Đắk Lắk () is a province in the South Central Coast and Central Highlands region of Vietnam. It borders Gia Lai to the north, East Sea to the east, Khánh Hòa to the southeast, Lâm Đồng to the south and Mondulkiri province 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 Phú Yên province into Đắk Lắk Province.

Etymology The name comes from the Mnong (a Mon-Khmer language) word dak Lak (, which sounds similar to "Đác Lác" 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 nước/nác ("water"). The official spelling in Vietnamese is Đắk Lắk, with the fact that the original Mnong word contains long "a" sounds rather than short "ă" sounds. Some other spellings such as Dak Lak, Daklak, Đăk Lăk, Đắc Lắc, and Darlac (in older French texts), among others, have also been used. The Daklak Guest House, for example, inconsistently uses Daklak and Đắk Lắk.Photos of the Daklak Guest House Linguist Nguyễn Minh Hoạt has argued that a sensible spelling would be Dak Lăk, 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 Đắk Lắk was originally controlled by the Kingdom of Champa. When Champa was conquered and annexed by Vietnam in the 15th century, Đắk Lắk was brought under Vietnamese rule. Later, in 1540, a noble named 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 Đắk Lắk, with minority tribes leading a number of rebellions, including a 23-year campaign led by N’Trang Lơng, a M’Nông tribal leader. Later, Đắk Lắk was part of South Vietnam, and saw action in the Vietnam War.

Chronology of events End of the 19th century: Đắk Lắk belonged to Kon Tum, part of Vietnam 22 November 1904: Đắk Lắk province was created and administered by Annam 9 February 1913: Đắk Lắk province again part of Kon Tum 2 July 1923: a new Đắk Lắk was formed. It only had villages. 1931: it consisted of 5 provinces: Buôn Ma Thuột, Buôn Hồ, Đắk Song, Lak, M'Đrăk 2 July 1958: Đắk Lắk (Darlac) is composed of Buôn Ma Thuột, Lạc Thiện, M'Đrăk, Đắk Song, Buôn Hồ 23 January 1959: Quảng Đức province was created with the separation of Đăk Song. Part of M'Đrăk district was added to Khánh Hòa Province 20 December 1963: Phước An District was formed, with the capital at Phước Trạch, then later to Thuận Hiếu on 1 September 1965. 1976: new Đắk Lắk was formed from Đắk Lắk and Quảng Đức. 26 November 2003: Đắk Lắk was dissolved again into Đắk Lắk and Đắk Nông.

Topography Đắk Lắk is based around the Đắk Lắk Plateau, around six hundred metres above sea level. About 60 km south of Buôn Ma Thuột is Lak Lake. Overlooking the lake is the old summer residence of Emperor Bảo Đại 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.

Administrative divisions + List of wards and communes in Đắk Lắk province name land area population Bình Kiến (ward) 73.71 44,406 Buôn Hồ (ward) 66.54 62,780 Buôn Ma Thuột (ward) 71.99 169,596 Cư Bao (ward) 104.94 36,911 Đông Hòa (ward) 77.54 47,632 Ea Kao (ward) 60.70 57,070 Hòa Hiệp (ward) 40.81 53,597 Phú Yên (ward) 44.04 61,799 Sông Cầu (ward) 90.49 38,891 Tân An (ward) 56.41 64,122 Tân Lập (ward) 46.70 73,316 Thành Nhất (ward) 32.22 52,466 Tuy Hòa (ward) 33.77 126,118 Xuân Đài (ward) 13.40 21,574 Buôn Đôn 1,113.79 6,582 Cuôr Đăng 102.84 28,804 Cư M’gar 114.98 32,368 Cư M’ta 261.06 13,592 Cư Pơng 137.81 17,687 Cư Prao 204.89 13,765 Cư Pui 314.08 27,561 Cư Yang 149.43 16,682 Dang Kang 105.91 21,301 Dliê Ya 179.73 46,569 Dray Bhăng 101.37 39,801 Dur Kmăl 114.49 12,594 Đắk Liêng 135.55 22,881 Đắk Phơi 266.83 14,726 Đồng Xuân 206.26 26,907 Đức Bình 160.36 15,896 Ea Bá 131.79 8,316 Ea Bung 390.08 9,677 Ea Drăng 171.34 54,475 Ea Drông 111.13 23,951 name land area population Ea Hiao 361.69 30,796 Ea H’leo 340.06 16,235 Ea Kar 198.67 87,972 Ea Khăl 247.05 29,956 Ea Kiết 201.83 20,177 Ea Kly 107.63 40,161 Ea Knốp 448.65 37,016 Ea Knuếc 122.39 43,748 Ea Ktur 100.72 54,269 Ea Ly 140.35 12,104 Ea M’Droh 134 33,268 Ea Na 134.18 42,164 Ea Ning 86.21 34,175 Ea Nuôl 111.74 43,706 Ea Ô 137.73 23,852 Ea Păl 102.52 15,049 Ea Phê 84.66 48,605 Ea Riêng 167.56 15,719 Ea Rốk 544.60 28,785 Ea Súp 418.72 30,762 Ea Trang 207.40 6,585 Ea Tul 159.51 34,876 Ea Wer 184.61 29,708 Ea Wy 213.94 28,567 Hòa Mỹ 190.14 26,530 Hòa Phú 109.07 48,822 Hòa Sơn 108.55 25,392 Hòa Thịnh 159.23 30,602 Hòa Xuân 129.33 22,962 Ia Lốp 194.09 6,502 Ia Rvê 217.83 6,847 Krông Á 291.60 12,900 Krông Ana 107.23 48,491 Krông Bông 166.03 23,168 name land area population Krông Búk 134.83 30,822 Krông Năng 98.34 43,678 Krông Nô 282.01 10,301 Krông Pắc 112.52 68,682 Liên Sơn Lắk 398.82 26,772 M’Drắk 151.87 22,808 Nam Ka 172.86 6,424 Ô Loan 103.48 40,278 Phú Hòa 1 142.54 54,212 Phú Hòa 2 95.78 38,691 Phú Mỡ 547.20 9,007 Phú Xuân 140.74 34,836 Pơng Drang 85.03 30,208 Quảng Phú 111.34 61,104 Sông Hinh 460.13 23,841 Sơn Hòa 267.39 40,825 Sơn Thành 218.11 27,838 Suối Trai 186.95 11,387 Tam Giang 195.80 25,470 Tân Tiến 89.43 28,767 Tây Hòa 55.14 49,720 Tây Sơn 334.62 11,052 Tuy An Bắc 52.32 26,174 Tuy An Đông 46.05 40,108 Tuy An Nam 69.99 29,805 Tuy An Tây 136.20 12,913 Vân Hòa 151.47 6,661 Vụ Bổn 109.13 18,111 Xuân Cảnh 83.81 23,972 Xuân Lãnh 174.65 15,933 Xuân Lộc 114.01 27,609 Xuân Phước 102.81 16,197 Xuân Thọ 192.12 10,793 Yang Mao 562.38 16,970

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