Choose from 164 Fun Things to Do in Vietnam
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Cai Rang Floating Market
Cai Rang Floating Market is one of the Mekong Delta’s largest and most popular. Located just six kilometers from the city of Can Tho, Cai Rang is the ideal place to experience the hustle and bustle of a Vietnamese floating market.
On arrival at the river, you’ll see hundreds of boats and canoes filled with everything from clothing and rice to fresh fruit and vegetables. Long poles protruding from each boat will tell you what each is selling. (This is a wholesale market, so many are selling to smaller traders.) The boats that attract the most attention are the small wooden boats that use oars to move around.
Book a Mekong Delta and Cai Rang Floating Market half-day tour from Ninh Kieu Wharf, or combine your visit with a biking adventure on Ben Tre Island on a full-day tour from Can Tho. Day trips and two-day tours of the Mekong Delta’s floating markets also depart from Ho Chi Minh City.
Insider’s Tip: The Cai Rang Floating Market is at its best between 6am and 8am. Cai Rang Bridge is a great spot for taking photos, and going earlier will mean capturing the busyness of the market without it being overcrowded with day-trippers.
Practical Info
Cai Rang can be seen from the road, but arriving by boat is much more fun! If not arriving as part of an organized tour, get a boat from the market area in Can Tho or drive to the Cau Dau Sau pier, from where it takes around 10 minutes to reach the market.
Address: Cai Rang River, Can Tho, Vietnam
Hours: 5am-11am
From $ 15
Ambassador's Pagoda (Chua Quan Su)
Once a guesthouse for visiting ambassadors from nearby Buddhist countries, Ambassador’s Pagoda (Chua Quan Su) today is an active temple and the official center of Buddhism in Hanoi. Home to only a dozen or so Buddhist monks and nuns, this small but impressive pagoda is a haven of peace and quiet in otherwise hectic Hanoi.
The Basics
The pagoda features a beautiful gilded main hall, with a few smaller shrines around it. Note the impressive altars and ornate woodwork; the images of the past, present, and future incarnations of Buddha; and the many wax figures of former monks. The grounds are well-kept. There’s also a small shop on-site that sells Buddhist books, prayer beads, and charms. Run by the monks, proceeds go towards upkeep of the temple.
To travel to the pagoda like a local, opt for a motorbike tour that combines it with other sights like the Temple of Literature, the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, and Dong Xuan Market. The pagoda is close to Hoa Lo Prison, which makes it an easy pairing for sightseeing.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Ambassador’s Pagoda is a must-visit for those with an interest in Buddhism.
- This is an active place of worship, so visitors should be respectful of worshippers.
- Visitors must cover their shoulders and knees to enter.
- It’s free to enter the pagoda, but donations are accepted.
How to Get There
The Ambassador’s Pagoda is located just west of the French Quarter. From the Old Quarter, it’s about a 15-minute walk. A taxi is the easiest way to get there from elsewhere in Hanoi.
When to Get There
The Ambassador’s Pagoda is open daily, with a break for lunch. To see it at its most festive, visit during Buddhist holidays or Tet (Vietnamese New Year’s). Most visitors spend less than an hour at the pagoda.
History of Ambassador’s Pagoda
During the Le Dynasty, a guesthouse for visiting ambassadors was built. A pagoda was then added so that visitors could worship as well. The guesthouse burned down, but the pagoda survived, though it has since been renovated and restored. The front of the pagoda is dedicated to Buddha, while the rear is dedicated to Master Minh Khong of the Ly Dynasty, who was said to have saved King Ly Than Tong on his deathbed.
Address: 73 P Quan Su, Hanoi, Vietnam
From $ 68
Cai Be
Deep in the rice paddies of the Mekong Delta, you can visit the bustling floating river market at Cai Be. The riverfront village is a major hub for the farmers, wholesalers and buyers who congregate here into a raft of produce-laden longtail boats, and the agricultural products bought and sold at this market are distributed throughout the country. Many vendors specialize in just a handful of fruits of vegetables, which they advertise with samples tied atop wooden poles. You can visit the market as part of a boat tour from nearby Vinh Long. Along the riverbank near the market, you can see a picturesque Catholic cathedral, and it’s worth exploring the village and strolling paths along the area’s numerous side canals.
Practical Info
The boat ride from Vinh Long to the floating market takes about one hour, and you can visit farms and explore island and side branches of the river along the way. It’s a two-hour drive to Vinh Long from Ho Chi Minh City, and morning is the best time to visit the market.
