Stunning 7-tier waterfall in Kon Tum "hangs" halfway up a mountain
Perched halfway up a towering mountain, Siu Puông Waterfall in Kon Tum boasts a wild, majestic beauty. It is also one of the tallest waterfalls in Vietnam.
Siu Puông Waterfall hangs halfway up a high mountain. (Photo: Đinh Công Lương).
Setting out from the center of Đắk Na commune (formerly Tu Mơ Rông district in the former Kon Tum province, now part of Quảng Ngãi province, in Vietnam's Central Highlands), visitors pass terraced rice fields, winding rocky streams and a twisting road through vast pine forests and lush green meadows before they hear the roar of falling water.
That roar comes from the majestic Siu Puông Waterfall , which lies between the Ngọc Kal and Ngọc Pâng mountain ranges, about 89 km from the former Kon Tum city.
Located at an altitude of 1,600 m above sea level, Siu Puông is one of the tallest waterfalls in Vietnam. Its water originates from the summit of Ngọc Linh.
The waterfall is about 240 m long, but unlike many other waterfalls in the Central Highlands, it does not plunge in a single drop. Instead, Siu Puông flows down in seven tiers, forming a distinctive zigzag pattern.
Siu Puông cascades tier by tier, its water crystal clear and cool all year round. (Photo: Đinh Công Lương).
The highest tier sits at the very top and is 60 m tall. The next four tiers are each about 40 m high, while the two remaining, shorter tiers are about 10 m high.
Depending on the volume of water, the width of the falls varies from season to season. In the rainy season, when water is abundant, the falls can be up to 30 m wide.
Seen from afar at this time, the waterfall looks like a soft white silk ribbon winding through the vivid green of the mountain forest.
Rising high in the mountains and flowing through vast forests, the water of Siu Puông stays crystal clear and cool throughout the year. Beneath each tier lies a beautiful natural pool of clear water.
Beyond its pristine, majestic beauty, Siu Puông is also regarded as a sacred place by the local Xơ Đăng ethnic people. The Xơ Đăng here consider the water from the falls to be holy.
The water flow and width of the falls change with the seasons. (Photo: Đinh Công Lương).
They use the water from the falls for their daily needs. However, they strictly avoid any act considered to defile the water, such as washing clothes or bathing directly at the source, or carrying the deceased across the stream.
Today, Siu Puông Waterfall attracts many tourists who come to explore and experience it. The best time to take in the full beauty of the falls is around October.
