Travelers eager to get off the beaten track would be well advised to head for Vietnam's Central Highlands, a remote plateau near the border with Cambodia and Laos.

Along with old-growth forests and pristine rivers, waterfalls and hidden lakes, this region is home to some of the country's most isolated and culturally distinct ethnic minority peoples.

Me Thuot, the capital of Dak Lak province, is famous for its coffee plantations. In the surrounding hills, visitors can hike, ride elephants and tour various remote ethnic minority villages. The highland towns of Pleiku and Kon Turn are also gateways to minority villages and long houses. The Central Highlands allow visitors a rare glimpse into the traditional customs of many ancient tribal peoples.