Kon Ka Kinh, the highest peak in Gia Lai province, lies within Kon Ka Kinh National Park, one of two core zones of the Kon Hà Nừng World Biosphere Reserve. The park holds dual recognition as both a World Biosphere Reserve and an ASEAN Heritage Park, highlighting its global ecological significance.
The area is home to diverse and rare ecosystems, including clusters of ancient banyan trees recognised as Vietnam Heritage Trees and thousands of century-old Fokienia trees at elevations above 1,400 metres. Scientists have identified the park as a priority site for biodiversity conservation, given its rich concentration of endemic flora and fauna.
Improved trekking routes, developed by park authorities and tour operators, have made the area increasingly accessible. While Kon Ka Kinh attracts adventure seekers, the nearby Kon Chư Răng Nature Reserve offers a contrasting landscape defined by waterfalls and dense forest ecosystems.
At the centre of Kon Chư Răng lies the K50 Waterfall, also known as Hang Én Waterfall, ranked among Vietnam’s most beautiful waterfalls and selected as a tourism symbol for the P4G Summit in April 2025.
The reserve also serves as a repository of medicinal plants, with local guides introducing visitors to traditional harvesting practices. Community-based tourism experiences, including cultural exchanges and forest-based activities, have become a key draw for both domestic and international travellers.
Foreign visitors have highlighted the area’s pristine environment and cultural authenticity. Travellers from France and Poland cited the preserved forests, local storytelling, and traditional cuisine as defining elements of their experience.
Authorities are now positioning Kon Hà Nừng as a central pillar in Gia Lai’s tourism strategy. Provincial leaders have emphasised its dual role as both a local asset and a global ecological treasure, with ambitions to develop it into an internationally recognised ecotourism brand linked to biodiversity conservation.
The Gia Lai Tourism Association has identified ecotourism as a strategic product for the National Tourism Year - Gia Lai 2026. Efforts are underway to integrate natural landscapes, forest ecosystems and cultural heritage into sustainable tourism offerings aimed at enhancing the province’s competitiveness.
