The Chư Đăng Ya Volcano (Núi Lửa Chư Đăng Ya) is a spectacular natural and cultural landscape located approximately 30 kilometers northeast of Pleiku City in the Chư Păh District. This ancient, extinct volcano provides a rewarding trekking experience and a unique view into the agricultural heart of the Central Highlands.
Geological and Cultural Heritage
Chư Đăng Ya offers a rich blend of history, geology, and local culture.
Volcanic Past: The mountain is the remnant of a volcano that last erupted millions of years ago. This long geological history gifted the area with incredibly fertile, dark red basalt soil. The slopes clearly show the crater’s funnel shape, creating a dramatic, bowl-like appearance when viewed from above.
Jrai Language Significance: The name Chư Đăng Ya comes from the language of the indigenous Jrai ethnic group, and it translates to “wild ginger root,” highlighting the mountain’s wild nature and historical flora.
Year-Round Farming: The nutrient-rich basalt soil supports lush agriculture all year without extensive irrigation. Local Jrai residents cultivate various crops, including sweet potatoes, corn, and taro, in concentric patterns around the crater, which forms beautiful terraced fields that change color with the seasons.
Seasonal Beauty and the Wild Sunflower Festival
The mountain is known for its cyclical beauty, but one season draws the largest crowds.
The Golden Season (November to December): Chư Đăng Ya is most famous for the massive bloom of Hoa Dã Quỳ (Mexican sunflowers). In late October and November, the slopes explode with a brilliant golden-yellow carpet of these flowers, attracting thousands of photographers and tourists. This beautiful event inspired the annual Chư Đăng Ya Wild Sunflower Festival.
The Festival: The annual festival celebrates the flowers and the unique local culture. Visitors enjoy traditional activities, including sampling local cuisine like cơm lam (rice cooked in bamboo tubes) and grilled chicken, listening to traditional cồng chiêng (gong) performances, and viewing handicrafts like brocade weaving and carving.
Other Seasons: During the rainy season (May to October), the mountain wears a lush green cloak of crops, and later in the year, the bright pink of wild grass often covers the hillsides, demonstrating the mountain’s continuous, shifting beauty.
Practical Visitor Information
Since Chư Đăng Ya is located outside the city center, planning your trip is important.
Getting There: You can easily reach the volcano from Pleiku City, usually by hiring a motorbike taxi, car, or joining a guided tour. The journey itself offers scenic views through coffee and tea plantations.
Access and Fees: There is typically no formal entrance fee to the volcano itself; however, local residents may charge a small parking fee. During the Wild Sunflower Festival, organizers manage the site, and there may be specific event fees or regulated parking.
The Hike: The climb to the volcano’s rim is generally considered moderate and takes about 15 to 30 minutes, depending on your pace. Once at the top, you gain breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding Central Highlands landscape and the crater itself.
Local Engagement: Visitors should remember that the slopes are active farmlands for the local Jrai community in Ploi Lagri village. Therefore, visitors should respect the crops and the privacy of the villagers.
