The Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, one of the localities withthe greatest potential for developing community-based and culturaltourism, has intensified investment in the field.

Dak Lak is famous for its many attractive sites, such as Lak Lake, BimBip Waterfall, Nam Ka Forest, Cu Yang Sin National Park, Buon Tua SarHydroelectric dam and Ba Tang military base.

Lak Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in the province andthe second largest in Vietnam after Ba Be Lake. It is surrounded by highmountains covered with primeval forests. Jun, a famous village of theM'nong people, lies by the side of the lake, as do distinct historicalarchitectural works like the palace of King Bao Dai and long houses ofthe M'nong people.

The lake retains theunique and characteristic cultural values of M'Nong and Ede people. Fromthe Lak Lake tourist site, tourists can reach Jun village and stay atlong houses or visit the palace.

During a recent conferencediscussing tourism development in the locality, participants stressedthat Dak Lak must speed up its community-based tourism model, whilepaying attention to preserving natural landscapes as well as historicaland cultural relic sites.

They also urged the local authoritiesto examine the organisation of cultural events, while diversifyingproducts and services, and forging links between Dak Lak and otherregional localities such as Gia Lai and Lam Dong to thoroughly exploitregional cultural values and beauty, thus attracting more holiday-makersto the locality.

In February this year, Dak Lak welcomed 40,000visitors, an increase of 1.33 percent compared to the same period lastyear. Of them, 4,000 were foreigners, up 1.14 percent.-VNA