| Buôn Ma Thuột | |
| Official Name: | Buôn Ma Thuột City |
| Other Name: | Ban Mê Thuột, Lạc Giao |
| Native Name: | Vietnamese: Thành phố Buôn Ma Thuột |
| Settlement Type: | City (Class-1) |
| Pushpin Map: | Vietnam#Southeast Asia#Asia |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of in Vietnam |
| Pushpin Mapsize: | 200 |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Đắk Lắk |
| Area Total Km2: | 377.18 |
| Elevation M: | 536 |
| Population As Of: | 2023 census |
| Population Total: | 434.256 |
| Population Urban: | 246.671 |
| Population Density Km2: | 1.151 |
| Timezone: | ICT |
| Utc Offset: | +7 |
| Coordinates: | 12.6667°N 111°W |
12.6667°N 111°WBuôn Ma Thuột (formerly Lạc Giao)[1] or sometimes Buôn Mê Thuột or Ban Mê Thuột, is the capital city of Đắk Lắk Province in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Its population was 434.256 in 2023.[2] The city is the largest in Vietnam's Central Highlands region and is famous as the regional "capital of coffee".[3] [4] [5]
Buôn Ma Thuột has Buôn Ma Thuột Airport as its main airport.
The name Buôn Ma Thuột derives from the language of the Ê Đê people. A possible interpretation of this language is the village of Father Thuot. Father Thuot, or Ama Y Thuot, held considerable power and prestige as the governing figure of Buon Ma Thuot Village during the late 19th century.[6] [7]
In 1904 Đắk Lắk Province was established by the French and Buôn Ma Thuột was selected as the provincial administrative centre, rather than the trading center of Đôn on the Srepok River. Buôn Ma Thuột was originally settled by the Ê Đê, but due to the incoming Việt settlement after the Vietnam War and the active acculturation policy, less than 15% (around 40,000) are still Montagnards. An important battle took place there at the end of the Vietnam war.
The city is located at 12.6667° N 108.0500° E, right at the heart of the Central Highlands of Vietnam, 1300 km from Hanoi, 500 km from Da Nang, and 350 km from Ho Chi Minh City. Lying on a fairly flat highland, at an average height of above sea level, Buôn Ma Thuột has a vital role in Vietnam's national security and defense system. Buôn Ma Thuột is the capital of Đắk Lắk Province and also the biggest city in the Central Highlands region (Tây Nguyên).
Buôn Ma Thuột is the site of Tây Nguyên University, which was founded in 1977 and has educated more than 27,000 students. The TNU offers training in 37 university programs, 8 college programs, and 6 college-university interlinking programs and pre-university programs.[8]
Economic growth:
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Administrative reforms showed positive results, and political security and social order were maintained. During the press conference, questions about budget revenue and expenditures, new business registrations, and employment statistics were addressed by the leaders of the Đắk Lắk Statistics Department and other relevant departments.[9]
The Government issued Resolution No. 103/NQCP to implement the Political Bureau's Conclusion No. 67KL/TW, aiming to build and develop Buôn Ma Thuột, Đắk Lắk province, up to 2030 with a vision to 2045.
Key Goals for 20212025:
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Although coffee was introduced to Vietnam as early as 1870, it was only widely cultivated in Đắk Lắk from the 1930s in plantations owned by French capitalists like CADA. The region's basalt red soil proved particularly suitable for coffee cultivation, leading to an increase in coffee growing areas. Currently, according to statistics, Đắk Lắk has more than 175,000 hectares of coffee (in reality, over 200,000 hectares, as some areas are not included in the official plan). Đắk Lắk is recognized as having the highest coffee yield in the world, significantly contributing to Vietnam's position as the second largest coffee exporter globally, with robusta coffee ranking first. Almost every district in Đắk Lắk grows coffee, but Buôn Ma Thuột coffee is considered the highest quality with a distinctive flavor, earning the city the title "coffee capital."[11] [12]
Buôn Ma Thuột aspires to become the world's coffee capital, leveraging its renowned coffee quality and expanding its global influence. The city's unique cultural heritage, combined with its superior coffee production, positions it as a key player in the international coffee industry, aiming to elevate its status and recognition on the world stage.[13] [14] [15]
Khải Đoan Pagoda, officially named "Sắc tứ Khải Đoan tự," is located in Thong Nhat Ward, Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak Province. It is the largest Buddhist pagoda in the city and one of the largest in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The pagoda holds historical significance as it was the last to receive a royal decree of recognition ("Sắc tứ") from a Vietnamese king.
The pagoda was initiated in 1951 by Queen Mother Hoang Thi Cuc, the principal wife of King Khai Dinh and mother of King Bao Dai. The pagoda was built on land donated by the queen mother, who also contributed most of the construction funds, alongside donations from Buddhist followers and the local community. In 1953, during the completion ceremony of the rear hall, it was officially named "Sắc tứ Khải Đoan" by King Bao Dai, combining the names of King Khai Dinh and Queen Mother Doan Huy.[16] [17]
Covering an area of about 4 hectares, Khải Đoan Pagoda features various structures harmoniously integrated with natural landscapes. The main hall, or "chính điện," is the most prominent building, with an area of 320 square meters. It combines the architectural styles of traditional Hue rường houses and the longhouses of the Ede people in the Central Highlands. The main hall houses five altars with bronze Buddha statues and intricately carved wooden bases. Additional structures within the pagoda include the rear hall, bell tower, drum tower, and a library ("tàng kinh các"). The rear hall, similar in structure to the main hall but simpler, contains statues of Quan Am and memorials to past abbots. The bell tower houses a large bronze bell donated by Prince Bao Long and Bao Thang.
Khải Đoan Pagoda serves as a major center for Buddhism in Dak Lak and the Central Highlands, often referred to as the "Great Pagoda" or "Provincial Pagoda." It has been the headquarters of the Buddhist Association of Dak Lak Province since 1986. The pagoda's unique history and architecture make it a significant cultural and religious site, attracting numerous Buddhist followers and visitors to Buon Ma Thuot City.
The Buôn Ma Thuột Coffee Festival, held biennially in Buôn Ma Thuột city, Đắk Lắk province, honors coffee, a dominant crop contributing 60% of Vietnam's coffee output. The festival, first organized in 2005, features activities related to coffee production and processing, alongside vibrant cultural and sports events and online transactions with the global market.[18] [19] [20]
Ngã 6 Ban Mê is the city's center, featuring the Buôn Ma Thuột Victory Monument, symbolizing the city. Initially a roundabout with a threelight pole after liberation, it now hosts a grand monument with a steel tank symbolizing the beginning of the Buôn Ma Thuột battle. In the late 20th century, the victory monument was significantly expanded.[21] [22]
A remaining Kơnia tree is preserved at the Đắk Lắk Cultural Center, a few hundred meters from Ngã 6. The Kơnia tree holds significant spiritual meaning for ethnic minorities, serving as a resting place for spirits and providing shade for workers. Inspired by the famous song "Under the Shadow of the Kơnia Tree," visitors often seek out the tree in Buôn Ma Thuột.[23] [24] [25]
Buôn AKô Đhông, also known as Buôn Cô Thôn or Ma Rin village, is an Ê Đê village in Buôn Ma Thuột. The village, located at the source of a major stream in Buôn Ma Thuột, is a beautiful old water source but is no longer in use due to pollution. Situated at the end of Trần Nhật Duật street, the well-planned village preserves many traditional values and is a popular tourist destination, included in Buôn Ma Thuột's historical display area.[26] [27]
Buôn Ma Thuột, the first settlement of Kinh people who migrated to establish Đắk Lắk, hosts most of the province's historical sites, including: