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Embarking on a Pleiku tour to the dreamy mountain city of the Central Highlands in August will take us where? Let's explore the untamed charm of this highland land to discover the splendid destinations awaiting travelers in our Vietnam.
August Weather in Pleiku
Weather in Pleiku specifically, and the Central Highlands in general, is typically divided into two distinct rainy and sunny seasons, rather than the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter like in the North. Two distinct rainy and sunny seasons in Pleiku:
- Rainy Season: Typically starts from May to October each year.
- Dry Season: From November to April the following year.
Traveling to Pleiku in August will encounter both sunny and rainy days. Rainy days may occur in the morning or last all day, causing inconvenience in transportation and movement. Moreover, accessing mountainous areas, waterfalls, and villages during heavy rain can be challenging due to muddy and wet roads.
Rain is also one of the specialties of tourism in Gia Lai province in general and Pleiku in particular. Extended periods of rain, whether it's throughout the day or several consecutive days, are suitable for travelers looking for resort vacations. Meanwhile, warm sunny days allow us to explore the mountainous region.
According to Pleiku travel experience, Mytour still advises choosing the right time during the dry season for travel. Especially around November to December when the rice fields turn golden on the hillsides, and wild sunflowers bloom vibrant yellow along the roadsides, making the scenery of the Central Highlands more brilliant and lively. Additionally, this is the time for many unique traditional festivals of ethnic people.
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Ripe durian flower season
Located about 30km northeast of Pleiku, Chu Dang Ya volcano is a newly popular destination with pristine natural scenery. When the rainy season arrives, durian flowers on the mountain also bloom brilliantly. However, for most tourists, the journey to the mountaintop is a significant challenge due to its steep slopes of 45 degrees, zigzags, and muddy terrain, making it slippery.
However, the reward for trekking up the mountainside is the breathtaking view of the lush red durian flower fields. Chu Dang Ya is one of the rare lands in the country and the only place in the Central Highlands suitable for this long-day fruit tree. The flowers start blooming in July and last until October. From a distance, this volcano looks like an upturned bowl, but climbing to the summit, travelers will see the volcano mouth resembling a large wide pan with neat terraced fields, intercropped with corn, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and durian.
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Indulge in rich, bold cups of coffee
Domestic travelers visiting Pleiku in August should not miss the opportunity to enjoy rich, bold cups of coffee. Pleiku's red soil land, the heart of Gia Lai, is famous for its thousands of hectares of coffee plantations stretching along the roads. The Central Highlands is where many famous coffee brands both domestically and internationally originated, such as Trung Nguyen coffee, Ban Me coffee...
Almost every street boasts cafes with various styles, from modern to classic, from tranquil to bustling... On rainy days in August, we can take the chance to enjoy a rich, bold cup of coffee, warm and cozy, while chatting with friends amidst the rain outside. Admire the unique, peaceful scenery of Pleiku, serene and rustic.
August Pleiku Travel Destinations
1. Lake Tơ Nưng
Lake Tơ Nưng was once an extinct volcano crater for hundreds of millions of years, now still referred to as the “Eyes of Pleiku,” mesmerizing countless Central Highlands travelers with its romantic beauty, vast water surface, and drifting clouds. The lake has an oval shape, covering an area of 240 hectares. Situated high on a mountain peak, the lake is not obscured by the surrounding mountain ranges.
Standing on the lake shore, visitors feel as if they are standing by the windy seaside, hence Tơ Nưng is also called Lake Sea. The surrounding scenery is magnificent, from trees to colorful flowers along the lake, butterflies fluttering amidst the chirping of birds every morning. Alongside are vast forests, undulating hills... In the distance, there are rustic wooden boats drifting on the water. Going on a
2. Minh Thanh Pagoda
Pleiku travel tours also take us to a temple with architectural elements reminiscent of China and Japan, featuring typical curved roofs. From afar, Minh Thanh Pagoda looks like a magnificent painting, resembling a miniature palace amidst misty mountain streets. Upon entering the temple, you will immediately see the statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva placed in the middle of the entrance and decorated with green trees, harmonious stone columns around.
3. Tea Lake
Tea Lake is a Pleiku tourist destination that harmoniously combines a water lake with lush green tea fields. When visiting here in the summer, tourists can admire the picturesque scenery with the vivid green color of the tea hills, bringing us back to childhood memories when the scent of tea leaves dispelled all worries.
4. Pleiku Prison
Visiting Pleiku Prison, tourists will explore the glorious history of Vietnam, with the most brutal and barbaric forms of torture carried out here. In 1925, the French colonialists built the prison to detain ordinary criminals, mostly ethnic minorities living in the Central Highlands. In 1940, as the revolutionary movement intensified, it became a place to detain patriotic revolutionaries.
Even when the U.S. empire occupied the prison, it still detained many patriotic revolutionaries. After 1975, the prison was liberated during the Tay Nguyen campaign, and since then, the local authorities have invested in transforming it into an educational facility for the younger generation.
5. Buu Minh Pagoda
Buu Minh Pagoda sits amidst endless tea hills, with a history of over 50 years carrying significant cultural and historical meanings intertwined with the tea hills. Joining the Pleiku tour in August, don't forget to visit one of the earliest temples formed on this plateau. The main hall of the pagoda covers nearly 500m2, adorned with solemn and sacred colors. The front of the pagoda faces west towards T'Nung Lake, 'resting' against Tien Son Mountain, with favorable geographical and feng shui positions that help the flow of energy and harmony. The serene beauty harmonizing with the land, sky, and the river landscape is the highlight attracting tourists to this place.
