Gia Nghia

Travel Guide

Hotel Deals of the Day

best price guarantee

Maps

Gia Nghia

Looking at the map, we had high hopes of discovering hidden gems among the many mountains, waterfalls, and ethnic villages that dot one of Vietnam's newest provinces, Dak Nong and its capital Gia Nghia. Split off from Dak Lak in 2005, Dak Nong shares a long border with Cambodia, at the southern reach of Vietnam's Central Highlands, and we hoped for a slice of virgin territory to explore.

Unfortunately, it seems that most of what lies within, gems or no, is being jealously guarded by the local authorities. Independent travel by foreigners is off-limits except in the small district of Gia Ngia, home to the provincial capital of the same name, and along Route 14 as it heads north towards Dak Mil, and then east towards Buon Ma Thuot.

The provincial tourism authority is hard at work trying to raise funds and build infrastructure for future tourist development, some time within the next five to 10 years. But money and roads aren't the only hold-up -- recent discontent among minority tribes in the region has the government worried, and they've reacted by trying to cut off any outside influences that might foment further dissent. It also doesn't help that much of the province to the west abuts the sensitive Cambodian border zone. We can only speculate that it was the government's need for tighter control of the region that saw the new province created to begin with.

The capital, Gia Nghia (yaa ngee-uh) is nevertheless right along the route from Buon Ma Thuot to Saigon, so significant tourist traffic could be in the province's future, if and when they choose to open the region up.

We were quite taken with this quaint, friendly little town, set in a cool, verdant river valley surrounded by lakes. A small amusement park just east of the town's bridge has a roller coaster which gives the town a distinctive character. Gia Nghia felt much like Da Lat must have been like before it became, you know -- Da Lat.

During the war with America, South Vietnamese troops stationed here called it the end of nowhere -- no plumbing, no electricity, no phones, just cows and farmers. Now it's a bustling metropolis by comparison, but it still retains that disconnected feel. It's easy to see why it's slated as an up-and-coming tourist centre -- a prospect we view with mixed emotions.

Luckily, any real development is a while away. You won't be dazzled by bling in Gia Nghia, but those on a leisurely tour of the country won't regret a night or two of welcome decompression between tourist hot-spots.

The sight of a foreigner in Gia Nghia is still very, very novel -- expect tons of curious attention from the locals.

Accommodation: Gia Nghia
Son Lam Guest House | Sunrise Hotel | Thang Huong Guest House |

Text and/or map last updated on 21st August, 2009.

Jump to a different destination in Vietnam

Get orientated with a map of Gia Nghia, Vietnam

Gia Nghia reviews

Backchat from the Travelfish community

2012. Still the same.

The situation is still pretty the same as when the review was written. One cannot gou out of Route 14. I just disagree with what has been written about the friendliness of people. I found, as in many other parts of Vietnam people that wanted to help and people that wanted to cheat me (watch out from the taxi driver with lazy eye, he tends to not turn on the counter and from the young ticket seller, that wants to make the ticket for Dong Xoai more expensive). As usual there's people that try to understand my Vietnamese and people that don't.

I didn't find anything interesting on the way to get there. The landscapes are much more luxurious between Da Lat and Buon Ma Thuot. Maybe the only curious thing is the constant presence of government propaganda, unusual even in Vietnam.
- Sights & activities
- History & culture
- Scenery & environment
- Eat & drink
- Traveller's scene
- Romance
- Value for money
- I'll be back (or not)
By Suturn (dabbler)
Written on 5th August, 2012 after a visit to Gia Nghia in August, 2012

Have your say

You need to be logged in to add a review.

Username: Password:

Not a member? you can join here.
Review title

Snappiness encouraged ;-)

When did you visit here?

This gives your review a bit of context - especially if you were last in Chiang Mai in 1932.

Your review

(Remotely sensible, non-ranting comments are much appreciated. If you don't like somewhere, please explain why -- it's all far more helpful for others that way.) Serial ranters, loons and spammers will be banished!
And please, no self-promotional URLs -- that's what your signature field is for.

So how does it rate?

On a scale of one to ten (with 10 being outstanding and 1 being bloody awful) how would you rate here under the following criteria?

Note: Ratings are OUT OF TEN -- not five!
Please note comments are edited for clarity, typos and style before they appear. Ranting tirades, spam and anything else that really belongs somewhere else won't make the cut. If you want to rant, go to Thorntree.

Please login and refresh this screen before writing your review -- thanks!