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BUON MA THUAT
The central
highlands consist of vast terraced plateaus which stretch over 700 kilometres and well
known for their mysteries. This area is featured by fantastic insight into the
caried landscape and ethnic villages of this area from Draysap waterfalls with some smoke
eater beams in the tropical forest to magnificient wooden tombs at Dektu serving as a
bridge linking the living and the dead. The green texture of jungle contrasts
sharply with the red surface of basaltic soil. At an altitude of approximately 500m to
1,000 m, traveler lives in perfectly fresh air with full oxygen and the fragrance flowers.
 Ede Tribe
The Ede tribe (or Rhode) make the trip to Buon ma Thuot
worthwhile. The tribe is primarily matriarchal. The women own the property and after
marriage the man must move in with the woman’s family whose house is extended to
accommodate them. The houses of the Ede tribes are long (up to 30 m) and thin (4 m). Each
time there is a wedding in the family, the houses is extended like carriages of a train.
Each section can be closed off and has its own door and kitchen. The houses are also on
stilts and under the house they store wood, food and even livestock.The Ede tribe have a
different ceremony for their dead from the Bahnar at Pleiku. They bury the deceased just
below the surface of the ground so that the spirit can fly to the heavens. Around the
grave they keep wooden carvings of elephant tusks and on four pillars built around the
grave they have four birds to protect the dead. The Ede tribe practice animistic beliefs.
Hill Tribe
Museum
There is a very interesting Hill Tribe museum at 1 Doc Lap
street. It shows some of the local equipment the Ede tribe use to hunt elephants. The
museum also gives valuable information about the culture of the tribe.
Lak Lake
Lak Lake is situated 50 km south of Buon Ma Thuot. To see
the lake you must get a permit that costs USD 20 for a group of people. It is also
possible to sleep in the Ede houses there. In this village, you can take an elephant ride
for about three hours around the area.
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