Address: Cái Bè, Tiền Giang, Vietnam, Vietnam
From $ 36
Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve
Located southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, close to where the Saigon River meets the South China Sea, the low-lying Can Gio island houses a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This is an important natural wetland with attractions like Monkey Island, Rung Sac Military Base, Vam Sat Salt-Marsh Forest Ecological Tourist Center, and a crocodile farm.
The Basics
The road to Can Gio is relatively traffic-free and makes a fun scooter trip if you have the appropriate licenses, insurance, and experience; after all, Vietnam’s roads are no place for beginners. If you prefer less ambitious transportation, fast ferries run to the region from central Saigon.
Alternatively, you can arrive in style with a speedboat tour from the heart of Saigon or travel to the island on a minibus then transfer to a boat. Can Gio tours typically include a mangrove cruise, a visit to the macaques on Monkey Island, and a trip to the crocodile farm; a few also focus on the migrating birds. Some Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve tours stop at a riverside market or Can Gio Museum on route to the reserve.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve is a great destination for lovers of nature; look for small-group tours that focus on the wilderness, not the farms.
- The mangrove forests attract mosquitoes, so bring plenty of bug spray.
- With monkeys, crocodiles, and mangroves, Can Gio can make a great day trip with kids. Be sure to bring water, sunscreen, and snacks.
How to Get There
Around 27 miles (60 kilometers) southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, Can Gio island is most easily reached from Saigon by the Greenlines ferry, although schedules make that route most suitable for visitors who want to stay overnight. Assuming you want to join a boat trip on arrival, book a Can Gio tour that includes door-to-door round-trip transfers.
When to Get There
You can visit Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve at any time of year, but if migrating birds are part of the attraction, you should come during the breeding season (November until May). Among the myriad species you can hope to see are spot-billed pelicans and painted storks.
Can Gio: the Mangrove Ecosystem
Bizarre shrubs that thrive in brackish coastal waters, mangroves create their own unique ecosystems, and the Can Gio biosphere is home to over 200 species of fauna. While the animals you’re most likely to see on a Can Gio tour are macaques, crocodiles, fruit bats, and (in season) migratory birds, the island is also home to king cobras and fishing cats.
Address: Rừng Sác, Cần Giờ, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Admission: Varies
From $ 45
Bach Ma National Park
Encompassing more than 154 square miles (400 square kilometers) of an old French hill station, Bach Ma National Park protects one of the most visually stunning natural areas of Central Vietnam. More than 1,400 species of plants grow in the park — a fifth of the total flora in the country — alongside 132 species of mammals and 358 species of birds. Among the rarer residents, many of them nocturnal, are the douc langur, leopard, stump-tailed macaques and Asiatic black bear.
The ruins of French resorts and villas lie scattered throughout the park, evidence of the era when French residents of Hue retreated to the cooler climes of the park during the hottest parts of the year. Well-marked trails wind through the park, and there are a few guesthouses at the summit.
Practical Info
March and April, when the rhododendrons begin to bloom, are two of the best months to visit Bach Ma National Park.
Address: Hue, Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam
Admission: 40,000 VND
From $ 33
Cat Ba Island
The rugged and scenic Cat Ba Island is the largest island in Halong Bay. About half of it is a dedicated national park, home to both marine life and mammals, including the endangered Cat Ba langur (also known as the golden-headed langur), civet cats and Oriental giant squirrels. Trekking and canoeing options are plentiful, and in 2004, the park was recognized by UNESCO as a Biosphere reserve of the world.
The eastern side of the island is home to several beaches worthy of exploration, fishing villages and a small town (population 8,000) that tends to get crowded on weekends and public holidays. Here, you’ll find a promenade with a strip of hotels, bars and restaurants.
The eastern side of the island is home to several beaches worthy of exploration, fishing villages and a small town (population 8,000) that tends to get crowded on weekends and public holidays. Here, you’ll find a promenade with a strip of hotels, bars and restaurants.
Practical Info
Cat Ba Island is most often visited on a cruise through Halong Bay.
Address: Halong Bay, Vietnam
From $ 25
Ancient House
Built in the late 20th century and restored in 1999, Ancient House offers visitors to Hanoi a chance to travel back in time and experience what life was like for locals in this bustling urban center hundreds of years ago. History buffs will love exploring the small two-block home decorated in old-world style and its quiet courtyard.
Ancient House’s architecture may still speak to a past that’s long gone, but it should be noted that this popular destination has become more souvenir shop than museum, where visitors can find traditional embroidery, games and silk paintings for reasonable prices.
Practical Info
The Ancient House is located in Hanoi Old Quarter at 87 Ma May Street. It is a short walk from nearby Hoan Kiem Lake. Visitors pay a small entry fee of about VND 10,000.
