During America’s War in Vietnam, Pleiku’s location made it strategically important. It is located at the western end of Highway 19, over which military supplies traveled from the port at Qui Nhon. It also sat centrally located between neighboring province capitals Kon Tum to the north and Ban Me Thout to the south and the North Vietnamese Army’s bases to the west across the Cambodian border. Pleiku was thus the primary center of defense for the Central Highlands.
In the past, the inhabitants of Pleiku were primarily Montagnards of the Bahnar and Jarai ethnic groups. Today, though, the area is primarily occupied by ethnic Vietnamese (Kinh).
Pleiku, being in the mountains, is of course cooler than lower lying areas of Vietnam. In January, typically the coldest month, daily temperatures run from an average low of 57 degrees Fahrenheit to a high of 79. The temperature increases into April, with an average low of 67 and high of 88. After that, it cools off a few degrees because they have hit the rainy season. During the next six months, Pleiku can expect 11 to 12 feet of rain. Those who were stationed at Pleiku may still have red mud in their pores. On the bright side, the average humidity in Pleiku is only about 82%.
Veterans of the Pleiku area will remember Camp Holloway, Camp Enari, the Pleiku Air Base, and Engineer Hill. Special Forces and MACV teams had their own compounds and villas scattered around the area as well, and generally lived large. Some of us spent some time with them, too.
The spot where Camp Holloway sat has become heavily occupied. In fact, looking at satellite photos of the area, it appears that someone of average agility could leap from roof to roof all the way from well beyond the east end of Holloway to downtown Pleiku. Comparing satellite views to a military map from 1968, it is obvious that Pleiku has grown and spread out from the place we knew then. Camp Enari is now a Vietnamese military base
Three miles north Pleiku, on the site of the ‘former New Pleiku Air Base’ is a regional airport, with flights to and from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang. Bus travel is available to most cities in Vietnam, including Dalat, Kon Tum and Nha Trang, and there are taxis for local travel.
Pleiku’s major tourist attractions today are and accompanied tours of Montagnard villages. Four miles north of town is Sea Lake (Bien Ho), the flooded crater of a dormant volcano.
Pleiku currently has 16 hotels, plus B and Bs, guest lodges, and other accommodations. The Tre Xanh Hotel, pictured on this page, is mid-priced with 3 stars at $25/night. There is an in-house karaoke bar, however, which can be heard from some of the rooms. Many of the hotels contain a decent bar and restaurant, plus the area has numerous up-scale restaurants to choose from.
