Ratanakiri province
Ratanakiri is situated atop the northeast plateau, bordering Vietnam to the east, Laos to the north, Stung Treng to the west and Mondulkiri to the south. A scarcely populated province, Ratanakiri shows considerable promise as a eco-tourism destination with plentiful waterfalls, volcanic lakes, a large national park and a number of waterways, all of which can be explored from the provincial capital of Ban Lung.
As with Mondulkiri to the south, loggers (legal and illegal) have well and truly had their way with Ratanakiri and while some areas have been protected to some extent -- notably Yak Lom crater lake and Virachay National Park -- the scars of the over-exploitation of lumber can be seen across the province.
Most travellers who make the effort to reach here, tend to stay at least three nights -- exploring the many waterfalls, minority villages and cemeteries and perhaps doing an overnight trip into the national park. Bear in mind that tourism is still a developing business here and that things may not always turn out quite as you expect.
Known for its red dirt, Rattanakiri becomes a dust-bowl in the dry season and a mudpit in the wet season and while the roads are slowly improving, in the height of wet season many roads are virtually impassable. A good time to visit is in November, when the rains have stopped and the dust has not got too far out of hand.
