Buon Don Ancient Stilt House – A Centuries-Old Cultural Heritage

A Hundred-Year Legacy in the Heart of the Highlands
Amid the pristine nature of Buon Tri Hamlet, Krong Na Commune, Buon Don District, the Buon Don Ancient Stilt House stands proudly as a living witness, telling the story of the “King of Elephant Hunters” – Y Thu Knul, the man who began the legendary tradition of hunting and taming wild elephants.
Built in the late 19th century (around 1883–1885), this house is now more than 130 years old and remains one of the rarest and most precious wooden architectural heritages in Vietnam’s Central Highlands.

Unique Lao-Style Architecture
Unlike the longhouses of the Ede or M’nong people, the Buon Don Ancient Stilt House carries strong influences from Lao–Thai architecture, a result of centuries of cultural exchange among ethnic groups living along the Vietnam–Laos border.
The house consists of three parallel chambers, with gracefully curved triple roofs. It is entirely built from precious forest woods such as ca chit, cam xe, go do (redwood), and bang lang, joined together using traditional mortise-and-tenon joints without nails. The roof is made of hand-carved thin wooden planks — rustic yet refined, showcasing the craftsmanship of the artisans of old.
Stepping inside, visitors are greeted by the distinct scent of aged timber and gentle light filtering through the wooden slats, evoking a sense of antiquity and peace. Every piece of furniture — from tables and chairs, jars, looms, to elephant-hunting tools — has been carefully preserved through generations.

The Story of the “King of Elephant Hunters” Y Thu Knul
This ancient stilt house was once the home and workplace of Y Thu Knul — honored as the King of Elephant Hunters of the Central Highlands. He became famous throughout the region for capturing and taming hundreds of wild elephants, some of which were even gifted to the King of Siam (Thailand).
It was here that the art of hunting and taming wild elephants in Buon Don was born — becoming an extraordinary intangible cultural heritage and the foundation of Buon Don’s enduring reputation today.

A Cultural Treasure and a Must-Visit Destination
Today, the Buon Don Ancient Stilt House is not only a popular tourist attraction but also a place where the spirit of the Central Highlands’ culture is preserved.
Visitors can:
– Listen to the legendary tales of the “King of Elephant Hunters”.
– Admire the ancient wooden architecture amid the peaceful natural surroundings.
– Learn about the culture, customs, and daily life of the M’nong, Ede, and Lao people.
– Capture stunning check-in photos at the century-old wooden house — a symbol of Buon Don.The Journey of Preservation and Development
Today, the stilt house is lovingly maintained by the descendants of the Y Knul family and the Buon Don Suspension Bridge – Island Village Tourism Center, serving both as a cultural heritage site and an educational destination.
It is an ideal stop on any Buon Don exploration journey, where visitors can admire timeless architecture while feeling the breath of the great forest and the enduring soul of the Central Highlands’ culture.