Spanning across Dak Nong, Dak Lak, Kon Tum, Gia Lai, and Lam Dong Provinces, Vietnam’s Central Highlands is home to hundreds of hidden travel gems, including Momray fishing village — the perfect place to discover the undisturbed beauty of one of the country’s isolated communities. 

Those familiar with Vietnam typically picture the Central Highlands as rolling mountains filled with coffee plantations extending from basalt red soil.

But to forget about the region’s role in Vietnam’s post-war economic recovery would be to discount the hundreds of families who relocated from the lowlands through government-sponsored programs aimed at tapping into the area’s rich resources. 

Those living along the hydroelectric lake on the Se San River form one example of such communities of new settlers.

In this case, the settlers founded a fishing village — known as Momray — where they earn their livelihoods.

Nowadays, only a few households still make a living off the lake. The rest have been relocated ashore in accordance with local government policies.

Most of the fishing families in Momray village resettled from the Mekong Delta province of An Giang, bringing the aquatic culture and characteristics of the lowlands up to the country’s highland plateau.

Nhan, a 30-year-old speedboat operator who ferry tourists to visit the fishing village, said he had worked in the southern province of Binh Phuoc before he found himself in Momray attempting to build a new life.

“When I first came here, the villagers told me I would not be able to live here for more than ten days because [life here] was boring, but I’ve been here for three years so far," Nhan shared.

"This place is not laden with resources and not as convenient as the city but it is very peaceful and has fresh air, so I’ve chosen not to leave."

Women in the fishing village typically wake up as early as at 2:00 am to go fishing, mostly for catfish and snakehead fish — the only species inhabiting the lake.

The men tend to begin their days at 5:00 am and spend their afternoons cleaning their catch and drying them in the sun. 

At 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm in the afternoon, after a sun-dried day, the fish are ready to be collected.

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