Cao Dai Holy See, Tay Ninh

The Headquarters Of Caodaism, A Vietnamese Religion Founded In 1926 That Blends Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism And Christianity. A Colourful Temple Of Pink And Blue Towers And Dragon Wrapped Columns, With Noon Services Open To Visitors In The Balcony. Known Abroad As A Day Trip From Ho Chi Minh City · Hoa Thanh, Tay Ninh

The Cao Dai Holy See is the headquarters of Caodaism, a Vietnamese religion founded in 1926 that draws on Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and Christianity, and honours figures from Jesus to Victor Hugo as teachers. Followers say one God is shown by the Divine Eye, a single eye in a globe, which gazes down from the ceiling, the altar and the gate. The temple at Hoa Thanh, near Tay Ninh, was built from the 1930s in pink, yellow and blue, with twin towers, dragon-wrapped pillars and a blue sky ceiling of stars. Most visitors come to watch the noon service from the upper gallery, as white-robed members in red, blue and yellow sashes file in and chant to an orchestra. It is about 100 km from Ho Chi Minh City and is often paired with the Cu Chi tunnels in one long day tour. It is a working place of worship, not a museum: the gallery is crowded, the view is partial, and the visit is short. Dress modestly, stay quiet, and treat it as a service you are allowed to watch.

Hoa Thanh town, about 4 km east of Tay Ninh city and 100 km north-west of Ho Chi Minh City, Hoa Thanh, Tay Ninh, Vietnam

Services are held several times a day, and the noon service is the one visitors are invited to watch, from the upper gallery. Confirm the exact times and the entry rules on the day, as they can change. Entry to the grounds is FREE, though a donation box sits near the door. The temple is CLOSED to visitors outside service times except the grounds, and the gallery can be shut during major festivals, when only members enter. Come in good time before the service, as the gallery fills.

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