Tây Ninh

Most tourists arrive for the noon mass. There is a balcony that runs along the walls halfway up. This is where you can watch the service. It is a very nice view. There is an orchestra of approximately 10 musicians whose music is traditionally Vietnamese. A choir of approximately 20 lead the congregation in the prayers. The musical mix of the hymns is very unusual with a blend of Western and Vietnamese. In the front of the temple is the Divine Eye in the shape of a triangle of justice. It is surrounded by flowers on a cosmic globe. On the altar sit 3 glasses of wine, a cup of water and a cup of tea. The temple's domed ceiling is painted with stars and has a blue globe which is a Cao Dai icon.

It was constructed in 1981 to provide water in Tay Ninh province as well as neighboring provinces. The lake covers an area of 27,000 hectares, and it contains up to 1.5 billion m³ of water. The reservoir is set in a beautiful landscape of surrounding of mountains with many islets.

A short ride from Tay Ninh lays the remnant of a primeval forest that used to cover much of land in Tay Ninh province. Covered 18,675 ha and comprised of lowland forests and wetlands, Lo Go Xa Mat National Park was established in 2002 as a nature reserve. The park boasts a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna, some of which are endangered species. The only protected natural reserve in Tay Ninh, the park is nature’s last stand. On the Cambodian side of the park, very little traces of the forest remained, victim of deforestation. On the Vietnam side, agriculture is rapidly encroaching. See nature here as it was before much of the land had been surrendered to man. The Cao Dai Holy See has some patches of the old forest in front of the main temple and that are where the monkeys live now.

This mountain is considered the roof of southern Vietnam and often called van son or cloud mountain because it is always covered by clouds. The mountain is made up of three smaller mountains called Heo (pig), Phung (phoenix), and Ba Den (black lady). There is a trip cable car from the bottom of the mountain to the top. Or you can walk the trail. The views of the countryside are breathtaking. There are lunar New Year rituals and festivals that attract about a million visitors yearly. Ba Den Mountain Spring Festival is celebrated 15-18 of the 1st lunar month, should you are here at that time.

There are monkeys living in trees on the temple grounds. Feeding the monkeys is a favorite activity for the locals and visitors alike. One can see them dashing about near the seating arenas on the two sides of the big square in front of the temple. Peanuts, fruits, and whatever edible are thrown to the monkeys.

There are large tracts of rubber plantations all over Tay Ninh, however, you can visit one right inside the Holy See, saving you the need to go anywhere far. Tracts of rubber fields are planted throughout the Holy See complex. You can take a stroll in any of these fields to experience the production of a rubber plantation in Tay Ninh.

For the adventurous souls who wish to reach the very summit of Ba Den Mountain, the 360-degree vista of the surrounding countryside is the ultimate reward. Perching 986 m above sea level, the summit offers a good day's hike. Take a taxi or motorbike taxi halfway up the mountain near the temples entrances. From there, it is a good 2 hr hike to the top. At the summit, some climbing skills are needed to reach the very peak. Bring plenty of water and good hiking shoes.