The town of Măng Đen is likened to a dreamy land sleeping between the great mountains. The mountainous terrain surrounds it, Măng Đen is cool and pleasant throughout the year. It is also because of this that Măng Đen is likened to the second Đà Lạt of the Central Highlands. However, to me, Măng Đen has never been a version of Đà Lạt. Măng Đen will forever be a dreamy town, and even more so.
Măng Đen in the locals' language
Not noisy, nor bustling, Măng Đen has a very poetic space for travelers to immerse themselves in the space and live at a slower pace. I chose to visit Măng Đen at the beginning of July for my family's summer vacation, when the weather here was in the middle of summer. I was informed beforehand that summer is the rainy season, so tourists often have difficulty traveling to many places, and the scenery will be quite gloomy.
However, my family had a very special experience here when we were able to admire the town under the morning sun, with the vast and majestic scenery of the mountains and forests, and when the evening shadows were slowly descending. The poetic and simple scenery with the misty veil covering the entire town and a light rain shower. Whether it's raining or sunny, Măng Đen still has a pure and natural beauty, thanks to the wild and pristine nature.
Măng Đen has many tourist attractions and scenic spots for visitors, such as: Pa Sỹ Waterfall, Đăk Ke Waterfall, Toong Đam Lake, pine forest, Kon Pring community-based tourism village, farm, or ancient Khánh Lâm Pagoda... Everywhere is filled with greenery amidst the vast great mountains. What really attracted me when I came here was the towering mountains that stretched one after another without stopping. The watercolor painting of the mountains and clouds, or the shimmering mist that poured down when the sun's rays peeked through, is truly breathtaking.
The moment we sat together drinking a hot cup of cocoa, admiring the new day, the misty clouds gave way to a clear blue sky, and the mountains and rivers gradually appeared before our eyes, was a truly valuable experience. That moment was etched into my mind - a traveler who was captivated by the beauty of the scenery, knowing that no camera or camera could capture it all. The eyes see, the ears listen, the nose inhales the fresh mountain air, the skin feels the gentle breeze, the hair is tousled...
Back to nature
To feel nature more clearly through touch, I let my child experience visiting a farm. My child was able to pick fresh, juicy tomatoes from the trellis, choose green, red, and yellow bell peppers, or pick the most beautiful dưa gang. This was truly a wonderful experience of returning to nature for families with young children like us. The child also understood the process of growing crops to produce fruit for farmers, and therefore appreciated and cherished the good values even more.
As the sun set, we moved to the grass field in the 37 household area for my child to explore and play, as well as to admire the sunset together. What made our family even more delighted was that this place had a vast, emerald-green grass field. The child laughed and called out the names of the "friends" who were taller than themselves, swaying in the wind. I secretly hoped that the child would gradually understand that humans can grow bigger than tiny creatures, but are truly small compared to the vast nature. The moment the child smiled and ran along the path, looking up at the tall grass, or happily picked a long blade of grass and let it droop down, I felt a sense of nostalgia for my own childhood and my friends playing tag, flying kites, and catching butterflies. Măng Đen was like a place that added color to the child's childhood, a child from the city who had the opportunity to touch nature a little, and experience simple and peaceful moments that modern life has inadvertently taken away.
After spending time playing with my child on the grass field, the most wonderful experience for me was staying at a homestay in the 37 household area. A small, cozy house opened up a peaceful space, and time passed slowly and smoothly, like a refreshing breeze that travelers like us were unaware of.
My family was able to live in a space with only the sounds of insects chirping, occasionally the distant calls of frogs, the wind rustling through the trees, or the sound of water dripping through the rocks. What was even more special was the starry sky that appeared before our eyes in the evening darkness. What could be more wonderful than waking up after a long night, admiring the clouds drifting by, watching the sun peeking out from behind the mountain crevices, hearing the roosters clucking as they forage for food, or the birds chirping to greet the new day, and being enveloped by the gentle breeze?
Time passed, and the children grew up and became adults. Modern life changed and evolved, and unintentionally, the younger generations drifted away from the simple values that nature had given them. The images of my childhood came flooding back to me with countless emotions during my trip to Măng Đen. My family was truly "bathed" in peace, and replenished with fresh energy and a sense of calm when we visited the dreamy town in the Central Highlands. In that place, I believe that any traveler will feel a sense of simple happiness, and find a moment of tranquility for their mind when living close to nature.
