Central Highlands Motorbike Tour: Discover Vietnam’s Wild Interior

Published: 29/07/25

Vietnam’s Central Highlands are a top-tier playground for adventure riding enthusiasts. Think pine forests, misty mountains, hill tribe villages, coffee, pepper, and rubber plantations, jungles with waterfalls, and fun, winding roads. The Ho Chi Minh Road snakes its way through the area, acting as a critical lifeline connecting hamlets to cities and the outside world. Far from Vietnam’s crowded coasts, this interior region offers raw beauty combined with cultural depth, giving a glimpse into a world that’s all its own. A Central Highlands motorbike tour is a unique and eye-opening way to explore the interior of the country and see another side of Vietnam.

The Central Highlands are often overlooked by those looking to explore Vietnam on two wheels. We think it’s about time for that to change. Encountering local ethnic groups, exploring natural wonders like extinct volcanoes and towering waterfalls, and seeing how critical commodities are created all makes for a unique trip that thoroughly satisfies wanderlust and curiosity.

Join us as we go north to south through Vietnam’s Central Highlands, starting in Hoi An and stopping at highlights and exploring all the region has to offer. If we’ve already piqued your curiosity, reach out to us to discuss a tour.

Northern Highlands: Mang Den and Kon Tum

The northern Central Highlands (note the capitalization!), encompassing Mang Den and Kon Tum, is the gateway to Vietnam’s Central Highlands. Here you’ll find cool mountain air and pine forests that provide a dramatically different take on Vietnam than the nearby lowlands. The Ho Chi Minh Road winds its way through rolling hills, offering motorbikers entry into a bucolic land of natural beauty and hill tribe cultures. Mang Den’s peaceful landscapes and Kon Tum’s cultural crossroads make this a perfect starting point for those coming from the north. Take in the sights of rubber trees and waterfalls as you ride and look for Xe Dang and Ba Na peoples who inhabit the region.

Mang Den: The Mini-Dalat

At 1,200 meters in Kon Tum province, Mang Den is a hidden gem often called Mini Dalat for its cool climate, pine forests, and misty ambiance. The quiet hill station feels like a retreat, and for many it is. Its winding roads invite slow, scenic rides through wooded trails. Its small-town charm and proximity to Xo Dang villages make it a haven for riders looking for culture and nature.

Mang Den features as the first stop on our Hoi An to Saigon 6-day Motorcycle Tour.

Mang Den Highlights

Pa Sy Waterfall: A multi-tiered waterfall surrounded by greenery. Great for photographs, picnics, or a cool dip.
Dak Ke Lake: A relaxed, tree-lined lake good for canoeing or just chilling out, with beautiful views in the morning.
Coffee plantations:Check out local farms to learn about robusta (not Arabica!) coffee production and try some brews with Xo Dang farmers.
Xe Dang Hill Tribe Culture: See some longhouses, watch how they weave, and maybe get invited to a meal to hear their stories.
Mang Den Night Market: Just opened this year with 20-30 food and drink stalls as well as occasional live music. Situated in the pine forest that grows on the old American landing strip from the war.
Pine Forest Trails: Zip through quiet paths in pine forests, catching some relief from lowland heat and seeing some of the famous highland mist.
Mang Den Eco-Tourism Zone: Offroad, check out hiking trails, viewpoints, and local cafes with treats.

The Route

From Hoi An, head south on Vo Chi Cong street before turning west, just south of Vinpearl resort and golf onto QL14E. Follow 14E inland before heading south on QL17. North of Kon Tum, turn east on QL24 and continue on through the Mang Den pass to the valley. Expect a long ride here: At 332 kilometers, this is a full-day trip.

Kon Tum

A quick 50 kilometers south of Mang Den, kon Tum is a busy hub where the Ba Na and other hill tribes make for a colorful cultural crossroads. The city itself mixes historic charm with natural beauty, as visitors will note colonial buildings combined with ubiquitous local markets. The rubber plantations and waterfalls outside the city add a bit of a wild edge and serve as a reminder of the importance of rubber to the local economy.
Kon Tum Highlights

Wooden Church: A hundred-year-old Catholic church with both French and Ba Na architecture, including carved wooden interiors.
Rong Houses:Rong houses are massive communal structures for Ba Na ceremonies, giving visitors a glimpse into how the tribe operates.
Kon Tum Museum:Learn about Ba Na culture via artifacts, traditional clothes, and traditional musical instruments.
Kon Klor Village: A traditional ethnic Ba Na village set up for tourism set on the Dak Bla river. Stilted houses, weaving, traditional wines, and a famous nearby bridge make this worth a stop.
Rubber Tree Plantations:Ride through enormous estates where latex creation creates a rhythmic, tap-tap-tap backdrop.

