The city of Kon Tum, once a small town on the banks of the Dak Bla River, has evolved into a political, economic, and cultural center, one of the two dynamic economic regions of the province. Especially, Kon Tum city boasts numerous historical and cultural attractions that have been attracting visitors from near and far.

Convenience stores and supermarkets in Kon Tum City

Discover Gác Măng Rê Cafe, Coffee Shop Near Kon Tum Wooden Church

Blessed with abundant natural landscapes, Kon Tum city enjoys a characteristic highland climate with seasonal winds, diverse terrain, fertile soil, ethnic minority communities, and numerous historical and cultural relics, as well as renowned architectural structures of religions. Hence, this place is a convergence of diverse cultural colors, with great potential for development, especially in the tourism sector.

The city features many architectural landmarks with distinctive characteristics, typical of the indigenous ethnic groups such as the communal Rong houses and burial houses in the local villages. Other famous landmarks include Kon Tum Prison, Vo Lam Temple, Trung Luong Temple, Bac Ai Temple, the Wooden Church of Chinh Toa Kon Tum, the Kon Tum Bishop's Palace, and Kon Klor suspension bridge. Moreover, the city boasts a rich and unique cultural heritage system, including tangible and intangible cultural heritage such as festivals, gong culture, traditional musical instruments, traditional arts, culinary culture, traditional costumes, indigenous weaving, and unique tourism products. It is an enticing destination for visitors seeking to explore the traditional identity of ethnic minority groups and the historic battlefields of the Central Highlands with the indomitable struggle tradition of the people of Kon Tum province.

The Kon Klor suspension bridge, Kon Tum city at night.

One of the highlights that distinguishes Kon Tum city and cannot be found in any other province in the Central Highlands region is the Dak Bla River flowing upstream through the beautiful and picturesque city. The Dak Bla River creates a fertile land along its basin, with alluvial deposits providing favorable conditions for agricultural cultivation and animal husbandry, integral to the lives of the local residents. Viewed from above, the meandering Dak Bla River embraces the city, with indigenous ethnic villages peacefully nestled on both sides of the picturesque river, contributing to the unique beauty of the mountainous town of Kon Tum.

Kon Tum city is also renowned for its famous historical site, the Kon Tum Prison. This was the earliest-established political prison in the Central Highlands region, serving as a detention center for political prisoners. It marked an important historical milestone as it was the birthplace of the first communist party cell in Kon Tum in September 1930, known as the "Binh Party Cell." The establishment of the Binh Party Cell had a significant impact on the leadership role of the Communist Party in the independence struggle of the people of Kon Tum province and the Central Highlands region as a whole at that time. The historical site of Kon Tum Prison was recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism) in 1988, and in 1990, Kon Tum Prison was recognized as a national-level historical-cultural relic.

Furthermore, Kon Tum city boasts many other attractive tourist destinations, such as the beautiful and unique Wooden Cathedral, which is nearly a century old. It is a masterpiece designed in the Romantic architectural style, harmoniously blending the traditional stilt house architecture of the Ba Na ethnic group. The church was built over five years from 1913 to 1918 and serves as a Catholic church for the indigenous ethnic minority people, hence, within the church grounds, there are many distinctive symbols of the Central Highlands such as burial houses and Rong houses. In 1995, the wooden church was renovated while retaining its original features and design.

The Kon Klor communal house - a place of spiritual and cultural activities for the indigenous ethnic groups in Kon Tum city.

Currently, Kon Tum city boasts four community-based tourism sites recognized at the provincial level. These include Kon K'tu Community Tourism Village (in Dak Ro Wa commune), Kon Klor Community Tourism Village (in Thang Loi ward), A Biu Tourism Site (in Ngoc Bay commune), and Kon Jo Dri Community Tourism Village (in Dak Ro Wa commune). Additionally, the city is developing various unique tourism products, such as eco-community tourism, nature exploration, and experiencing the local life in Kon K'tu village. Cultural and revolutionary historical tourism is also flourishing with a range of unique attractions like the Kon Tum Provincial Museum, the Ngục Kon Tum Historical Site, the Kon Tum Wooden Cathedral, the Kon Tum Bishop's Residence, the Kon Klor Suspension Bridge, and the system of communal houses in indigenous villages, which increasingly attract tourists for sightseeing, boosting tourism revenue, and contributing to the socio-economic development of the locality.

With the correct orientation of the party committee, local government, and the involvement of the entire political system, the natural, historical, and traditional cultural values of the ethnic groups in the area will be increasingly promoted. This will transform Kon Tum city into an attractive tourist and cultural destination, crucially contributing to the sustainable development of the province.

