Đưng K’Nớ
Lộc Rừng
The “Invisible Village” in the Highlands of Vietnam
Lộc Rừng is based in Đưng K’Nớ, a village in the Lạc Dương district at around 1,500 meters above sea level. The area is surrounded by the native forests of Núi Bà Bidoup. Its hills rise up to 1,850 meters, often shrouded in thick fog which gave the “invisible village” its nickname. The area is home to many K’Ho families who rely on agroforestry and farming for their livelihoods. Coffee is the main crop here, with over 800 hectares of individual small plots under cultivation.
Focus on Specialty Coffee
Lộc Rừng’s approach is based on quality and fairness. They work directly with farmers from their community and support them with knowledge and resources to improve their farms. It’s a system built on trust and long-term collaboration, aiming to bring stability and create lasting value. With their own coffee nursery, established in 2023, they grow and share different Arabica varieties with a focus on quality and crop security at the same time. The seedlings are then shared with local farming partners in the community.
Arabica and the K’Ho – A Shared History
Arabica has a long but rather quiet history in Vietnam. First introduced by the French in the 19th century, it took root in the highlands of Lâm Đồng province, where altitude, volcanic soil and climate offered the right conditions for varieties like Typica, Bourbon and Caturra to survive. While the country more recently became known globally for Robusta, Arabica continued to grow in Lạc Dương district, largely untouched by government-driven Robusta initiatives.
The K’Ho people have lived off the land for generations. Their knowledge of the nature and its cycles is deeply rooted. During the 1990s, a push toward chemical fertilizers and pesticides, however, aimed to boost productivity and reduce poverty. But the long-term effects were harsh. Soils turned weak, plants more fragile. Slowly, and with persistence, many K’Ho farmers began to return to traditional methods. Shade trees, organic compost and intercropping are now part of the movement to restore fertility and balance in this sensitive ecosystem.
A Shared Goal
With our partners at Lộc Rừng, we share the goal of helping the K’Ho community secure their land and preserve their traditions. This partnership supports a way of life that values sustainability, community and respect for the environment. And once again, together we’re helping shift the perception of Vietnamese coffee, proving that it can indeed be of excellent quality.
