by Bạch Liên

The name Măng Đen may not be familiar to those of you who love traveling in Việt Nam. But if I tell you it’s the “second Đà Lạt” in the Central Highlands, I’m sure you’ll want to visit it.

Măng Đen is famous for it’s primeval pine forests, lakes, waterfalls, and villas nestled in the morning dew. At 1,200 metres above sea level, and about 50 km northeast of Kon Tum City, Măng Đen has a wild, pure beauty like a young woman sleeping in the woods.

This area is even nicknamed the place of “seven lakes and three waterfalls”, closely related to the legend about the Pling genie who created this region.

One of the destinations you should visit here is the 25ha Pa Sỹ waterfall ecotourism area which opened to tourists two years ago in Măng Cành commune, Kon Plông district, Kon Tum Province.

Idyllic: A Vietnamese rông house -- a traditional communal house of the Central Highlands -- nestled beside a pristine forest and within an immense flower garden.—VNS Photo Bạch Liên

Here you will find the region’s most famous waterfall, Pa Sỹ.

We braved the rain to visit the waterfall during a recent short trip to Măng Đen. It was difficult to avoid the rain since the rainy season lasts from May to October, but it was not bad. Rain makes the surrounding forests much greener.

Simplicity: Natural beauty helps reduce stress.—VNS Photo Bạch Liene

Magic waterfall

The waterfall is formed from three of the biggest streams in Măng Đen. In the local language, Pa Sỹ means "three streams coming together".

Woodland music: Pa Sỹ waterfall offers visitors magical forest songs.—VNS Photo Bạch Liên

To get close to the waterfall from the entrance of the ecotourism site, we had to go down 186 steps. The waterfall is situated in a deep valley. We were not disappointed. A 45-m waterfall appeared, looking like a fairy with a long hair in the middle of the immense Central Highland forests.

The waterfall is surrounded by endless stretches of red pines. The sound of the waterfall, mixed with birdsong, creates magical forest music.  

Houses on stilts and rông houses (traditional communal houses) sit near the waterfall beside pristine forests. We had a great time sitting in a rông house and enjoying banana wine and local specialities while looking at big yellow daisies and sinuous paths.

Off the beaten track: A statue garden is one of the area’s many charms.— VNS Photo Bạch Liên

Statue garden

You can also visit a garden of statues on a hill of pine trees. There you will find 100 wooden statues made by local artists. The statues represent the daily activities of local people: women weave cloth, men go hunting, families go to the mountain fields, women dance, and more.

Statues of various animals which are vital to the lifeways and the forest of the Central Highlands can also be found here. The sculptures showcase the talent of the local artisans who make them. The locale attracts many researchers who want to study the statue sculptures of different ethnic groups of the Central Highlands.

Rustic: The Pa Sỹ waterfall ecotourism area is very peaceful.— VNS Photo Bạch Liên

After it started operating as an eco-tourism site at the beginning of 2014, Pa Sỹ attracted more than 10 thousand visitors one year later. The locale is expected to draw increasing attention because of its picturesque beauty and airy environment.

After our short trip to Măng Đen, we are still impressed by its magical natural beauty several days later.—VNS