Nine hours north of Ho Chi Minh City by car, Dak Lak is known for its distinct ethnic minority groups, coffee industry, national parks, mountains and waterfalls.

Unlike the neighboring Lam Dong Province, home to the famous resort town of Da Lat, Dak Lak lies off the beaten path, leaving it with vast tourism potential.

Its capital, Buon Ma Thuot, is a fast-growing city and an important hub in the region. Within a radius of 60km (37 miles) from Buon Ma Thuot, here are five destinations to inspire you.

Dray Sap and Dray Nur waterfalls

Dray Sap in low season.

The two falls are the most popular natural attractions in the province and are often crowded during weekends with picnic groups.

Just 25km southwest of Buon Ma Thuot, Dray Sap and Dray Nur are literally a few hundred meters from each other but actually belong to two different river systems.

Dray Nur is the bigger of the two.

Both falls pour dazzling white water from 30m (33 yard) high cliffs, and flow fiercely during the rainy season.

They later merge into the Serepok River, hence earning nicknames of 'Husband' and 'Wife' waterfalls.

Ea Kao Lake

Ea Kao Lake at sunset.

Ea Kao Lake, 12km from Buon Ma Thuot's city center, is a large artificial lake that powers a hydroelectric plant and is open to the public. The lake is a popular location for local photographers at dawn and sunset when fishermen set sail in their boats.

Jungle, rice fields and coffee plants surround the lake, and brisk winds send the waves lapping against the banks. The picturesque surroundings are popular among couples, who migrate to the lake after work on sunny days.

Yok Don National Park

A jungle trail through Yok Don National Park.

Arguably the most famous of its kind in southern Vietnam, the park has a huge and diverse green canopy, locally known as khop, a species of tree only found in tropical countries.

Yok Don is also known for trees belonging to the oil family, which are burnt off during the off-season.

The national park offers various tourist services, including tailor-made trekking tours through the jungle or up the mountain, as well as bike and boat tours on the Serepok River.

Sac Tu Khai Doan pagoda

The main building at Sac Tu Khai Doan pagoda.

Buon Ma Thuot is a catholic stronghold, and Sac Tu Khai Doan is one of the few Buddhist pagodas to be found in the city.

Standing in the city center, Sac Tu Khai Doan combines the long-house structure of the Ede with the traditional Vietnamese three compartments. The architecture features wood and stone both skillfully crafted, as well as statues of Buddha.

Constructed in 1951, the pagoda was the last one built under Vietnam's feudal dynasty.

Dak Lak Museum

The front of Dak Lak Museum.

The biggest in the Central Highlands, Dak Lak Museum showcases artifacts and documents from the indigenous groups in the region.

The museum is styled after the stilt-house design of Dak Lak’s Ede ethnic group, thus reflecting its focus on ethnography.

Local residents also use the garden for morning exercise, where two large cinnamomum camphora trees dominate the view.

How to get there? The museum is located on Le Duan Street in the city center.

Source: VnExpress