One of the highlights that distinguishes Kon Tum city and cannot be found in any other province in the Central Highlands region is the Dak Bla River flowing upstream through the beautiful and picturesque city. The Dak Bla River creates a fertile land along its basin, with alluvial deposits providing favorable conditions for agricultural cultivation and animal husbandry, integral to the lives of the local residents. Viewed from above, the meandering Dak Bla River embraces the city, with indigenous ethnic villages peacefully nestled on both sides of the picturesque river, contributing to the unique beauty of the mountainous town of Kon Tum.

Kon Tum city is also renowned for its famous historical site, the Kon Tum Prison. This was the earliest-established political prison in the Central Highlands region, serving as a detention center for political prisoners. It marked an important historical milestone as it was the birthplace of the first communist party cell in Kon Tum in September 1930, known as the "Binh Party Cell." The establishment of the Binh Party Cell had a significant impact on the leadership role of the Communist Party in the independence struggle of the people of Kon Tum province and the Central Highlands region as a whole at that time. The historical site of Kon Tum Prison was recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism) in 1988, and in 1990, Kon Tum Prison was recognized as a national-level historical-cultural relic.

Furthermore, Kon Tum city boasts many other attractive tourist destinations, such as the beautiful and unique Wooden Cathedral, which is nearly a century old. It is a masterpiece designed in the Romantic architectural style, harmoniously blending the traditional stilt house architecture of the Ba Na ethnic group. The church was built over five years from 1913 to 1918 and serves as a Catholic church for the indigenous ethnic minority people, hence, within the church grounds, there are many distinctive symbols of the Central Highlands such as burial houses and Rong houses. In 1995, the wooden church was renovated while retaining its original features and design.

Not far from the Wooden Cathedral is the Kon Tum Seminary, built in 1935, also known as the Kon Tum Bishop's Residence. The seminary is situated on a large campus with a 100-meter-long, 3-story seminary building. It represents a harmonious blend of Western architectural style with traditional indigenous ethnic architecture, offering beautiful and tranquil scenery, unique architecture, and preserving many local historical and cultural values.

Kon Tum city is home to many temples with unique architecture, such as the Bac Ai Ancestral Temple, commenced in 1932 under the reign of King Bao Dai, and bestowed with the title "Sac Tu Bac Ai Temple." Trung Khanh Pagoda is a religious architectural work in the style of Central Vietnamese pagoda architecture, recognized as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic in 2014.

Located in the East-West economic corridor, Kon Tum city has the potential to become a vital transit hub along the international trade route connecting Myanmar - Northeast Thailand - Southern Laos to the Central Highlands, Central Coast, and Southeast regions of Vietnam. It serves as a trading nexus between many provinces and regions nationwide. Existing historical sites, landmarks, and landscapes have created strengths and potential for the locality to attract investment and develop tourism robustly.

With the ambition to build the city into a comprehensive, sustainable economic, political, and tourist center in the Central Highlands and across the country, Kon Tum city has outlined a roadmap and implemented numerous solutions. Tourism development is identified as one of the spearhead sectors, closely linked to the conservation and promotion of natural resources, cultural heritage, history, and ethnic cultural identity. Efforts focus on efficiently exploiting the diverse potential of tourism products, particularly eco-tourism, spiritual tourism, community-based tourism, and outdoor activities, aiming to expand the network of tour development towards becoming an eco-city.

Tourists visit and learn about the traditional brocade weaving craft of the Ba Na ethnic people at the Kon K'tu community tourism village (Dak Ro Wa commune).

Currently, Kon Tum city boasts four community-based tourism sites recognized at the provincial level. These include Kon K'tu Community Tourism Village (in Dak Ro Wa commune), Kon Klor Community Tourism Village (in Thang Loi ward), A Biu Tourism Site (in Ngoc Bay commune), and Kon Jo Dri Community Tourism Village (in Dak Ro Wa commune). Additionally, the city is developing various unique tourism products, such as eco-community tourism, nature exploration, and experiencing the local life in Kon K'tu village. Cultural and revolutionary historical tourism is also flourishing with a range of unique attractions like the Kon Tum Provincial Museum, the Ngục Kon Tum Historical Site, the Kon Tum Wooden Cathedral, the Kon Tum Bishop's Residence, the Kon Klor Suspension Bridge, and the system of communal houses in indigenous villages, which increasingly attract tourists for sightseeing, boosting tourism revenue, and contributing to the socio-economic development of the locality.

With the correct orientation of the party committee, local government, and the involvement of the entire political system, the natural, historical, and traditional cultural values of the ethnic groups in the area will be increasingly promoted. This will transform Kon Tum city into an attractive tourist and cultural destination, crucially contributing to the sustainable development of the province.