Gia Lai Province

Gia Lai is the middle slice of the Central Highlands — Pleiku at its centre, the Biển Hồ crater lake on its outskirts, coffee and rubber estates on its red-earth plateau, and a long border with Cambodia in the south-west. It is one of the least-touristed provinces in Vietnam, and travel here rewards a bit of patience.

What's distinctive

The province is the historical heartland of the Jarai (Gia Rai) people, one of the largest Austronesian-language ethnic groups in Vietnam. Their traditional villages have distinctive carved-figure tombs, the most striking funerary art in the country. Gia Lai also produces a significant share of Vietnam's coffee, second only to Đắk Lắk, and you will smell roasting beans walking around Pleiku.

What to see

• Biển Hồ ("Sea Lake," Hồ T'Nưng) — a circular volcanic crater lake just outside Pleiku, surrounded by pine and coffee. The lake supplies Pleiku's drinking water, so swimming is not allowed; walk the rim instead.
• Biển Hồ Chè — adjacent tea plantation with a photogenic pine avenue.
• Plei Ốp village — Jarai community on the edge of Pleiku with a traditional Rông (communal long-house) and easy access for visitors.
• Yaly hydropower lake — a large reservoir on the Sê San river with viewpoints; popular with Vietnamese day-trippers.
• Kon Ka Kinh National Park — primary rainforest east of Pleiku. Multi-day trekking with park-arranged guides.
• Hồ Ayun Hạ — large irrigation lake south of the city.
• Pleiku city — small, low-rise, defined by its central park (Diên Hồng), several large coffee houses and the old American-war "Hill 875" base sites in the surrounding hills.
• Stone bridge of Pleiku (Đập Tân Sơn) — minor but pleasant evening walk.
• Phú Cường waterfall — small but easy day trip.
• Tomb-figure villages — the traditional Jarai cemeteries with carved wooden mourning figures are mostly in Chư Pưh and Krông Pa districts; hire a local guide.

How to get there

From	Mode	Time	Price (approx.)
HCMC	Flight to Pleiku (PXU)	1 hr 10	900k–1.8m VND
Hà Nội	Flight	1 hr 50	1.2–2.2m VND
Đà Nẵng	Bus	10 hr	250k VND
Quy Nhơn	Bus over An Khê pass	4 hr	150k VND
Kon Tum	Bus or van	1.5 hr	80k VND
Buôn Ma Thuột	Bus	4 hr	150k VND

Pleiku airport (PXU) has multiple daily flights from HCMC and Hà Nội. The road from Quy Nhơn over An Khê pass is scenic and a good way to combine coast and highlands.

When to visit

Period	Verdict
Nov–Apr	Best — dry season, blue skies, cool evenings
Dec–Mar	Coolest; coffee flowers in white bloom in Feb–Mar
May–Oct	Wet; afternoon downpours; greener landscape
Mar	Coffee blossom; a brief, fragrant spectacle

The plateau sits at around 800 m, so days are pleasant and nights cool year-round.

Where to stay

Hotel	Style	Price range
Pleiku Hotel	Reliable mid-range city	600–900k VND
Mường Thanh Holiday Pleiku	Mid-range business	700k–1m VND
Khách sạn Quê Hương	Functional budget	300–500k VND
Plei Ốp homestays	Basic Jarai village stay	200–400k VND

There is little luxury infrastructure. Plan around functional rather than charming.

Practicalities

• The province is best explored by motorbike or hired car. Public transport between districts is poor. See transport/motorbike-rental.
• The border-region districts require permits if you intend to cross into Cambodia; check at Lệ Thanh border gate.
• Coffee is everywhere — try the local single-origin (Robusta, primarily) at Thu Hà, Cội Nguồn or Lá Cafe.
• ATMs reliable in Pleiku only.

Food / what to eat

• Phở khô Gia Lai — "dry pho," served as two bowls: dry noodles with topping in one, clear broth in the other. The provincial signature.
• Bún cua thối — fermented field-crab noodle soup. An acquired taste with a strong smell, beloved by locals.
• Bò một nắng — beef sun-dried for one day, then grilled. Often eaten with kiến vàng (yellow-ant) salt.
• Cà phê Pleiku — try the local roasters; the coffee here has a heavier, more chocolaty Robusta profile.

Related: Kon Tum, Đắk Lắk, Đắk Nông, Central Vietnam.