Lak Lake, a jade gem in the heart of the Central Highlands, captivates visitors not only with its pristine, mystical beauty but also with unique, indigenous experiences. Among these, a leisurely boat trip on a traditional wooden boat, gently gliding across the tranquil water while admiring the majestic natural scenery, is an unmissable activity when visiting Dak Lak. Let’s explore a detailed guide to boating on Lak Lake, making your journey complete and memorable.
Discover Lak Lake’s Beauty by Boat
Lak Lake, the second-largest natural freshwater lake in Vietnam, is likened to a giant ink painting, where mountains, forests, sky, and water blend together to create a magnificent landscape. Boating on Lak Lake is not just a simple tourist activity; it’s also an opportunity to immerse yourself in nature, feel the peace and serenity, and discover the hidden beauty of this land.
Sitting on a traditional wooden boat, you’ll feel as if you’re drifting in a vast, immense space. Surrounding you are lush green mountains, endless rice fields, and peaceful villages of the M’Nong people. The lake surface, as smooth as a giant mirror, reflects the clear blue sky, fluffy white clouds, and the silhouettes of ancient trees leaning over the water.
Lak Lake – Where is Lak Lake located
In the early morning, when mist still hangs lightly over the lake, the space becomes even more magical and poetic. The chirping of birds, the gentle sound of oars dipping into the water, and the fresh, cool air will bring you a sense of relaxation and comfort. In the late afternoon, as the sunset descends, the lake surface is dyed a brilliant orange-yellow, creating a romantic and enchanting scene. This is also the ideal time to capture memorable moments and enjoy the tranquility of Lak Lake.
Types of Boats and Boat Rental Services on Lak Lake
To experience boating on Lak Lake, you can choose between traditional wooden boats and modern motorboats, depending on your preferences and needs.
Traditional Wooden Boats: These are the traditional boats of the M’Nong people, made from a single tree trunk, compact in size, and very easy to maneuver. Sitting on a wooden boat, you’ll experience the feeling of floating on the water slowly and leisurely, getting closer to nature. Wooden boats are usually rowed by local people, who will row the boat while telling you stories about Lak Lake, the culture, and the life of the local people.
Motorboats: If you want to move faster and explore more places on Lak Lake in a short time, a motorboat is a suitable choice. Motorboats have a larger capacity than wooden boats, suitable for large groups or families. By motorboat, you can easily reach offshore areas, admire the panoramic view of Lak Lake from different angles, and enjoy the thrill of gliding on the water.
Boat Rental Services: In the Lak Lake area, there are many places providing boat rental services, mainly concentrated in the Lak Resort area and lakeside villages such as Buon Jun and Buon Le. You can easily rent boats directly at these locations or through hotels and guesthouses where you stay.
Boat Rental Prices: Boat rental prices on Lak Lake vary depending on the type of boat, rental time, and number of people.
- Traditional Wooden Boat: Approximately VND 150,000/30 minutes for 2 guests.
- Motorboat: Approximately VND 450,000/60 minutes (including 15 guests).
You should check prices and negotiate before renting a boat to ensure your trip is smooth and cost-effective.
Lak Lake – Lak Lake entrance fee
Tips for Boating on Lak Lake
To have a complete and memorable boating experience on Lak Lake, you should note the following tips:
Ideal Time: The best time to go boating on Lak Lake is during the dry season, from September to May of the following year. During this time, the weather in Dak Lak is quite cool, with little rain, and the lake water is clear and calm, very suitable for lake activities. You can also go boating during the lotus blooming season (around May) to admire the brilliant beauty of lotus flowers on the lake.
Clothing Choice: You should choose comfortable, cool, easy-to-move clothing that is suitable for the weather. If you go in the summer, you should bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun. If you go in the winter, you should bring a light jacket to keep warm.
Essential Items to Prepare: In addition to clothing, you should prepare some essential items such as:
- Camera, phone: To capture beautiful moments on Lak Lake.
- Drinking water, snacks: To replenish energy during the boat trip.
- Motion sickness medicine (if needed): If you are prone to motion sickness, prepare motion sickness medicine before boating.
- Life jacket: Ensure safety when participating in water activities, especially if you don’t know how to swim. Usually, boat rental services provide life jackets for visitors.
