Two days and one night in Mang Den - not too long but enough for four friends from Ho Chi Minh City to fully experience the wild and peaceful beauty of this land. Thi An (a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City) shared: "We have been friends since middle school, it has been a long time since we had a trip together. So this time the group decided to go to Mang Den regardless of the number of people, the important thing is to experience it together."
In spring, Mang Den is like a fresh natural picture with the immense green color of nature.
From Gia Lai to Mang Den - a memorable roadtrip
Departing from Saigon on a Friday night, the group arrived in Gia Lai at dawn. A short morning in Pleiku was enough to bring interesting experiences. They started the day with a light breakfast at a small vegetarian restaurant, then visited the Peaceful Day cafe - a place with a clear view of the fields and distant mountains. The quiet space and cool highland wind made the morning pass in relaxation.
The cafe has a clear view of the fields and distant mountains.
Minh Thanh Pagoda was the next stop, impressing with its Japanese and Korean-inspired architecture. Then, the group went to Bien Ho - the green gem of Pleiku. Under the early morning sunlight, the lake surface reflected sparkling rays of light like a strip of stars, and the pine forest by the lake also created a poetic scene. The feeling of being lost among the hundred-year-old pine trees, where all sounds seemed to quiet down, leaving only absolute peace, was an unforgettable moment.
Minh Thanh Pagoda - a famous pagoda in Pleiku
From Gia Lai, they continued their journey to Mang Den. Two hours on the road, not long but just enough to soak in the range of emotions. “We sat together in the car, listening to music, watching the surrounding scenery changing with each frame. This stretch of road was also quite beautiful because of the long stretches with steep slopes. With friendship trips like this, these moments were so lovely,” Thi An recounted.
100 year old pine trees
Pleiku Lake
Mang Den – A picture of nature full of emotions
At noon, the group checked in at Duka Homestay, a small, stylish accommodation that has been in operation for only a month. After lunch with grilled chicken and bamboo rice, the group began to explore Mang Den.
Lovely space at Duka Homestay
They chose the journey from far to near, starting from Kon Tu Rang suspension bridge. The road leading to the bridge had many potholes, but when they arrived, the poetic scenery spread out before their eyes. From the bridge, they could look down at the green terraced fields, the stream flowing through the rocks, and in the distance, a herd of goats lying on the rocks. At that time, the afternoon sun was gradually setting, the golden light seeping through each crevice of the mountain created a picture that was both majestic and peaceful. "Just step over the bridge, and all the noise behind will be left behind, leaving only the sound of the wind and the sound of the stream near and far," An said.
Suspension bridges are a characteristic feature of Mang Den.
After crossing the bridge, there are 37 households - where the local people live. When the sun sets, the group passes by, which is also the time when the people clean up their fields and return home. The simple stilt houses and the smoke from the kitchen in the sunset make this place have a simple and peaceful beauty. Because it got dark quickly, Thi An and her friends did not have time to visit Pa Sy waterfall or Khanh Lam pagoda, but they did not regret it, because every moment here was perfect.
A herd of goats leisurely lying on the rocks
Green space stretches out
Sunset in Mang Den
Mang Den Night – Warmth in the Cold Highlands
Mang Den at night is not as sad as many people think. The group of friends visited the night market - where the food stalls were brightly lit with yellow lights in the middle of the pine forest. They tried grilled milk tea, a unique dish with a strong herbal aroma, accompanied by hot chestnut cakes. A walk around the market to taste Khơ nia nut milk and typical fermented drinks, completed a fun evening.
The night market is brightly lit with yellow lights in the middle of the pine forest.
Enjoy roasted milk tea and chestnut cake
Returning to the homestay, they gathered on the porch, looking up at the starry sky. Thi An said: “The sky in Mang Den that night was so beautiful, the stars were as bright as in Phu Quy. We sat together, reminiscing about our childhood, asking about our current lives. Those moments made me feel that life was strangely lovely.”
The sky of Mang Den is so high, the stars are brighter and brighter as the night goes on. At night, the fog is thick, covering the whole sky. They just sat there together, quietly watching the stars rise and the fog fall, despite the cold of the plateau gradually penetrating deeper.
A complete journey
The next morning, the group got up early to go for a coffee and enjoy the scenery. The coffee shop is located along the mountainside, from here they can look down on the vast green fields and small rolling hills. After that, they had breakfast with A Kay snakehead fish noodle soup, then visited the statue of Our Lady of Mang Den. This place is famous for its sacredness, especially the statue of the Mother without two arms - an image that touches the emotions of many people. The words behind the statue "You are the extended arms of Mother" make this place even more meaningful.
Before leaving Mang Den, the group stopped by the welcome gate, a must-see check-in spot. Under the rustling pine trees, they took some souvenir photos before saying goodbye to this peaceful land.
Mang Den has red basalt dirt roads, golden sunlight on pine trees, and such fresh scenery that just standing still is enough to feel light-hearted.
The trip ended with two full days and one night in Mang Den, not too rushed, no need to visit many places, but importantly, enjoy every moment. “In Mang Den this March, the weather is cool and pleasant, not too cold, only cold in the morning and at night. People often say Mang Den is a miniature Da Lat, but it is not. Different in the air, the color of the sun, the smell of the wind, and Mang Den is Mang Den. Mang Den is neither happy nor sad, but a quiet peace in the middle of the highlands. It is a place with red basalt dirt roads, golden sunlight on the pine trees, and fresh scenes that just standing still is enough to feel light-hearted,” Thi An confided.
If they had more time, the group of friends planned to visit Kon Von Kle village, where the beauty of local culture is preserved. But even just a short trip to Mang Den, they felt fulfilled. Enough to know that sometimes happiness is simply sitting under the stars with close friends, laughing and cherishing the moments together.