6. Ham Rong Peak
Ham Rong Peak is the most famous volcanic mouth in the Central Highlands, likened to the roof of Pleiku city with its giant funnel-shaped mouth. To climb to the summit, Gia Lai tourists will have to overcome over 1000m of mountain road. But you will find it worthwhile, with the breathtaking scenery overlooking the vast expanse of the sky-high plateau. If you don't visit Pleiku in August, you can visit around the wild sunflower season in November - December to admire the radiant yellow of the Ham Rong mountainous area.
7. Nine-Story Waterfall
Nine-Story Waterfall is located about 20km from Pleiku. Its unique name originates from the distinctive feature of the waterfall, which is divided into 9 separate tiers flowing down the rock terraces below with foaming white sprays. Although it lacks the grandeur of water cascading from above, the sound of water hitting the rocks is still fascinating.
On sunny days in August, you will want to come and admire this waterfall because of its uniqueness. Looking from the side, you will feel like the waterfall is a long staircase of water. From above, the Nine-Story Waterfall resembles a dragon curling up, ready to soar into the sky.
8. Chu Dang Ya Volcano
Chu Dang Ya Volcano has ceased its activity, but there are still many traces proving that there was once a volcano with layers of vibrant material inside long ago. Going on a budget tour to Pleiku, you will have the opportunity to admire the lush green grasslands compensated by the rich red bazan soil here. The beauty is both tranquil yet vibrant, attracting every traveler to explore this paradise amidst the mountains.
9. Unity Square
Unity Square is located right in the city center, covering an area of about 12 hectares. In the middle of the square stands the statue of President Ho Chi Minh, behind which are sculptures depicting the life, culture, and people of the highland region. This Pleiku exploration spot is perfect for tourists to admire the scenery and enjoy the breeze after a long journey visiting waterfalls, pine forests, and lakes.
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Travel to Pleiku in August to enjoy delicious dishes
When heavy rainstorms disrupt your exploration of Pleiku, don't forget to take advantage of this time to indulge in the unique Pleiku cuisine. Pleiku's delicacies carry the mountainous flavor of the Central Highlands, captivating us from the first taste.
1. Dry Pho
When visiting Pleiku, you cannot miss the famous dry pho of this land. Unique from the way it's eaten, unlike elsewhere, where the ingredients and broth are served together in one bowl, here in the highlands, they are served separately in two different bowls. Diners enjoy the noodles first, then take a small sip of broth, accompanied by fresh herbs and a bit of homemade black soy sauce.
The noodles are made entirely from rice, so they are chewy, fragrant, round, and flat. When enjoyed, you'll sense a fragrant aroma from the noodles blending with the rich flavor of minced pork, crispy fried onions, and a hint of spicy chili. Depending on your taste, you can season with a little soy sauce, lime, or vinegar to your liking.
2. Fermented Crab Vermicelli Soup
Just hearing the name, you can almost smell the distinct aroma. The fermented smell of the vermicelli comes from soaking it overnight after cleaning and crushing the crab. In addition to the crab broth, to sweeten the soup, people also add boiled bamboo shoots or duck eggs, a bit of fried shallots, dried pig skin, and shrimp crackers to eat along with it.
Due to its strong flavor, fermented crab vermicelli soup is quite selective in terms of taste. It has the saltiness of fish sauce, the fragrance of various herbs, the characteristic richness blending with the spiciness of chili, and the crispiness of pig skin... Don't miss the chance to try this unique dish when traveling to Pleiku in August.
3. Grilled Chicken in Bamboo Rice
The chicken used is free-range, roaming in the mountains, resulting in firm and lean meat. The chicken is marinated with a bit of salt for depth, along with chili, lemongrass, and a touch of honey, then grilled over an open flame. The final dish has the sweetness of honey mingled with the meat's natural sweetness, balanced by the heat of the chili. Enjoyed with authentic bamboo rice, it's an unbeatable taste of the Central Highlands. Grilled Chicken in Bamboo Rice is a dish deeply rooted in the highlands that you cannot miss.
4. Grilled Skewers
The grilled skewers in Pleiku are served with a unique sour tamarind sauce, which tantalizes the taste buds. When the crispy skewer blends with the tangy tamarind in your mouth, you'll understand why this is the most beloved snack in Pleiku. Travelers on budget tours can find many street vendors selling this delicacy.
Things to Note When Traveling to Pleiku in August
August in Pleiku marks the onset of the rainy season, so we need to consider some things when planning our travel itinerary during this time:
- Carry raincoats, umbrellas... and waterproof bags to protect documents, phones from getting wet in the rain. Check the weather forecast carefully before setting off.
- On rainy days, the roads to waterfalls and mountain forests in Pleiku can be very slippery and difficult to navigate, so we should consider carefully before deciding to travel.
- If traveling by motorcycle, go slowly as the roads are narrow and steep to avoid collisions with oncoming vehicles.
So now you know whether traveling to Pleiku in August is beautiful and what experiences await in this city. If you're planning to explore the beautiful highland land of Gia Lai in the near future, don't forget the Mytour hotline Mytour, where you'll receive the most detailed information.
