedicated a day to trekking. Join us on this journey to explore the Chư Đăng Ya volcano together!

The Legendary Coffee of Pleiku

The Road to the Volcano

The Chư Đăng Ya volcano hides within the majestic green forests of Plơi Lagri, in the village of Chư Đăng Ya, Chư Păh district - approximately 23 km northeast of Pleiku city center. On the way to the volcano, you'll traverse roads shaded by trees on both sides, passing hills of sprawling coffee plants with ripe coffee beans hanging from the branches. Take a moment to stop by the roadside, try gazing at the coffee clusters up close, touch them, and feel the experience. For coffee enthusiasts like us, it's an incredibly delightful sensation.

Clusters of coffee hanging abundantly from the branches

Picking a few coffee beans as souvenirs

Endless lush green tea hills stretch on both sides of the road. Green tea is a characteristic product of the high-altitude climate and soil in this region. Turning onto a dirt path, with two rows of shady trees for a rest, you can admire the vibrant young tea buds basking in the sunlight, feeling invigorated. With such picturesque scenery, it would be a waste not to capture a few memorable photos. Lift your camera and let's snap away!

Oops! A dirt road ahead

Oops! Vast endless sea of green tea

Oops! Little ones returning from school

Journey to Conquer the Volcano

We embarked on the journey to conquer Chư Đăng Ya volcano during the rainy season, making an already challenging trek even more difficult. A piece of advice for you is to undertake this trek during the dry season for an easier experience. We arrived at the parking lot as the sun was nearing the peak, and the guard warned us about the recent rain making the dirt path quite tricky to navigate. He directed us to a shorter, walkable route, equipped each of us with a bottle of water, and off we started our initial steps. We named this journey a symphony of emotions with musical notes influenced by different vibes...

First Note: The Muddy Dirt Path

The Muddy Ascent to the Volcano

Footsteps now sinking into the muddy earth

A Pause, also a Starting Point with Uphill Slopes

Second Note: The Towering Slopes

The dirt path levels, then gentle slopes, followed by steep inclines resembling a symphony, leading us through various emotions. It's truly a 'feeling' journey! At this point, utmost care is essential with the slippery path - one wrong step and it's a swift slide downhill.

The Initial Slopes

Gentle Slopes Following Steep Inclines

Progressing upward feels like reaching a higher note in a musical score, and our spirits soar even higher. As we ascend, the surrounding landscape expands before our eyes. The picture becomes clearer: red dirt roads, vast green fields at the mountain's foothills, scattered quaint little houses, all contributing to a tranquil countryside scene typical of the Central Highlands. Every few steps, we pause, glance back to admire the scenery, then turn forward again, continuing our journey.

Keep it up, young ones!

Our resilient young lady

Third Note: From the Summit of the Mountain

The Red Dirt Path

From the mountaintop, we can capture various hues in the valley. It's a lush 'green field' of vision: Deep green of trees, the tender green of ripening rice, the vibrant green of wild grass... There's the green, the red, the rust brown of rooftops... The color of the red basaltic dirt road - a characteristic soil of the Central Highlands' mountains and forests... The silver color of the river flowing calmly in the distance. Oh, what could be more magnificent than having all these landscapes within our sight? At this moment, fatigue evaporates, each of us engrossed in admiring the surroundings, smiles of happiness on our faces. Echoing a few lines from Tran Lap's song 'The Road to Glory': Rowing together to the towering mountain peak, to engrave our names on the hill, knowing challenges await... That day, that day is not far, and we are the victorious ones. Just like the song's lyrics, the more challenging the journey, the more obstacles faced, the more deserving the rewards. And the truth has been proven right in front of us adventurous souls!

The River Flowing Calmly

If Dalat is renowned for solitary trees at Suoi Vang Lake, or the Thiên Phúc Đức hill, in Chư Đăng Ya, there are trees standing alone but not lonely. Not lonely because these trees provide cool shade for farmers next to the mountain slope fields, not lonely because standing beside them are small trees reaching up alongside in the morning mist, resembling 'siblings' or close 'neighbors' to each other.

Nature's Umbrellas

Ephemeral Musical Notes

In the distance, neatly arranged fields on the hillside resemble a musical staff, and the non-lonely trees—tall, short, robust, and slender—are like musical notes on this pre-existing staff. Together, they compose a unique symphony of the mountainous terrain, showcasing the natural beauty of Chư Đăng Ya. The volcano acts as a horizontal line not only connecting the non-lonely trees but also strengthening the bond of friendship among us. What could be more wonderful than having friends with shared passions, interests, always standing side by side conquering new lands, facing new challenges?

Companions on the Journey

Fifth Note: Amidst the 'Crater'

We stand atop the mouth of the dormant volcano, preserved over millions of years—a distinctive funnel shape. Thanks to the characteristic basaltic soil and the cool climate, vegetation here thrives without the need for irrigation. Around the volcano, the people of Chư Đăng Ya cultivate fields of potatoes. Rows of potatoes arranged neatly appear like an artistic creation by human hands. A tip! If you plan to visit Chư Đăng Ya, I recommend going from January to March in the Gregorian calendar—the season of wild sunflowers blooming annually. During this time, you can admire vibrant yellow flowers lining the roadside. And looking down from the volcano's summit, the clusters of wild sunflowers create a circular pattern around the mouth, resembling the ancient lava flows from millions of years ago.

Lush Green Potato Fields

Summit of the Volcano

Crater of the Volcano

Sixth Note: Dandelions Dancing in the Wind

During our trekking journey, we encountered pure white dandelions. These petite flowers, delicate yet brimming with vitality. When young, we used to pick dandelions, each flower holding a wish. We'd blow the seeds away, letting them ride the winds to carry those dreams to distant horizons. Growing up, we learned dandelions also symbolize love—predicting whether love exists or not through the childhood game of counting the petals. Plucking a dandelion, I replayed the childhood game, blowing the petals away into the vast green carpet of the mountainous forest.

Dandelions

Blowing Dreams into the Wind

To Love or Not to Love

Seventh Note: Singing on the Tree

We came across a large tree uprooted, lying on the path, bringing back memories of our childhood games. Musical notes and lyrics about our youth unexpectedly resurfaced. The tree, still quite sturdy, provided each of us a branch to rest on. “Oh, the old days, so far from childhood, far from kites carrying countless dreams...” a few lines from a meaningful song. If dandelions carried our dreams with the wind, this tree reenacted the games of our playful youth under the school roof. It gave us some of the most 'so deep' and beautiful photos throughout our conquering journey. From a distance, that 'virtual living' spot might seem a bit tilted, but don't worry, the tree is in a very safe position, so strike a pose and enjoy!

Artistic Vibes

Sitting on the Tree

Standing on the Tree

Final Note: And then the Mountain Echoed

It is said that standing in a high place and shouting loudly will make the mountain echo. We stood at Chư Đăng Ya, and the volcanic mountain echoed the pristine, majestic scenery, the pure sounds of life. Chi's songs throughout the journey still linger in our ears, the wind whistling through each leaf, the melodious birdsong, the sounds of the Central Highlands' mountains and forests. I will etch it into my heart, never to forget!

Chi and I within the volcano

The Beauty of Pristine Nature

Thanks to Chư Đăng Ya for opening its arms wide to welcome us into its embrace, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the wilderness and grandeur of the red basalt plateau, experiencing the ups and downs of emotions. All the magnificent beauty, timeless melodies, and sounds of Chư Đăng Ya will be etched in our memories and never forgotten.

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