Nestled in the mountains of Kon Plong (Kon Tum), Mang Den is increasingly known as an ideal destination for those who love nature and seek peace. Not as crowded as Da Lat or Sa Pa, Mang Den offers fresh air, pristine landscapes and a slow pace of life, very suitable for short trips. If you are planning to leave the city for a few days to "recharge your batteries", this guide will help you explore Mang Den in the most complete and easy way.
Detailed Mang Den travel guide from A-Z
Where is Mang Den? What's special?
Mang Den is located in Kon Plong town, Kon Tum province, in the North Central Highlands. With an altitude of more than 1,000 meters, the climate here is cool all year round, fog often appears in the early morning and late afternoon. This small town is famous for its vast terraced fields, natural lakes and streams and a slow pace of life. The quiet space, few tourists and not too commercialized are the reasons why Mang Den is increasingly popular, especially with those who love adventure travel or short vacations.
Mang Den is one of the prominent destinations among the trend of finding less commercialized areas in 2025.
What is the best month to go to Mang Den?
If you have the opportunity to go to Mang Den, you should choose from October to March of the following year. At that time, the weather is dry, cool, the sun is just warm enough and the sky is clear. However, if you love a romantic and somewhat magical space, you can choose to go to Mang Den in the rainy season - from May to August. Although the road is a bit more slippery, the fog, light rain and the smell of the forest soil after the rain bring a different experience, almost separate from the outside world. Each season has its own beauty, depending on your preferences, visitors can choose the right time.
Each season in Mang Den has its own beauty.
How to get to Mang Den
From Ho Chi Minh City, you can go to Mang Den by sleeper bus, travel time is about 12-13 hours. Some popular bus companies include Tan Anh, Minh Quoc, Phuong Thu, Phong Phu,... with ticket prices ranging from 400,000 to 550,000 VND/way, depending on the type of bus and time of booking.
If you want to shorten the time, you can fly to Pleiku airport (Gia Lai), then continue by taxi or shuttle bus about 100 km to Mang Den. The total time is about 3-4 hours, but the cost will be higher because it includes airfare and road fees. Tourists coming from the north will also travel this way.
How to get to Mang Den
Outstanding attractions in Mang Den
Statue of Our Lady of Mang Den
A familiar spiritual symbol of the highlands, the statue of Our Lady of Mang Den is located in the middle of a cool pine forest, attracting a large number of tourists and pilgrims. Many people choose to come here early in the morning to hunt clouds and welcome the sunrise in a quiet and sacred space.
Statue of Our Lady of Mang Den
Pa Sy Waterfall
Nestled in the primeval forest, Pa Sy waterfall pours down in a white blanket amidst a lush green landscape, cool all year round. This is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Mang Den, suitable for walking in the forest, taking photos or simply listening to the relaxing sound of flowing water.
Pa Sy Waterfall
Kon Tu Rang Village
Located on the mountainside, Kon Tu Rang village stands out with its suspension bridge over the stream and terraced fields winding along the hillside. During the flood season or the rice harvest season, the scenery here is picturesque, imbued with the character of the Kon Tum highlands.
Kon Tu Rang suspension bridge
Kon Pring Community Cultural Tourism Village
Kon Pring is one of the cultural villages that still preserves many traditional features of the Xo Dang people. Visitors can walk across a small suspension bridge in the middle of the forest, visit the communal house, interact with the locals and experience local cuisine.
Kon Pring Community Cultural Tourism Village
Dak Ke Lake
A calm lake in the heart of Mang Den town, surrounded by pine forests and cool climate. Dak Ke Lake is suitable for walking, cycling or camping on the shore, a gentle stop in the middle of the journey of discovery.
Dak Ke Lake
Mang Den Passageway
The road through the pine forest, tens of kilometers long, is a must-see check-in spot. In the early morning, the mist covers the treetops, creating a poetic and cinematic scene. This is also an ideal road for motorbike trips.
Mang Den Passageway
What to eat in Mang Den?
