Pleiku is
a town with a large ethnic minority. Pleiku marks the junction of roads
leading to Kontum, Buon Ma Thuot and Qui Nhon. This town was almost
totally destroyed during the Vietnam war as it was home to an American
base. If you intend being here during the monsoon season, you should
know that Pleiku boasts the highest rainfall in the Central Highlands. 
Jarai and Bahnar Tribes.
The one
thing worth seeing in Pleiku is the Jarai and Bahnar tribes that live
close by. The Jarai guild houses on stilts with a small hut out the
front to keep their rice. The Bahnar also build their houses off the
ground on stilts and have large balconies to work on. They have a
community building called a Rong House where the elders meet for
ceremonies and festivals. Inside they keep gongs, wine, drums and all
the precious ceremonial artefacts. Shaman also use this large building
for spiritual rituals such as the ‘prayer for rain’. The Rong House can
only be entered by men.
The tombs
of the tribes are also very interesting. They set up little thatch
wooden huts over the tomb upon which they put the possessions of the
deceased. Around the tomb there are four wooden pillars. On top are
wooden carvings of men or monkeys that are guards to protect the body of
the dead. The ceremony is very expensive so if the family of the
deceased cannot afford it, the funeral party is held up to three years
later.
The entire
village population spends three days at the burial sight where a water
buffalo is ceremonially sacrificed and subsequently used to feed the
village. The head of the water buffalo is cut off and hung on the tomb,
and the four hooves are cut off and placed on the four corners of the
grave.
Yaly Waterfall
There is a waterfall that you can visit 15
km north of Peiku towards Kontum. You will come across a large junction
in the road where you make a left turn and continue to the end of the
road.
