The Central Highlands area of Viet Nam:
Dak Mil, Buon Ma Thuot and Pleiku
along Highway 14
The photos below were taken in July 2006 on the Photographer's road trip from Saigon (Ho Chi MInh City) to Pleiku, along Highway 14.  The trip involved shared vans and motor coaches that ply the highways - "milk runs."  The bus carried about 47 people along with bags of produce, luggage, machinery, bicycles and other staple goods. Place your cursor on the photos for a description and click to enlarge. All photos copyright (c) Thomas Hutchings 2006.
I woke up to this scene at a villager's home in Dak Mil, Dac Lac Province
The villager's pond for growing fish. Typical scenery of Viet Nam's countryside.
Dray Sap Falls, 25 kilometers south of Buon Ma Thuot.  Red dirt colors the waters.
Another section of Dray Sap Falls, Buon Ma Thuot area, Central Highlands
Lunch: Rice, tofu, sweet potato flowers, fish, avocadoes, fruit and, of course, 333 Brand Beer, at the Catholic Church
Breakfast was rice, bananas, greens, tofu, pork for the meat eaters, and hot green tea
Waxing moon between two coconut palms in Buon Ma Thuot
Over a pond, behind St. Francis Church in Buon Ma Thuot, a 2-room school house sits, awaiting students.
View of Hwy 14 from behind the driver's seat
Brief stop for iced-milk coffee at a roadside restaurant between Buon Ma Thuot and Pleiku.  60 kilometers on a Honda 100cc is a long way to go. The 14 year old server is on break from school and spoke English.
A funeral procession travels along Highway 14
Moving around a funeral procession on Highway 14, enroute to Pleiku
A new Buddhist pagoda, Chinese style, is being built in Pleiku.  This tower, once completed, will be the tallest in Southeast Asia.
Dragon corner piece at the new Chinese-motif Buddhist pagoda in Pleiku Detailed dragon corner piece of new pagoda in Pleiku.
Chinese style pagoda still under construction in Pleiku
Montagnard women pick tea on a plantation near the mountains outside of Pleiku.
A pond, with the Buddha as a centerpiece, provides for quiet and serenity.
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All photos and text are copyright (c) Thomas Hutchings 2004-2009
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