Tây Ninh
Tây Ninh is a city in the southeastern part of Vietnam. It is the capital of Tay Ninh Province, which also includes the town and its surrounding farmland. Tây Ninh is located about 90 kilometers (55 miles) northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest city. The city had a population of 153,537 in 2013 and an area of 140 km2 (54 sq mi).
Tay Ninh has a hot and humid climate all year round with an average temperature of 27.5 °C (81.5 °F) and rainfall of 1,724 mm . The dry season lasts from December to April while the rainy season lasts from May to November.
The city is most famous for being the birthplace of Cao Đài, a syncretic Vietnamese religion that blends elements from several major world religions. A complex called Holy See was constructed on this land between 1933-1955, it lies about five kilometers east of Tây Ninh’s city center.
Other attractions in Đài include Núi Bà Đen (“Black Virgin Mountain”) and Dầu Tiếng Lake, one of Vietnam’s biggest artificial lakes as well as one of Southeast Asia’s biggest ones.
Tay Ninh - Introduction
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Tay Ninh Travel Guide
How To Travel To Tây Ninh
From Ho Chi Minh City: HCMC is 96km southeast, and there are tour buses that go every day. Take a tour that has a stop in Cu Chi to see the tunnels and it’ll usually run you USD7-9 (140,000-180,000 dong).
From Cu Chi: Take Bus 702 (18,000 dong, ~1.75 hr) or Bus 701 to Gau Dai (10,000 dong, ~1 hr), then Bus 4 to Tay Ninh (12,000 dong ,45 min).
Minibuses leave An Suong Bus Station (Intersection Hwy 1A/Truong Chinh St) in Hoc Mon district every 15 minutes for Tay Ninh Bus Station. A one-way ticket is about USD3 (60,000 dong).
How To Travel Around Tây Ninh
Two main streets, Cach Mang Thang Tam and 30 Thang 4, make up the core of Tay Ninh’s activity center. A majority of government offices, banks and enterprises are concentrated along these two roads.
The roundabout at the intersection of those two roads is considered the center of the city. The Cao Dai Holy See is about 3km away from the roundabout.
It’s easy to get around Tay Ninh with a short taxi ride or “xe om” motorbike taxi trip. There is a big Mai Linh taxi service here, and “xe om” can be found at most junctions.
Attractions & Things To See
Cao Dai Temple – The midday mass is when most visitors come. There’s a balcony along the walls halfway up where you can watch the service; it’s a great view. Traditional Vietnamese music is performed by an orchestra of about ten members, and the assembly is led in prayer by a choir of about 20 people. The hymns are musically mixed and highly unusual, combining Western and Vietnamese styles. In front of the temple, there’s a Divine Eye formed as a triangle of justice on a cosmic globe which is surrounded by flowers. Three glasses of wine, plus a cup each of water and tea, are placed on the altar. On its domed roof painted with stars, there’s another blue globe — an important Cao Dai motif —
Activities & Things to do
Monkey Feeding, Cao Dai Holy See. On the temple grounds there are monkeys living in trees. Feeding these monkeys is a popular activity among both local people and visitors alike . They can be seen running around near the seating stadiums on both sides of the large square in front of the temple . The monkeys eat everything from peanuts to bananas to other edibles.
Walk through Rubber Plantation, Cao Dai Holy See. There are many rubber plantations in Tay Ninh, but you can visit one right in the Holy See to avoid having to go too far away. In fact, rubber farms have been planted all over the compound of the Holy See . You can walk around any of these fields and learn about a Tay Ninh rubber plantation’s production capacity.
Food & Restaurants in Tay Ninh
Tay Ninh goes to bed early. Majority of the city has quieted down by 21h.
Nevertheless, the region around Cau Quan bridge (which is just a short walk away from Tay Ninh roundabout) remains busy until late at night.
In the evening, the area is all lit up with shop lights showing their products. All restaurants are crowded with customers.
Drink and snack stands have got very many customers. There is an array of food options in this locality
Sit on the canal bank and watch people going up and about.
Shopping in Tay Ninh
Tay Ninh is a rural province with few shopping opportunities. A renowned duty-free retail center used to be located near the Moc Bai border crossing, but it has since closed. Some Tay Ninh delicacies are worth purchasing and can be taken home as gifts.
Tay Ninh is well-known for its distinctive chili salts. Chilli peppers are crushed to a powder and combined with salt and seasonings to make chilli salts. Spicy and salty, it’s great for dipping fruits and snacks or sprinkling on dishes.
Long Hoa Market (several kilometres S of the Cao Dai See complex). 05:00-18:00. Long Hoa Market sells food, clothing, and anything else you’d find in a market.
