Stop at a house by Ea Cuôr Kăp lake in Đăk Lăk

The entrance is like a maze.

Ea Cuôr Kăp Lake is located just south of Buôn Ma Thuột Airport, about 2 km as the crow flies. However, the road route requires a detour, following National Highway 27 towards Lăk for a considerable distance before turning off at the road leading to Hamlet 9, Eatul Commune. From the airport gate on National Highway 27 to Nhà Bên Hồ (House by the Lake) is about 10 km.

National Highway 27, on the outskirts of Buon Ma Thuot, is bordered by lush green forests. Turning off the highway into Hamlet 9, Eatul Commune, an unnamed, winding road continues through rubber plantations, leading to the residential area of ​​Hamlet 9, where we encounter a maze of small concrete roads interwoven like a chessboard. There were no specific house numbers or street names, so we had to rely on Google Maps for directions after the homeowner provided us with the coordinates.

The gate of the House by the Lake is incredibly simple, and the fence is even simpler than it could possibly be. But it turns out that this was intentional on the part of the homeowner, because hidden behind the gate and fence is a fascinating secret. More than just a garden, it's a tranquil, verdant haven.

The owner of Lakeside House, a well-traveled individual with extensive experience both domestically and internationally, and possessing a talent for garden design and decoration, wanted to create a relaxing retreat with a clean and green environment where guests could recharge before returning to the hustle and bustle of life.

"A secret haven of tranquility" behind the white boundary wall.

The owner of Lakeside House describes herself as a "picky" person, wanting to create an airy space by the lake, so the built area occupies a relatively small proportion.

The total area of ​​the land is approximately 1,000 m².²Along the lake's edge, only two small houses were built: a single-story tiled-roof house; and a two-story wooden house right at the lake's edge, with the ground floor serving as a communal living space, surrounded on all sides by the breeze from Ea Cuôr Kăp Lake.

The lake's edge extends across the entire width of the back of the property, and a wooden deck has been built like a pier, serving for water activities such as SUP paddling and swimming.

The entire remaining spacious area is covered with trees, lawns, and lush green vegetable beds, along with a Koi pond running parallel to the tiled-roof house.

In the middle of the garden stood a rather large avocado tree. The homeowner built a hexagonal wooden platform around the base of the tree, creating a perfect spot for afternoon naps, accompanied by the soothing sound of wind chimes hanging from the branches.

Every evening, sitting on the balcony of the wooden house, sipping a can of beer, and watching the hazy purple lake as the last rays of sunlight fade, I truly appreciate the peace and tranquility of this place.

What is there to do here?

Although the owner of Lakeside House describes herself as "demanding," she is very willing to "come up with ideas" for guests to have fun and relax. She frequently decorates the entire garden according to the spirit of each season: Springtime togetherness, Endless summer, etc.

The Lakeside House has only three bedrooms in total, but it can accommodate up to eight adults and four children, as it also has tents on the lawn – for those who want to gaze at the stars or the sky before falling asleep.

In each bedroom's wardrobe, in addition to the guest's clothing compartment, the owner of Nha Ben Ho has also designed a separate section filled with various dresses, ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress), evening gowns, and costumes for dressing up as princesses or country girls... in many sizes and free of charge, for female guests who want to add a unique touch when checking in by the lake.

In addition to a wide variety of "props" for recreational activities on the shore, Lakeside House also provides equipment for water activities such as SUPs, various types of floats, etc.

The hostess shared her philosophy: "The food may not be much, but it must be delicious." Therefore, despite being a homestay, Nha Ben Ho provides a full breakfast and afternoon tea (free of charge) for guests. For main meals, you can prepare them yourself or ask the homestay to order them from reliable suppliers that guarantee delicious, clean, and safe food.

The homestay owner herself is also a great cook. One day, it suddenly rained in Buon Ma Thuot, and since she happened to have some free time and was in a good mood, she personally cooked and treated us to a free meal. The food was beautifully presented - and of course, very delicious, using ingredients famous in the area.

The garden is covered in butterflies this season.

March and April are beautiful months in the Central Highlands – the season of golden butterflies. The House by Ea Cuôr Kăp Lake is no exception.

Throughout the year, the yellow butterflies hide among the leaves and crevices of trees. Only at the end of the dry season, when the seasons are about to change, do they swarm out of their cocoons to breathe the free air. Therefore, the yellow butterfly season in the Central Highlands only happens once a year, lasting for a short period in April.

This type of butterfly usually forms its cocoon on acacia trees – which are widely planted in the Central Highlands. The House by the Lake doesn't have acacia trees, but the owners have planted hydrangea bushes all along the path from the lake to the entrance gate. The butterflies follow these flower clusters, fluttering throughout the garden. As a result, the homestay still has plenty of butterflies to admire and photograph, without the nucifera caterpillars crawling all over the house, which can be a nuisance to many visitors.

Butterflies fluttered golden on the flowerbeds and bushes that the owner had planted throughout the garden. Whenever someone passed by, they would fly around wildly – ​​becoming a source of amusement for Kem and Ni, the two little princesses of this garden (whom readers may recall meeting when they first met them).climbing Chu Nam mountain(in Gia Lai in which year?)

More information about Nha Ben Ho homestay

- Address: Village 9, Eatul Commune, Cu Kuin District, Dak Lak Province

- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/nhabenhoBMT

- Contact phone number: 0367577297

- Number of bedrooms: 3

- Maximum number of guests: 8 adults, 4 children

- Rental price: 6 million VND per day for the entire area; includes: breakfast, afternoon tea, SUP paddling, a plastic swimming pool for children in the lawn, and costumes for female guests to wear for souvenir photos. If there are 8 adults, there will be tents for 2 people on the lawn or wooden deck by the lake, with an additional charge of 500,000 VND/2 people. Outdoor movie screening with drinks in the evening is also available upon request.

- If there are few people and you want to rent individual rooms, please contact the homeowner directly to make arrangements.

Text and photos: Nam Hoa