Kon Tum province
Kon Tum province is the northernmost region of Vietnam's Central Highlands. Quite mountainous, it attracts relatively few travellers when compared to the far more touristed province of Lam Dong (home to Da Lat) further south. The provincial capital, Kon Tum town, sits on the bank of the Dakbla River and can be used as a base for forays into the surrounding countryside.
Kon Tum town is well off the tourist trail and sits a mere 50km from Vietnam's western border with Laos. In the past, several factors made sure that it would remain largely overlooked -- the nearby border was closed to Western visitors, the road connecting it to Da Nang was rough and poorly serviced, and it was on the way to and from nowhere in particular. But now the Laos-Vietnam border at Bo Y is open to tourists, providing an interesting and more adventurous alternative to the popular Lao Bao border to the north. Also, the road to Da Nang is now well-paved, with regular bus service.
A visit to Kon Tum increasingly makes sense as part of a 'central highlands loop' for those with time for it in their itineraries.
