Gia Lai

Pleiku is the capital of Gia Lai Province and the main urban centre of Vietnam's Central Highlands, built on cool basalt highlands around 700–800 metres above sea level. The city combines a compact provincial core with the strong cultural presence of the Jrai and Bahnar peoples, who have shaped the region's identity for generations.

The city's wartime past remains part of its story: the February 1965 attack on Camp Holloway near Pleiku played a key role in the escalation of the Vietnam War. Today that history is reflected in memorials and museums, while the Pleiku Museum and its antiquities collection preserve the crafts and daily life of the Jrai and Bahnar communities.

Pleiku's natural landmarks are distinctive. T'Nung Lake, also called Biển Hồ or Sea Lake, is a volcanic crater lake about 7 km from the centre and is often described as the eyes of Pleiku. The Chư Đăng Ya volcano rises about 30 km northeast and turns golden with wild sunflowers in November, while Hàm Rồng Mountain, an extinct volcano, offers views over the city. Minh Thành Pagoda stands out for its distinctive Japanese- and Chinese-influenced architecture, and Great Unity Square is a central gathering place.

Central wards such as Hội Thương, Tây Sơn, Yên Đỗ and Hoa Lư hold most hotels, restaurants and shops. Coffee, rubber and pepper farming anchor the local economy, and Pleiku is the transport hub where National Highways 14 and 19 meet. The food scene includes crab noodle soup with bamboo shoots, dry pho, sun-dried beef and the Central Highlands coffee served in simple local cafés.

Leisure travellers come for the cool air, volcanic landscapes, ethnic culture and the wild sunflower season, while business travellers value Pleiku's role as a coffee and logistics gateway for the Central Highlands, with Pleiku Airport connecting the city to major Vietnamese hubs.