Grilled chicken with bamboo rice from Co Sinh
The restaurant's most famous dish is grilled chicken with bamboo rice. The chicken is raised naturally, marinated with wild spices and grilled over hot coals until the skin is crispy, served with bamboo-tube grilled rice and salt, pepper and lemon. In addition, the restaurant also has an equally impressive Mang Den roast pork dish. The restaurant has a rustic space, serving large groups.
Grilled chicken with bamboo rice from Co Sinh
Akay snakehead fish noodle soup
An ideal choice for breakfast in Mang Den. Noodles with soft and chewy noodles, braised snakehead fish with aromatic and rich flavor, served with sweet broth in a clay pot that stays warm for a long time. Akay chain has many branches in town, serving from early morning to evening.
Akay snakehead fish noodle soup
Good House Mushrooms
Specializing in mushroom dishes such as mushroom porridge, mushroom hotpot, stir-fried mushrooms, fresh ingredients, mostly grown locally. The restaurant is located in the town center, neat space, fast service, suitable for both families and small groups.
Good House Mushrooms
Mang Den Wind Restaurant
The restaurant is famous for its sturgeon hotpot and dishes made from fresh fish. The restaurant space is rustic and spacious, suitable for relaxing dinners in the chilly weather.
Mang Den Wind Restaurant
Where in Mang Den?
Some of the prominent places to stay in Mang Den such as Nang Homestay, Soc's House, Vuon Tra, T'Mang Deeng... all have a rustic style, close to nature, surrounded by pine forests and green gardens. Each place has a cozy, quiet space, suitable for tourists who want to relax, read books, enjoy tea or simply enjoy the typical peace of the Kon Plong plateau.
Nang Homestay
T'Mang Deeng
Soc's House
Suggested itinerary for Mang Den tour 2 days 1 night
Day 1:
- In the morning, after arriving, you can pick up your motorbike and have breakfast in the town center. Start your journey at the Mang Den Virgin Mary Statue, an ideal place to breathe fresh air. Next is the Mang Den pine road, a must-see check-in destination.
- From there, head to Dak Ke Lake, where you can stroll around the lake or rent a duck boat if you are in a group. Stop by a local restaurant for lunch, then take a break and enjoy a coffee at any cafe in town.
- In the afternoon, move to Kon Tu Rang village, where there is Kon Tu Rang suspension bridge over the river and the green Kon Tu Rang terraced fields, especially beautiful in the flooding season. If you like to exercise, you can experience SUP (sub) rowing on Dak Bla river, an activity recently loved by many tourists. End the day by watching the sunset at Mang Den market square, where many locals and tourists often gather at the end of the day.
Day 2:
- Get up early to hunt clouds and watch the sunrise near the Virgin Mary statue, which has a clear view of the valleys in the distance. Then, have a light breakfast and continue the journey to Pa Sy waterfall, one of the most beautiful and accessible waterfalls in Mang Den. The waterfall is located in a planned tourist area, easy to walk and has a communal house and wooden statues along the way.
- At the end of the day, you can visit Kon Pring community cultural tourism village to learn about the life of the indigenous people, walk across the Kon Pring village suspension bridge, admire the mountain scenery and take souvenir photos. This is a gentle and unique stop to end the trip.
Suggested itinerary to explore Mang Den for 2 days and 1 night
Tips and notes when traveling to Mang Den
- Mang Den weather is cool all year round, especially cold at night and early morning, so bring a jacket and scarf.
- You should rent a motorbike (manual transmission) to easily move between the attractions. Check the vehicle carefully because the mountain pass has many curves and slopes.
- When visiting spiritual sites or ethnic villages, please dress politely, keep order and do not litter.
Why should you visit Mang Den this year?
If you are looking for a place to temporarily escape the hustle and bustle of life, relax in the middle of nature without having to make too many plans, Mang Den is a very worthy choice this year. With a cool climate all year round, pristine landscape, few tourists and reasonable costs, this highland is especially suitable for short trips - whether alone, with friends or relatives.
Mang Den Tourism 2025
