Buzz
On a warm summer evening, wandering down a bustling street in District 1 amidst a myriad of motorcycles, we whimsically ask each other: “Shall we venture to Măng Đen?”. At that moment, all three of us had just finished work.
Exploring Măng Đen amidst Cherry Blossoms at Đăk Ke Lake
Alright, let's go. We hastily book a ride, hastily secure a homestay, and hastily hop on the ride, almost as if escaping.
The city of Kon Tum welcomes us with bone-chilling cold at 4 a.m. We rent motorbikes and traverse approximately 60km to Măng Đen.
The asphalt road stretches smoothly, with gentle curves, whispering pine forests, and crisp air. Every now and then, we pause to admire the scenery and to breathe in the refreshing air, a far cry from the bustling streets of Saigon.
Măng Đen serves as the district town of Kon Plông district, Kon Tum province. Its name derives from the T’măng Deeng name of the Mơ Nâm people, meaning a flat and vast land. Contrary to our jests on the journey, Măng Đen isn't a type of black bamboo.
With an elevation of 1,200m above sea level and enveloped by vast pristine forests, Măng Đen enjoys a pleasantly mild and gentle climate.
We arrived at the homestay around midday. The charming homestay is refurbished from an old villa, situated near Đăk Ke Lake. This is the “retreat” of three young 90s friends who once lived in the city and decided to leave it behind, opening a homestay in Măng Đen.
We stayed in a double room with a balcony overlooking the pine forest, opening the window to welcome the slanting rays of sunshine and admire the small vegetable garden. I brought along some books from Saigon, such as The Star Square, and Tomorrow... arranging them on the windowsill, next to a pot of plants and some dried pine cones, creating for myself a truly poetic and sincere living space.
Although termed a town, Măng Đen is quite sparsely populated. Here lies an area known as the “ghost villa village” hidden amidst the pine forest, adding to the tranquility with a touch of mystery. This villa area was built over a decade ago with hopes of anticipating the tourism wave, but later fell into oblivion.
During the day, the sun casts a golden hue over the small town, yet amidst the sunlight, there's still a chilly coldness rather than scorching heat. At night, from around 6 p.m., the mist descends, the temperature drops, chilling to the bone. By around 7 p.m., the streets are practically deserted.
In that weather, having catfish hotpot, grilled forest pepper chicken, bamboo rice, and hot fragrant roasted wild boar... nothing compares. Plus, a leisurely drip of Vietnamese coffee from the corner of the small shop, those were our truly beautiful days.
Amidst Măng Đen lies the serene Đăk Ke Lake. Its surface is calm, azure blue, with gentle ripples, surrounded by lush trees, including cherry blossoms. Locals here say that in December, January, the cherry blossoms bloom, casting their reflection onto the lake, truly beautiful! Măng Đen also boasts the famous Ba Sỹ waterfall.
The spot that captivated me the most in Măng Đen is the vast expanse of lush green grass hills, recommended by the locals. The grass grown here is elephant grass, light green in color, taller than half a person.
Somewhere in the distance are stilt houses, and a slow-moving agricultural vehicle passes by. Standing amidst the grass field, I thought about the dream of being a “guardian of children in the fields” like Holden Caulfield in the book The Catcher in the Rye.
I also dreamed of a wooden house amidst those green grass fields, spending each day playing with the children of the highlands. But perhaps, like Holden Caulfield, “that's crazy and stupid, you know!”.
We departed Măng Đen on a misty morning, carrying with us lovely memories of a quiet little town. We promised ourselves that when the cherry blossoms bloom around Đăk Ke Lake, we will return to this place together.
Borrowing Albert Camus' words: “In the midst of winter, I found within myself an invincible summer.” For me, the fleeting summer days in Măng Đen offered the chance to momentarily forget many worries, to live simply and positively, to return as a better version of myself.
At this moment within me, I still remember the whispering pines, the red stilt houses, slopes adorned with wild daisies, lush green fields, the fragrant aroma of coffee, and the sincere smiles.
Source: NGUYỄN THANH THẢO/ Tuổi Trẻ
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Reference: Travel Handbook Mytour
MytourDecember 28, 2018