Suggested Itinerary:
- Early morning: Take a wooden boat to watch the sunrise on Lak Lake, enjoy the fresh and peaceful atmosphere.
- Morning: Explore lakeside villages such as Buon Jun and Buon Le by boat, learn about the culture and life of the M’Nong people.
- Noon: Have lunch at lakeside restaurants, enjoy local specialties such as Lak Lake featherback fish cake, grilled chicken with bamboo rice.
- Afternoon: Take a motorboat to explore offshore areas, watch the sunset on Lak Lake, or participate in other entertainment activities at Lak Lake tourist area.
Combine Boating with Other Activities at Lak Lake
Boating on Lak Lake is a wonderful experience, but you can combine this activity with many other interesting experiences to make your trip richer and more diverse.
Visit Bao Dai Palace: Bao Dai Palace is located on a high hill, with panoramic views of Lak Lake. After boating, you can visit the Palace to learn about history, architecture, and admire Lak Lake from above.
Elephant Riding: Riding an elephant across Lak Lake is a unique and exciting experience that you should not miss. You can ride an elephant around the lake shore, or even cross a section of the lake to reach lakeside villages.
Lak Lake – Elephant riding across a river in Lak Lake
Explore Indigenous Culture: Visiting villages like Buon Jun and Buon Le, you will have the opportunity to learn about the culture, customs, and daily life of the M’Nong people. You can participate in traditional cultural activities such as watching gong performances, bamboo dancing, drinking rice wine from a jar through straws, or shopping for local handicrafts.
Lakeside Camping: If you love nature and want to experience closeness to Lak Lake, you can camp overnight by the lake. Many eco-tourism areas around Lak Lake offer camping services with full amenities, helping you have a memorable night amidst the beautiful natural scenery.
What to Eat After Boating on Lak Lake?
After freely exploring Lak Lake by boat, don’t forget to enjoy the famous specialties of the Central Highlands at lakeside restaurants and eateries.
Lak Lake Featherback Fish Cake (Chả cá thát lát hồ Lắk): The most distinctive and famous dish of Lak Lake. Featherback fish cake is made from fresh fish caught directly from the lake, with a chewy, naturally sweet taste and distinctive aroma.
Grilled Chicken with Bamboo Rice (Gà nướng cơm lam): A familiar dish but indispensable in Central Highlands cuisine. Chicken is grilled over hot coals, fragrant, crispy skin, tender and sweet meat. Bamboo rice is sticky and fragrant, cooked in bamboo tubes, bringing a special flavor of the mountains and forests.
Grilled Snakehead Fish (Cá lóc nướng trui): Fresh snakehead fish is grilled directly on rice straw, preserving its natural sweetness and distinctive aroma. This dish is often served with rice paper, raw vegetables, and flavorful dipping sauce.
In addition, you can also enjoy other specialties such as snakehead catfish hotpot, sour catfish soup, shredded chicken salad with Vietnamese coriander leaves, and dishes made from wild vegetables and mushrooms.
Important Notes When Boating on Lak Lake
To ensure safety and have a smooth boat trip on Lak Lake, you need to note the following:
- Safety First: Always wear a life jacket when boating, especially for children and non-swimmers. Do not stand up, walk around, or play around on the boat while it is moving. Follow the instructions of the boat driver and rescue staff.
- Protect the Environment: Do not litter in the lake, do not litter indiscriminately along the lake shore. Maintain general hygiene, protect the natural landscape of Lak Lake.
- Respect Local Culture: When visiting villages, respect the customs and culture of the M’Nong people. Dress politely, do not make noise or cause disorder.
- Prepare Fully: Bring enough essential items such as drinking water, snacks, sunscreen, hats, cameras, and medicine (if needed).
Conclusion
Boating on Lak Lake is a unique and memorable travel experience, offering you the opportunity to discover the pristine, majestic natural beauty, learn about the unique indigenous culture, and enjoy peaceful, relaxing moments in the heart of the Central Highlands. Hopefully, with the detailed guide above, you will have a truly complete and meaningful boat trip on Lak Lake. Don’t forget to share your wonderful moments at Lak Lake with Discovery To Wonders!