We’ve outlined village visits and your options for day tours, but if you want to learn about Kon Tum’s eight ethnic minorities while getting off the beaten track and getting exercise, trekking is just the ticket.
If you’re short on time, a one-day trek isn’t the way to go. You are much better off doing the village tour by motorbike than spending time walking between villages that have road access to begin with. A trek is worthwhile if it is a multi-day one. Three days will allow you to go deep – physically and culturally – venturing higher up into the mountains, immersing yourself in the way of life and experiencing how the people are connected to the forest. As Mr Huynh of Highland Eco Tours poetically explains, the minorities have two worlds. The day time world has been taken over by modernity. It is the world of working and making money. But the night is still what they have and hold onto. It is the world of harmony, Mother Nature and the jungle. The night is when you will see the echoes of the past.
These tours involve a lot of tough hiking and wild camps – a pre-packaged, predictable tourist experience this is not. Some villages require a full one or two day’s journey to reach. If you’re looking for off-the-beaten track Vietnam, we reckon this is it.
Prices vary depending on distance and number of people. On average, a one-day trek will cost US$50 per person including lunch. Multi-day treks will cost around US$80 per person and up, including all food and a gift to the village.
What next?
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Check out our listings of things to do in and around Kon Tum.
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