Address: 87 Ma May Street, Hanoi, Vietnam
Hours: Monday-Friday
Admission: 20,000VND
From $ 38
Ben Thanh Market
Let the spirit of Ho Chi Minh City lift you up and carry you through this network of colorful bustling activity. Cho Ben Thanh, or Ben Thanh Market, comes alive every evening with a thrum of tireless energy that never ceases to enthrall.
This is the most celebrated and regularly visited of the markets. It is also the most central, located in one of the liveliest parts of the city where the streets and alleyways surrounding the market place fill with food stalls.
At Ben Thanh Market you can expect to find almost everything that the locals might need in their day to day lives: from fresh meats and vegetables to clothes, domestic items, pots, woven baskets and bamboo ladders. This is a feast for the senses.Take in the sounds: the excited chatter of shoppers and the pitch of vendors’ voices rising into the steaming night.
Breathe in the sweet spiced air - chili, tamarind, ginger - and witness the bright array of colors from exotic fruits to beautiful silks. Try the food stalls for authentic dishes at local prices. This is a rich experience at the beating heart of the city, equally exciting for shoppers and spectators.
Practical Info
Easy to find in the heart of District 1 where Le Loi, Tran Hung Dao and Le Lai converge at the central roundabout.
Often crowded and bustling but makes for a great atmosphere. Be prepared to haggle hard for what you want - it's part of the experience! As is the freshly prepared local food!
Address: Cnr Le Loi, Trang Hung Dao, Le Lai, Ho Chi Minh City District 1, Vietnam
Hours: Open daily. Comes alive around late afternoon/sunset, wraps up in late evening
Admission: Free
From $ 9
Ba Be National Park
Established in 1992 as Vietnam’s eighth national park, Ba Be National Park protects nearly 39 square miles (100 square kilometers) of rainforest, lakes, limestone peaks, caves, waterfalls and a sprinkling of ethnic minority villages, many of them part of the Tay minority. What’s often referred to as Ba Be Lake is in fact three interconnected lakes linked by wide channels.
Visitors to Ba Be National Park have their choice of a variety of experiences — lazy boat tours on the lakes, treks to caves and waterfalls, homestays in minority villages and kayaking trips through the park. The park also boasts surprising biodiversity, with some 550 plant species, 65 species of mammals, 353 butterflies, 233 birds and more than 100 types of fish. While some of the wildlife can be quite shy and difficult to spot, it’s common to see macaque monkeys, colorful parrots and herons near the banks of the lake.
Practical Info
If you want to enjoy Ba Be National Park at its most peaceful, avoid visiting in July and August when most Hanoians take their vacations.
Address: Bắc Kạn Province, Vietnam, Vietnam
From $ 128
Bai Tu Long Bay
The dramatic karst cliffs and iridescent waters of Bai Tu Long Bay are just as mesmerizing as the neighboring Halong Bay, but the comparative lack of crowds adds a tranquillity often lost amidst Halong’s sea of junk boats. Part of the Halong Bay UNESCO World Heritage site and largely dominated by the lush Bai Tu Long National park, Bai Tu Long Bay makes a worthy addition to any cruise, and with such striking scenery, it’s unlikely to stay off-the-beaten-track for too long.
Highlights of Bai Tu Long Bay include Van Don Island, the bay’s largest and most visited island; the traditional fishing village of Vung Vieng; the white sand beaches of Quan Lan Island; and the remote Co To Island, while popular activities include trekking through the jungle in the Bai Tu Long National Park, spotting wild butterflies on Tra Ban Island and kayaking to Thong Thien Cave.
Practical Info
Bai Tu Long Bay is located just northeast of Halong Bay and can be reached by boat from Cai Rong or Halong Bay.
Address: Bai Tu Long Bay, Vietnam
From $ 79
Bitexco Financial Tower
With nearly 70 floors, this towering modern glass and metal structure is the tallest building in Ho Chi Minh City and the third tallest in Vietnam. While the majority of Bitexco Financial Tower is dedicated business and commercial use, it’s also home to the city’ first heli-pad, a world-class restaurant and an observation deck that offers up some of the most impressive views of the city.
Travelers can purchase tickets to the skydeck, or hop aboard the high-speed elevator to the 50th and 52nd floor, where a bar and coffee shop showcase 360-degree spectacular views of city streets, rivers, and Ho Chi Minh architecture—free of charge—to those willing to buy a beverage as they relax and unwind.
