Đắk Lắk province

ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k LÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k () is a province in the Central Highlands region of Central Vietnam. It borders Gia Lai to the north, KhÃÂ¡nh HÃÂ²a to the east, LÃÂ¢m ÃÂÃ¡Â»Âng to the south, and Mondulkiri of Cambodia to the west. It is home to some indigenous ethnic minorities, such as the Rade, the Jarai and the Mnong, among others.

On June 12, 2025, the National Assembly passed Resolution No. 202/2025/QH15, which took effect the same day, merging PhÃÂº YÃÂªn Province into ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k LÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k Province.

Etymology

The name comes from the Mnong (a Mon-Khmer language) word dak Lak (, which sounds similar to "ÃÂÃÂ¡c LÃÂ¡c" in Vietnamese), literally "Lak Lake", referring to the largest freshwater lake in the province. The word dak means "water" or "lake", and is a cognate of the Vietnamese nÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Âc/nÃÂ¡c ("water"). The official spelling in Vietnamese is ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k LÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k, with the fact that the original Mnong word contains long "a" sounds rather than short "ÃÂ" sounds. Some other spellings such as Dak Lak, Daklak, ÃÂÃÂk LÃÂk, ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯c LÃ¡ÂºÂ¯c, and Darlac (in older French texts), among others, have also been used. The Daklak Guest House, for example, inconsistently uses Daklak and ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k LÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k. Linguist NguyÃ¡Â»Ân Minh HoÃ¡ÂºÂ¡t has argued that a sensible spelling would be Dak LÃÂk, based on the ground that lak means dermatophytosis in Rade (an unrelated language of the Austronesian family), whilst also citing the Mnong origin as the basis for the dak part of the spelling.

History

The area later known as ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k LÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k was originally controlled by the Kingdom of Champa. When Champa was conquered and annexed by Vietnam in the 15th century, ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k LÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k was brought under Vietnamese rule. Later, in 1540, a noble named BÃÂ¹i TÃÂ¡ HÃÂ¡n was appointed by the Vietnamese authorities to direct the settlement of the area by ethnic Vietnamese, bringing the highlands under more effective Vietnamese control. Military outposts were established in the area to guard against possible aggression from the west. Later, when Vietnam was occupied by the French, the French established plantations in the area. There is resistance to French rule in ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k LÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k, with minority tribes leading a number of rebellions, including a 23-year campaign led by NÃ¢ÂÂTrang LÃÂ¡ng, a MÃ¢ÂÂNÃÂ´ng tribal leader. Later, ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k LÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k was part of South Vietnam, and saw action in the Vietnam War.

Chronology of events

End of the 19th century: ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k LÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k belonged to Kon Tum, part of Vietnam
22 November 1904: ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k LÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k province was created and administered by Annam
9 February 1913: ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k LÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k province again part of Kon Tum
2 July 1923: a new ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k LÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k was formed. It only had villages.
1931: it consisted of 5 provinces: BuÃÂ´n Ma ThuÃ¡Â»Ât, BuÃÂ´n HÃ¡Â»Â, ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k Song, Lak, M'ÃÂrÃÂk
2 July 1958: ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k LÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k (Darlac) is composed of BuÃÂ´n Ma ThuÃ¡Â»Ât, LÃ¡ÂºÂ¡c ThiÃ¡Â»Ân, M'ÃÂrÃÂk, ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k Song, BuÃÂ´n HÃ¡Â»Â
23 January 1959: QuÃ¡ÂºÂ£ng ÃÂÃ¡Â»Â©c province was created with the separation of ÃÂÃÂk Song. Part of M'ÃÂrÃÂk district was added to KhÃÂ¡nh HÃÂ²a Province
20 December 1963: PhÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Âc An District was formed, with the capital at PhÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Âc TrÃ¡ÂºÂ¡ch, then later to ThuÃ¡ÂºÂn HiÃ¡ÂºÂ¿u on 1 September 1965.
1976: new ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k LÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k was formed from ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k LÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k and QuÃ¡ÂºÂ£ng ÃÂÃ¡Â»Â©c.
26 November 2003: ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k LÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k was dissolved again into ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k LÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k and ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k NÃÂ´ng.

Topography

ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k LÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k is based around the ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k LÃ¡ÂºÂ¯k Plateau, around six hundred metres above sea level. About 60km south of BuÃÂ´n Ma ThuÃ¡Â»Ât is Lak Lake. Overlooking the lake is the old summer residence of Emperor BÃ¡ÂºÂ£o ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i which has been renovated into a hotel. Surrounding the lake is Jun Village, home of the Jun people. The villagers use a form of fishing involving the attachment of metal rods to a car battery, running the rods through the water, stunning the fish, and then collecting them to keep in a tank at the village until they are needed.

Economy

Coffee, fruit, and rubber play a part in its economy. There have been efforts to harness the province's potential for hydroelectric generation. The Jun people take advantage of the tourist trade that passes through, giving elephant rides through the village and across the lake.

Transport

Air travel for the province is served by Buon Ma Thuot Airport and Tuy Hoa Airport which both provide direct daily domestic flights to Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City operated by Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, Pacific Airlines and Bamboo Airways.