Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh – Day Trip Idea from Ho Chi Minh

Posted on April 14, 2022 | Julie J. |

Last Updated on December 11, 2023

Not far from Ho Chi Minh City, lies the quiet city of Tay Ninh, home to one of the most important Cao Dai Temple in Vietnam.

If you are looking for day trips ideas from Ho Chi Minh, then a visit to the Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh is a must. Discover this unique religion and learn about their beliefs, culture, and organization.

The easiest way to visit the temple is by booking a tour from Ho Chi Minh. You can either take a half-day trip or a full day that will be coupled with another activity (see below for options).

Read on to learn everything you need to know about visiting the Cao Dai temple in Tay Ninh.

Travel tip – Before any international trip, make sure to get travel insurance and check visa requirements.

Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on any links and make a purchase I’ll get a small commission, at no cost to you.

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About Caodaism

Created in 1926 by Ngô Van Chieu (after he received a message from a spirit named Cao Dai), Caodaism is a mix of Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Christianity, and Islam. The religion is based on the principles of being good and honest (from Buddhism), of being charitable and of loving others (from Christianity), of being detached from the world (Taoism) while keeping the cult of the ancestors, respect for the family and the communion between the livings and the deads. They pray to every god, spirits, genies, saints from these religions.

Caodaism seems to have been born from the need of conciliating Western and Asian beliefs. In less than two months after its creation, 2000 people joined it, it originated from Tay Ninh, in South Vietnam, and spread to the Mekong Delta region and Central Vietnam. Today, about 2 million people follow Caodaism.

They believe that every message from prophets has been misinterpreted or deformed by time. Every religion is fundamentally the same, serving the same god, Caodaism is the ultimate religion, and the message from God shouldn’t be misinterpreted anymore because they communicate directly with God through the spirits.

The religion is organized on the model of the Catholic Church, with an elected pope, who manage, control, and make sure of the continuity of the religion and dignitaries corresponding to priests, abbots, bishops… They also have “mediums” in charge of communicating with the spirits and sharing their messages.

The Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh

There is one entrance on the right for men and one on the left for women, everyone has to dress in white, and you cannot pass in front of the Temple during mass. There are musicians and singers on the platform upstairs.

Musicians, Cao Dai Temple, Tay Ninh Vietnam — Musicians and singers during mass

At the front, you’ll notice the dignitaries dressed in red, blue and yellow. The red dress symbolizes Confucianism, the blue one, Taoism and the yellow one, Buddhism.

During mass, Cao Dai Temple, Tay Ninh, Vietnam 1

In the Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh, there are four masses each day: 6 am, 12 pm, 6 pm, and 12 am. They last 30 minutes. You’ll be expected to remove your shoes and be dressed properly. You can only stay at the entrance or in the balconies during the mass, if you want to wander inside, you’ll have to wait.

During mass, the followers, on their knees, pray together and make offerings (flowers, fruits, drinks, and incense) to Cao Dai, Ly Thai Bach, representatives of the main religion but also to the spirits, genies, saints, and to famous people who communicated with the mediums, such as Jeanne of Arcs, Pasteur, Shakespeare, Lenin…

During mass, Cao Dai Temple, Tay Ninh, Vietnam — During mass

The three missionaries of Caodaism are Sun Yat Sen, a revolutionary and Chinese official, Victor Hugo, a French writer, and Nguyen Binh Khiem, a Vietnamese poet. They are considered Saints, and their sacred mission was to be humanity’s spiritual guide.

Notice inside as well as outside the symbolism of the architecture, paintings, and sculptures. The main symbol of the Cao Dai religion is an eye inside a triangle, it represents the supreme being. Near the altar, look for the huge blue sphere with the eye (see picture above) which symbolizes the ideal of the universal religion. Near it are statues of Buddha, Confucius, Lao-Tseu (father of Taoism), Jesus, Ly Thai Bach, Kuong Tu Nha, Quan Ann (goddess), and Quan Cong (genie). The nave is divided into 9 parts, as there are 9 steps to reach Heaven.

All seing eye, Cao Dai Temple, Tay Ninh, Vietnam

How to get to the Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh

You can get to Tay Ninh on your own by bus (you’ll have to take 2) from Saigon and then take a taxi or walk to the temple. If you come if your own vehicle you won’t be allowed to park at the temple as it is for worshippers only.

You can also book a tour from one of the travel agencies in HCMC. They often couple it with a visit to Cu Chi Tunnels, I booked my tour with the Sinh Tourist for about 10 dollars. Their guide was super knowledgeable and informative.

Cao Dai Temple tours from Ho Chi Minh: