What Buon Jun is

Buon Jun is a Mnong ethnic-minority village on the southern shore of Lak Lake, about 50 km south of Buon Ma Thuot city in Dak Lak province. The village has existed for generations as a community of Mnong people who traditionally lived alongside domesticated elephants, using them for transport and agriculture in the Central Highlands (중부 고원 / 中部高原 / 中部高原).

Unlike the more touristed Buon Don (the other "elephant village" in Dak Lak), Buon Jun remains smaller, quieter, and more connected to daily lakeside life. The longhouses here are still inhabited — not reconstructions for visitors. You'll see fishing nets drying on poles, chickens underfoot, and elderly women weaving on looms beneath stilted homes.

Why travelers go

Three reasons, honestly:

  1. Lak Lake itself — the second-largest natural freshwater lake in Vietnam (베트남 / 越南 / ベトナム) after Ba Be. Early mornings here are genuinely atmospheric: mist sitting low on the water, dugout canoes slipping out, the surrounding hills soft and green.

  2. Mnong culture without a theme-park feel — Buon Jun hasn't been heavily developed. You can visit a longhouse, share rice wine with a family, or watch traditional textile weaving without feeling like you're on a conveyor belt.

  3. A base for the wider Dak Lak highlands — coffee plantations, waterfalls (Dray Nur, Dray Sap), and the strange empty beauty of the basalt plateau are all within day-trip range.

A note on elephants: Buon Jun historically offered elephant rides on Lak Lake. This practice is declining as attitudes shift and several operators have moved toward observation-only models. If ethical animal interaction matters to you, ask before booking and choose operators that don't use saddles or hooks.

Best time to visit

Dak Lak has two seasons: wet (May–October) and dry (November–April).

The dry season is more comfortable for travel — roads are better, the lake is calmer, skies are clearer. November through January gives you cool mornings (18–22°C) that feel surprising for a place this far south.

The wet season isn't terrible, but afternoon downpours are reliable and the red-dirt roads around the lake turn slick. The upside: the landscape is intensely green and Lak Lake fills to its maximum, making boat trips more dramatic.

A stunning aerial view of Dalat's misty landscape with wind turbines and houses under a cloud-filled sky.

Photo by Dương Nhân on Pexels

How to get there

From Buon Ma Thuot: Take Highway 27 south toward Da Lat. After about 50 km (roughly 1 hour by motorbike, 45 minutes by car), you'll see signs for Lak Lake and Buon Jun on the right. The road is paved and in decent condition.

From Da Lat (달랏 / 大叻 / ダラット): Highway 27 north, about 180 km (4–5 hours by bus or car). This is a beautiful mountain road but winding and slow.

From Saigon or Da Nang: Fly into Buon Ma Thuot (airport code BMV). Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways run daily flights from both cities. From the airport, it's another hour south to the lake.

There's no direct public bus to Buon Jun village itself. You'll need to get to Lien Son town (the district center beside the lake) and then grab a xe om or have your guesthouse arrange a pickup — about 3 km from town to the village.

What to do

Lak Lake by boat

Dugout canoe trips cost around 100,000–150,000 VND per person for a 30-minute paddle. Sunrise trips are best. Some guesthouses can arrange longer kayak rentals if you want to explore the shoreline independently.

Walk through Buon Jun village

No ticket, no guide needed. The village is small enough to cover on foot in an hour. Look for the communal longhouse ("nha dai") — it's the largest stilted structure, used for ceremonies and gatherings. Locals are generally welcoming; a smile and a greeting go a long way.

Coffee plantation visits

Dak Lak produces more coffee than any other province in Vietnam. Several farms between Buon Ma Thuot and Lak Lake accept visitors. You'll see robusta plants up close and can taste fresh-roasted vietnamese coffee on site. Expect to pay 50,000–100,000 VND for a guided tour with tasting.

Dray Nur and Dray Sap waterfalls

About 25 km from Buon Ma Thuot (so roughly 75 km from Buon Jun). These twin falls are worth a half-day trip if you have your own wheels. Entry is 30,000 VND each.

Evening "gong culture" performances

Some homestays in Buon Jun arrange evening gatherings with gong music ("cong chieng"), a UNESCO-recognized intangible heritage of the Central Highlands. These aren't nightly — ask your host if one is happening during your stay.

Where to eat

Buon Jun doesn't have restaurants in any conventional sense. Your options:

  • Homestay meals — most families hosting guests will cook for you. Expect grilled freshwater fish from the lake, rice cooked in bamboo tubes ("com lam"), wild vegetables, and rice wine ("ruou can") served from a communal jar with bamboo straws. Meals run 80,000–120,000 VND per person.

  • Lien Son town — a few "com binh dan" (rice-and-dish) shops along the main road. Basic but filling. 30,000–50,000 VND for a plate.

  • Buon Ma Thuot — for more variety, head back to the city. The night market area near Nguyen Tat Thanh street has decent "bun" noodle soups and grilled meats.

Spectacular view of ridges with lush green trees against ocean under cloudy sky at sunset in foggy weather

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels

Where to stay

In Buon Jun: A handful of family-run homestays offer mattresses in longhouses or private rooms in stilted houses. Don't expect air conditioning — nights are cool enough without it most of the year. Prices: 150,000–300,000 VND per night.

Near Lak Lake: A few mid-range resorts sit on the northern shore (Lak Resort is the most established). Rooms from 500,000–900,000 VND with lake views.

In Buon Ma Thuot: More hotel options if you prefer a proper bed and hot shower. Budget places from 200,000 VND; mid-range from 400,000 VND.

Practical tips

  • Bring cash. There are no ATMs in Buon Jun and only one in Lien Son town (which sometimes runs empty). Withdraw in Buon Ma Thuot before heading south.
  • Motorbike is king. Having your own wheels lets you explore the lake perimeter and reach waterfalls independently. Rentals in Buon Ma Thuot cost 120,000–180,000 VND/day.
  • Pack layers. Mornings and evenings get cool, especially December–February. A light jacket is enough.
  • Phone signal is fine (Viettel works best here) but don't expect wifi in homestays to be reliable.

Common mistakes

  • Rushing through as a day trip from Buon Ma Thuot. You'll arrive, take one photo of the lake, and leave without experiencing anything. Stay at least one night.
  • Expecting Sapa (사파 / 沙坝 / サパ)-level infrastructure. This isn't a polished tourism product. That's the point — but come prepared for basic facilities.
  • Visiting only the north shore. Most tour buses stop at the northern viewpoint and never cross to Buon Jun on the south side. Cross over — that's where the village life is.
  • Skipping Dak Lak entirely on a Da Lat–to–Central-Highlands route. Many travelers jump straight from Da Lat to Hoi An (호이안 / 会安 / ホイアン) or Hue. The highlands between deserve a few days.
— FIN —

Last updated · May 19, 2026 · independently researched, never sponsored.