Volcanic plateaus, coffee & cool air
Central Highlands
The Central Highlands rise in red basalt and pine — coffee country, crater lakes and the cool city of Đà Lạt.
A short flight or an overnight bus lifts you a kilometre above the coast, into air that asks for a jacket. The plateaus grow most of the country's coffee, and towns like Buôn Ma Thuột and Pleiku still feel like working farm country rather than resorts.
Crater lakes, waterfalls and gong culture give the highlands a rhythm all their own — cooler and slower than the plains below.
Don't miss
Places that make the region
01Đà Lạt
Lâm ĐồngPine forest, lakes and cool air the whole year round.
02Buôn Ma Thuột
Đắk LắkThe capital of Vietnamese coffee, ringed by waterfalls.
03Măng Đen
Quảng NgãiA quiet pine plateau still mostly unknown to visitors.
04Pleiku & Biển Hồ
Gia LaiA crater lake like a green eye in the basalt hills.
At the table
What you'll eat
The highlands taste of the earth they grow from: strong robusta coffee poured slow over ice, grilled chicken with cơm lam rice cooked in bamboo, and mountain greens picked the same morning.
Central Highlands food guide →When to go
Month by month
| Đà Lạt | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high (°C) | 22° | 24° | 25° | 25° | 25° | 23° | 23° | 23° | 23° | 23° | 22° | 21° |
| Avg low (°C) | 11° | 12° | 13° | 14° | 16° | 16° | 16° | 16° | 16° | 15° | 14° | 13° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 15 | 10 | 50 | 170 | 190 | 215 | 230 | 250 | 280 | 240 | 85 | 20 |
Highlighted months are the most comfortable window. · 30-year climate normals (WMO 1991–2020) — long-term averages, not a forecast.
Daily budget
What a day here costs
Backpacker
~$25–40/day
Hostels or guesthouses, street food and local buses.
Mid-range
~$60–120/day
3-star hotels or boutique stays, restaurant meals, ride-hailing and a guided day trip now and then.
Comfort
~$150+/day
4–5-star stays, private drivers and guides, cruise cabins and fine dining.
Reference ranges per person per day, excluding international flights. Hà Nội, Đà Nẵng and Sài Gòn run toward the top of each band; small towns toward the bottom.
Full Money & Costs guide →Book this region
Stays, experiences & tours
Everything you need to actually go — places to sleep, things to do, and the trips that run here.
Where to stay230
See all →
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