Lak Lake

Lak is a shallow natural lake of a few hundred hectares in Dak Lak, the largest in the central highlands, ringed by rice fields and hills, with M'nong villages on the shore - Jun and M'Lieng among them - whose longhouses stand on stilts with the family's sections arranged along the length. Bao Dai, the last emperor, built a hunting lodge on the hill above it in the 1950s, which still stands. Dugout canoes are used on the lake and are offered to visitors. Elephant rides were long sold here; the district has been moving away from them, unevenly, and some operators still offer them.

Background

The lake lies in Liên Sơn Township of Lắk district, 55 km from the centre of Buon Ma Thuot, at 500 metres. Covering about 6.2 square kilometres, it ranks second among Vietnam's natural freshwater lakes. Its water rarely runs dry even in the dry season, and some species around it appear in the national Red Book of endangered wildlife. A Mnong legend tells that the fire god once overcame the water god and brought a severe drought, so the villagers moved to the lake. Bao Dai, the last Nguyen emperor, spent summer holidays and hunting trips here, and his palace on a hill by the shore is a three-story building in a modern style.

Source: Wikipedia, "Lak Lake"

What you'll find

• The largest highland lake - shallow, a few hundred hectares.
• M'nong longhouses on stilts - in villages round the shore.
• Bao Dai's hunting lodge - built on the hill in the 1950s.
• Dugout canoes - used on the lake and offered to visitors.

When to go

November to April, the dry season. A full day.

Before you go

Elephant rides are still sold by some operators here despite the shift elsewhere, and the animals' condition has been criticised. Homestays in longhouses are simple and sometimes staged. The lake is shallow and can look muddy.

Nearby

Buon Ma Thuot is north-west; the road to Da Lat runs south-east.

Key facts