Like Kontum and Pleiku, the main attraction of Buon Ma Thuot is not the town itself but the surrounding area. There are numerous ethnic villages and also some spectacular waterfalls, all of which are within a day's trip. Although on the Central Highlands, Buon Ma Thuot is at a lower altitude than Dalat at 451 m, so does not necessarily offer the same cool escape from the hot weather.

Ede Minority Hilltribe
A visit to the Ede tribe (or Rhode Tribe) makes a trip to Buon Ma Thuot worthwhile. This tribe is primarily matriarchal. The women own the property and after marriage the man must move in with the woman's family whose house is extended to accommodate the new couple. The houses of the Ede tribes are long (up to 30 m) and thin (4 m). Each time there is a wedding, a family house is extended like carriages on a train. Each section can be closed off and has its own door and kitchen. The houses are also on built stilts so that wood, food and even livestock can be stored under the house.

Ede tribe has a different ceremony for their dead than the Bahnar at Pleiku tribes. They bury the deceased just below the surface of the ground so that the spirit can fly to the heavens. Around the grave they keep wooden carvings of elephant tusks and on four pillars built around the grave they picture four birds to protect the dead. The Ede tribe practices animalistic beliefs.

Hill tribe museum
There is a very interesting Hill Tribe museum at No. 1 Doc Lap street. It includes some of the tools or arms used by the Ede tribe to hunt elephants. The museum also provides very valuable information about the culture of the tribe.

Lak lake
Lak Lake is situated 50 km south of Buon Ma Thuot. To see the lake you must obtain a permit that costs $20 US for a group of people. It is also possible to sleep in the Ede houses there. In this village, you can take up to a three hour elephant ride around the area.