Pongour Waterfall: Vietnam's Central Highland Travel Guide

Pongour Waterfall is located 1 hour by road to the south west of Dalat city in Vietnam ‘s Central Highland, and is considered by many to be the most beautiful waterfall in a region with a great many waterfalls. The Waterfall is located on the Da Nhim River. Up stream from the falls are two hydro-electric plants which control the flow of water, which can reduce to a trickle in the dry season. The low volume of water flow is one of the features of this waterfall. The falls themselves are 100 metres wide and 40 metres high, ascending in stages, and clearly the product of thousands of years of a much heavy flow of water.

• Location: Phu Hoi Commune, Duc Trong District, Lam Dong Province
• Opening hours: 08:00 to 17:00 everyday
• Entrance fee: 20,000 VND

History and Legend Story of Pongour Waterfall in Dalat:

According to the legend, in the old time, Phu Hoi – Tan Hoi – Tan Thanh commune now was managed by a beautiful woman named Kanai (a head of a Kho tribe). She was very good at conquering dangerous animals. Among those, there were four big rhinoceros which always obeyed her commands; to change waste land to cultivate and to fight against enemies. Suddenly, one spring, she was dead on the full- moon day of the first month. That made the four rhinoceros very sad, they didn’t eat any thing just sit by their boss until they died.

Then, one morning, native people here saw that the place where she was born had a splendid waterfall. They told that Kanai hair turned into the water and rhinoceros horns turned into fossil stones to be arranged into order. It symbolized the attachment of human and nature.

What is the Best Activities to Do in Pongour Falls in Dalat?

Every year, on the occasion of mid-January festivity (Lunar month), thousands of people come to the place to enjoy festivities and the atmosphere of spring. This is also an occasion for young boys and girls to date each other.

• Enjoy Beautiful Sightseeing:

The waterfall, the main event of it all, gushes from 40 meters high and spans over a hundred meters wide. The stream falls below over seven stages of rocks, just like a nymph coming down the stairs. The scenery at the fall is mesmerizing in its sheer power while maintaining a zen feeling simultaneously, which French explorers stated to be the most majestic waterfall over the Indochine. Looking at the torrents from above segregated by cascades of rocks, one may feel looking at hundreds of streams simultaneously. The photography here ensures that travelers can bring home hundreds of unique photos that cannot be found anywhere else.

• Participate in K'Ho Festival:

Participate in K'Ho festival occurring on 15th, Lunar calendar first month at Pongour Waterfall, Dalat,  is an annual festival to commemorate the chieftain, Kanai. If you happen to visit Pongour Waterfall at this time, do not miss this unique activity. You will get to know about K'Ho cultural dance, games, songs and cuisines, etc.

• Go for Fishing Activities:

Besides admiring the natural beauty of Pongour Waterfall, you can also enjoy sitting by a stream, dropping your line, and catching fish. If you are a skillful fisherman, you may have a complete meal after that with grilled fish.

• Canyoning in the Falls:

This is the best way to fully admire the beauty of Pongour Waterfall and other waterfalls around there. All you need is a bit of courage. Professionals will guide you to ensure safety. A canyoning tour ranges from 1,700,000 VND/person ($75), booked at local agents. With food, you will not find many options at Pongour Waterfall. They primarily serve snacks and tiny meals like grilled meat skewers, grilled eggs, etc. If you plan to spend a day at the waterfall, don't forget to carry on some food, soft drink, fruits, etc.

When is the best time to visit Pongour Waterfall, Dalat?

Pongour Waterfall has flowing water all year round but the amount is different between seasons. The rainy season is expected to begin in the middle of April and end in September. In this period, the waterfall stands out with its full beauty. However, you might get disadvantages when participating in extra activities.

The dry season usually starts in December and ends in March. At this time, Pongour Waterfall presents with a gentle and romantic charm. The stream flows slowly, combining with beautiful sunshine sparkling on the water's surface. This is also the best time for experiencing activities.

Pongour is also the only waterfall having its festival, which occurs on the 15th of the Lunar first month (usually in February in the Gregorian calendar). So if you want to experience Vietnam's ethnic festival, do arrange to visit at this time.

The weather at Pongour Waterfall is a lot similar to Dalat's center. Therefore, you should prepare suitable clothes for the temperature drop at night.

How to Get to Pongour Waterfall in Dalat, Lam Dong?

Pongour Waterfall does not get as many visitors as other waterfalls closer to Dalat such as Elephant falls. The majority of the visitors who go to Pangour Waterfalls are Vietnamese tourists stopping off on route to or from Dalat. The turning to the falls is located on the main highway between Ho Chi Minh City and Dalat and if you are touring the country in own car or motorbike then you should also take the time to visit. Most foreign visitors, however, will be based in Dalat which is the regional capital and the location of the nearest airport and long distance bus station. There are four ways to travel from Dalat to Pangour Waterfall:

• Rent a motorbike: This is a cheap option, bike rental costs 100,000 200,000 a day depending upon what type of bike you rent. However, do please bear in mind that there are dangers involved in driving your own motorbike, including being stopped by the police if you don’t have the right paperwork.
• Take a Bus: From Khu Hoa Binh Bus Station in Dalat you can take a public bus to Bao Lac, which passes by the turning to Pangour Waterfall. The bus ticket will cost around 20,000 VND one-way. The problem with this very cheap option is that the bus will drop you 6 km from the entrance to the waterfall. Local motorbike taxi drivers demand a massive fee (typically 100,000 VND) for taking stranded foreign visitors for the last 6 km of their journey.
• Take an organised tour: You will be charged around 700,000 VND for the pleasure of being taken to the falls in a shared minivan, along with a stop at some of the other local tourist attractions.
• Hire a car and driver: This is the most comfortable option, but also the most expensive, costing around 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 VND.

Adventure Journey

See Also:

• Dalat Vietnam Travel Guide - Things You Need to Know
• Best Things to Do and Places to Visit in Da Lat Vietnam