The Route

Mang Den is a short ~60 kilometers from Kon Tum, so plan a ride of an hour or two. Head southwest on QL24, which links up with AH17 in the middle of Kon Tum.

Central Volcanic Region: Chu Dang Ya Volcano and Pleiku

The central volcanic region, centered around Chu Dang Ya volcano and Pleiku, mixes geological spectacle with buzzing urban life. Ancient volcanic activity created red-soil craters and very fertile plains, which in turn make for excellent riding grounds. The Ho Chi Minh Road winds through, with coffee and rubber plantations stretching as far as the eye can see. Chu Dang Ya’s tranquility marks a stark contrast to Pleiu’s busy streets, where Gia Rai (or Jarai) traders and fresh coffee abound in markets. Nearby nature including a number of waterfalls make for plenty to ride out and see, while the city gives its own flavor of exploration.

Chu Dang Ya Volcano

Located some 30 km northeast of Pleiku, Chu Dang Ya volcano is long dormant, having last erupted millions of years ago. Its caldera and slopes are now home to farms that take advantage of its rich red soil. Riders can enjoy its surreal crater and Gia Rai villages that form an otherworldly backdrop.

Enjoy a 6-day trip to the Highlands featuring Chu Dang Ya Volcano on our Volcano adventure Tour.

Chu Dang Ya Highlights:

Crater Views: Hike or ride to the rim for panoramic vistas, as the volcano sits in the middle of a three-sided valley.

Gia Rai villages: Stop to chat with locals and learn about their festivals, rice wine, and unique stilt houses.

Pepper Farms: Wind through pepper farms and see where that ubiquitous table feature actually comes from.

Rural trails: Strike out on unpaved paths around the volcano, passing farms and tribal villages.

The Route

Expect a ride of roughly an hour on this 50 kilometer route. Head south on AH17 from Kon Tum. Turn east at Nghia Hung market (Cho Nghia Hung), and use the mountains to the northeast as a landmark. The main road will take you directly there.

Pleiku

Pleiku, Gia Lai’s capital city, is a buzzing urban center that still offers natural landscapes. Its markets and colonial past blend with coffee and rubber plantations, giving riders plenty to see in a short stay.

Pleiku Highlights:

Bien Ho (Sea Lake): A tranquil crater lake formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago. With deep blue waters, it’s a great spot to stop for a picnic or take a quick kayak trip. Tea fields are everywhere here, making for a beautiful ride.
Minh Thanh Pagoda: A Buddhist temple with a seven-story tower that provides excellent city views.
Pleiku Market: Check out hill tribe textiles, a number of dried fruits, local wines, and a number of coffee varieties.
Phu Cuong Waterfall: Some 45 km from Pleiku, this impressive cascade makes a perfect day trip out of Pleiku with time to get back.
Hill Tribe Restaurants: Stop and try some local food. Grilled chicken with peanut sauce and sticky rice is perennially popular and hard to get tired of. Com Lam Ga Nuong Bazan serves this and is one of our favorites.

The Route

A short, straightforward ride from Kon Tum. Simply follow the AH17 south and arrive in the middle of Pleiku.

Coffee Heartland: Buon Ma Thuot

Buon Ma Thuot, the heart of Dak Lak Province, is Vietnam’s coffee capital. Here, sprawling plantations paint the entire landscape green. The city itself hums with Ede traders and the smell of roasting beans, while massive waterfalls like Dray Nur lie just outside for a taste of adventure. The Ho Chi Minh Road wanders through the plantations, continuing its journey. Buon Ma Thuot’s agriculture and natural beauty make it well worth a visit for anyone on two wheels.

Learn more about coffee in Vietnam in our deep dive into its history and status in the country.

