DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN BUON MA THUOT – GATEWAY TO THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS
Morning:
• Arrival at Buon Ma Thuot Airport
• Welcome briefing and transfer to hotel
Afternoon:
• Visit the Ethnographic Museum of Dak Lak
– Explore artifacts of Ede, M’nong, and Jarai communities
• Short tour of Buon Ma Thuot city – the coffee capital of Vietnam
Evening:
• Welcome dinner with traditional Ede-style cuisine
• Orientation talk: “Highlands of Vietnam – A Cultural Crossroads”
Learning Focus:
Introduction to ethnic diversity, geography, and regional history.
DAY 2: INDIGENOUS CULTURE & AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
Morning:
• Visit a coffee plantation and processing center
– Learn about Vietnam’s coffee economy, global trade, and sustainable farming
• Engage with agroforestry specialists or cooperative leaders
Afternoon:
• Canoe trip on Lak Lake – Explore eco-biodiversity and visit M’nong villages
• Visit to Jun Village for a weaving or music demonstration
Evening:
• Homestay experience or cultural exchange with Ede or M’nong families
Learning Focus:
Traditional knowledge systems, agro-economy, and cultural preservation.
DAY 3: ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES IN YOK DON NATIONAL PARK
Morning to Afternoon:
• Full-day field trip to Yok Don National Park
– Forest trekking, birdwatching, and educational talk by park rangers
– Learn about elephant conservation and ecosystem restoration
Evening:
• Group debriefing and journaling
• Optional screening of a documentary on Vietnam’s environmental challenges
Learning Focus:
Forest ecosystems, species preservation, and conservation strategies in Southeast Asia.
DAY 4: TRANSFER TO KON TUM – HISTORY AND HUMANITARIAN STUDIES
Morning:
• Scenic transfer to Kon Tum via Pleiku (approx. 5 hours with breaks)
• Visit local tea or rubber plantations en route
Afternoon:
• Visit Kon Tum Wooden Church – Explore religious architecture blending with indigenous design
• Tour of Vinh Son Orphanage or a local ethnic boarding school
Evening:
• Dinner with opportunity to meet local educators or missionaries (optional)
Learning Focus:
Education access in rural areas, Christian missions, and war-era legacies in Central Vietnam.
DAY 5: VILLAGE IMMERSION & INDIGENOUS RIGHTS
Morning:
• Visit Bahnar and Sedang villages
– Learn about the rong house, community hierarchy, and storytelling traditions
Afternoon:
• Workshop on cultural preservation vs. modernization
– Engage with youth, teachers, or local NGOs working on language and culture revival
Evening:
• Reflection circle: “What does development mean in indigenous contexts?”
Learning Focus:
Indigenous identity, cultural rights, and grassroots empowerment.
DAY 6: RETURN AND WRAP-UP
Morning:
• Transfer to Pleiku or back to Buon Ma Thuot
• Visit Minh Thanh Pagoda or Sea Lake (T’Nung Lake) en route
Afternoon:
• Final wrap-up workshop: Group presentations or personal reflection journals
• Transfer to airport for departure.