Listening to the Legend of K50 Waterfall from Local People
K50 Waterfall is a fascinating hiking destination. Yet few people know the stories hidden behind this beautiful waterfall. Join Tổ Ong Adventure to discover the legend of K50 Waterfall.
A brief introduction to K50 Waterfall
K50 Waterfall is located in Kon Chư Răng Nature Reserve in Gia Lai Province, near the border with Bình Định Province. The number 50 in its name refers to the waterfall’s height. It is also known as Hang Én Waterfall because it is home to thousands of wild swallows. Hidden deep in the dense forests of Vietnam’s Central Highlands, reaching the waterfall means crossing forests and streams and climbing steep slopes before you can admire its wild, majestic beauty.
The legend of the waterfall known as the Muse of the great forest
Come listen to K50 Waterfall tell its story
When visiting Kon Chư Răng Nature Reserve, you may hear Bahnar village elders tell old stories, including the legend of K50 Waterfall. Under the flickering firelight, a respected elder slowly shares the tale, and the waterfall appears through the story with a sense of wonder.
Three gods who guarded the waterfalls in the legend of K50 Waterfall
The story says that in ancient Kon Chư Răng, three gods ruled over three waterfalls: But Jai, the Bahnar name for Hang Én Waterfall; Sriêng, the god of Bom Đạn Waterfall; and Moi, the god of Tổ Ong Waterfall.
Each god possessed a certain power. But Jai, who owned many treasures such as a magic wand and a sharpening stone, was the mightiest god in the region. Seeing the villagers living in hardship in caves, he used his treasures to create rice, buffaloes, cattle, cloth, and more. The villagers deeply worshipped this kind god.
A battle born from jealousy
Seeing this, the nearby god Moi became jealous and wanted to take But Jai’s treasures. Moi repeatedly challenged But Jai, and the two gods fought without either side winning. Each battle brought storms, thunder, and lightning that lasted year after year. All living beings had to move elsewhere to take shelter.
One day, the two gods agreed to stop fighting and rest. While But Jai was asleep, Moi used magic to attack him by surprise. Because But Jai was unprepared, he was struck by the spell, his body breaking in two and shattering into pieces. Seeing the danger, Sriêng used a divine crossbow to shoot Moi. Hit by the arrow, Moi fled, leaving behind a battlefield in ruins.
Traces of the battle in the legend of K50 Waterfall
Today, people see K50 Waterfall as a vertical silver stream of water formed by a break in the terrain. At the foot of the waterfall is a deep basin about 200m2 wide, with dozens of large, rugged rocks in all shapes. Together, they create the captivating beauty of K50 Waterfall.
Notes for hiking the waterfall from the K50 legend
Some notes for hiking K50 Waterfall
The rainy and dry seasons
The Central Highlands have two distinct seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. During the dry season, from November to April of the following year, the weather is dry, rain is absent, and K50 Waterfall flows more gently.
During the rainy season, from May to the end of October, a large volume of water pours into the waterfall. Plants grow lush and vigorous, creating a deeply moving landscape.
But beauty can also hide danger. Heavy rain, muddy red soil, slippery moss-covered boulders, steep slopes, and fast-flowing streams will challenge human courage.
For a safer trip, you should choose the transitional period from March to June to visit the waterfall.
Suitable gear
The journey to explore K50 Waterfall requires at least two days. Therefore, you should prepare gear suited to the conditions around the waterfall. Choose full-coverage clothing that is easy to move in, waterproof warm layers, a raincoat, stream-crossing shoes, and a personal first-aid kit. You should also prepare a tent, sleeping bag, food, and drinking water so you can stay overnight in the forest.
Experienced companions
Because the mountainous forest terrain is rugged, with many steep slopes, rocky streams, and diverse flora and fauna, you should choose experienced guides. A trip with companions will be more meaningful and safer. Tổ Ong Adventure is confident in bringing you a memorable experience.
Explore K50 Waterfall with Tổ Ong
The waterfall still tells its story day and night, as it has for thousands of years. If you want to hear the story the waterfall tells, join Tổ Ong to explore K50 Waterfall.