Buon Ma Thuot Highlights:

World Coffee Museum: An interactive museum showcasing Vietnam’s coffee history, with both exhibits and tastings.
Trung Nguyen Coffee Village: A cultural hub with cafes and coffee-themed buildings. Somewhat cheesy but fun. Trung Nguyen is one of the largest producers of coffee in Vietnam.
Dray Nur and Dray Sap Waterfalls: Some 30 km from Buon Ma Thuot can be found Dray Nur waterfall, a 250-meter-wide cascade with smaller waterfalls like Dray Sap nearby. Complete with hiking trails and swimming holes, it’s a great day trip, especially during warm weather.
Thuy Thien Waterfall: Around 70 km from Buon Ma Thuot to the northeast is Thuy Thien waterfall, a wide, gently sloping cascade surrounded by jungle. Very natural and relaxing.
Ede Hill Tribe Culture: Stop at longhouses to check out weaving, rice wine ceremonies, and matriarchal traditions. Locals are friendly and welcoming.
Ako Dhong Village: An Ede settlement with preserved longhouses and cultural tours.
Yok Don National Park: Recently open to visitors, with (allegedly) some 100 wild elephants.

The Route

Continue south along the AH17 from Pleiku. Expect at least 3-4 hours for this 179 kilometer ride. Take plenty of time for stops along the way or plan day trips to locations like Yok Don National Park.

Ho Lak

Around 50 kilometers southeast of Buon Ma Thuot is the peaceful retreat of Ho Lak, surrounded by mountains and peaceful villages. Here, riders can chill out and take a breather from their trip. Restaurants dot the lake’s shores, with modest accommodation to be found if necessary.

Ho Lak is one of the stops on our epic, 16-day North to South Classic, going from Hanoi to Saigon.

Ho Lak Highlights:

Lak Lake Canoe Rides: Take a paddle in old-fashioned dugout canoes, great for sunset views before dinner.
Elephant Rides: Elephant rides are available in the area, for example at the Ho Lak tourist center. These are organized by the local community and help support the economy.
M’Nong Hill Tribes: Check out longhouses for gong music, elephant-taming traditions, and shared meals.
Lakeside Restaurants: Relax with coffee and local treats at lazy lakeside cafes and maybe take a nap in a hammock.
Bim Bip Waterfall: Just northeast of the lake is a relaxing waterfall at the end of a small road. There are no tickets to be purchased, so riders can visit anytime.
M’Nong Festivals: If you’re there in March, you’ll be in luck: Gong festivals and traditional performances are in store.

The Route

Follow Vo Nguyen Giap street out of Buon Ma Thuot, and turn south on QL27 when the roads intersect. Follow QL27 southeast towards the lake, taking a bit over an hour at 50 kilometers.

Southern Highlands: Dalat

As the crown jewel of Lam Dong Province and a romanticized version of the Central Highlands nationwide, Dalat is a cultural powerhouse. Its cool air, French colonial remnants, and enormous flower gardens make it like nowhere else in the country. At some 1,500 meters, it’s significantly cooler than nearby lowland areas, making an excellent escape from the heat. Riders have long appreciated Dalat’s winding roads, lush valleys, waterfalls, and forests.

We’ve written about Dalat and great routes around it before. Check out our Motorbike Routes in and around Dalat article for more details.

Dalat Highlights:

Pongour Waterfall: A dramatic, tiered cascade with a 40-meter drop. Great for photos and hikes.
Datanla Waterfall: You can take an alpine coaster to this waterfall, taking in the scenery with good old fashioned fun.
Weasel Coffee Farms: Check out the history and process of weasel coffee creation, all the way from plant growth to beans being plucked out of weasel (actually civet) poo.
Bao Dai Palace: Check out the last emperor’s summer retreat, complete with colonial buildings.
Pine Forest Rides: Weave through misty trails and catch spectacular viewpoints over valleys.
Crazy House: A funky, Gaudi-inspired architectural marvel that’s famous nationwide.
Truc Lam Monastery: A Zen retreat by Tuyen Lam Lake, which you can reach by cable car.
Dalat Night Market: Explore crafts by the local K’Ho people, local fruits and berries, and a bunch of local snacks.

The Route

From Ho Lak, follow QL27 south, which will loop around mountains before turning sharply northward and becoming the QL20. The QL20 will head straight into Dalat. Avoid the CT27 expressway due to tolls and speeding trucks. Expect to spend at least 5 hours on this 170 kilometer route.

Conclusion

Riders who make an effort to head inland to explore Vietnam’s Central Highlands will come away with a unique experience under their belt and a lot of fond memories. Rugged terrains, cultural experiences, and agricultural wonders are just the start of a Central Highlands adventure ride. Combine that with delicious food, natural wonders, and comfortable accommodations and you’ve got the ride of a lifetime. Our knowledgeable guides can turn an already-fun ride into a learning experience as well, introducing each region’s culture and history while making local interactions smooth.

Want to learn more about it? Curious how we run things? Give us a shout and we’ll get the ball rolling — and hopefully some wheels, too.