Practical Info
The tower is located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh’s financial center. Stationed at Nguyen Hue, it’s easily accessible via the Saigon Bridge, Thu Thiem Tunnel and a short drive from Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
Address: 45 Ngo Duc Ke, District 1, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Admission: Charge for Skydeck
From $ 9
Binh Tay Market
At the heart of Cho Lon, Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinese district, the central Binh Tay Market is a popular spot among visitors and tour groups thanks to the backdrop of picturesque French-Chinese architecture. The modern market was built in 1928 after the original burned down. A Chinese businessman Quach Dam funded the reconstruction, and you can find a memorial to him at the center of the market. The ornate statue of Quach Dam that was the market’s original centerpiece now resides at the Fine Art Museum. Binh Tay is Ho Chi Minh City’s largest market, comprising four city blocks. During a visit here, you can peruse a mind-boggling array of wares, everything from pottery and flowers to cheap souvenirs, noodle stalls and vendors selling bulk rice and wholesale produce.
Practical Info
Binh Tay Market is located in the southwest of the city, a 17-minute drive from Dong Khoi and 35 minutes from Tan Son Nhat Airport. The market is open throughout the day, but the best time to visit is in the morning.
Address: 57 Tháp Mười, 2, Quận 6, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Hours: Daily, hours vary
From $ 9
Bat Trang Ceramic
A handful of seemingly sleepy traditional trade villages—most known for their local crafts—dot the scenic hillsides just beyond Hanoi, and Bat Trang Ceramic, famous for its intricately painted tiles, pots, vases and plates, is one of the most popular. Travelers can explore the dozens of shops that line the streets of this ancient village, where, in spite of its quiet vibe, local artisans work tirelessly producing some of the most exquisite pottery in the nation, having perfected the age-old craft.
In addition to visiting the traditional factories, collecting pieces by local artisans and learning about the ancient art of ceramics from Bat Trang experts, travelers can comb through shops and learn from locals how to paint ceramic statues using traditional glazes, or even craft bowls and vases by hand. Visitors transform raw clay into expertly enameled pieces of art under the watchful eyes of Bat Trang’s trained ceramics masters, and although they may never look quite as beautiful as those of the experts, these handcrafted ceramics are the perfect reminder of a trip to Bat Trang.
Practical Info
Bat Trang Ceramic is located about eight miles (13 kilometers) from Hanoi, across the Chuong Duong Bridge and along the bank of the Red River. It is also accessible via public transportation using the number 47 bus. There is no entrance fee, but popular pottery-making workshops are available for an additional price.
Address: Bat Trang Ceramic Village, Hanoi, Vietnam
Hours: Daily
From $ 25
Bach Dang Pier
Bach Dang Pier is located next to the ferry terminal and close to the Renaissance hotel in central Ho Chi Minh City. It’s a popular launching point for boat trips along the Saigon River.
From the area, visitors can get involved in all manner of trips and activities. From accessing various parts of the city to explore, to weaving through its canals on a sunset dinner cruise, both tourist and trade boats bustle in and out of Bach Dang Pier throughout the day and night. Some operators also arrange trips to attractions further afield, such as the Cu Chi Tunnels.
As well as being a good place to find out more about tours and activities available on the river, Bach Dang has an appeal all of its own, with a number authentic coffee shops, bars, and eateries on offer. It’s a bustling area where you’ll find locals doing tai chi in the mornings and sipping drinks overlooking the river come the early evening.
Practical Info
Bach Dang Pier is located next to the Renaissance Riverside Hotel in the southern end of town.
Address: Ton Duc Thang, Ho Chi Minh City, South Vietnam, Vietnam
From $ 9
Bac Ha Market
This sprawling market in the sleepy northern highland town of Bac Ha, is the reason many visit in the first place, but you’ll have to time it right. The market only occurs on Sundays, when, like clockwork, villagers from the surrounding hillside flood the town to set up shop, bargain for goods or come to see and be seen, catching up on the latest gossip. The open-air market here is among the largest in the region attracting members of the Black Dao, Tay, Nung, Phu La and other area minority ethnic groups, but it’s the brightly-colored Flower Hmong women that make up the bulk of Bac Ha Market’s vendors; they blanket and enliven the dusty streets with their neon costumes. Under blue plastic roofs, or atop tarps draped over the hard ground, market vendors proffer clothing, building materials, yarn, herbs and medicine, dried chilies, ruou (corn wine) and even livestock such as goats, chickens and buffalo. A growing segment of the market also caters to foreign visitors with bags, bracelets, scarves, bowls, dolls and other locally-made handicrafts. Bring your bargaining skills and arrive early for the best selection.
Practical Info
The market opens at sunrise and breaks down around 2 p.m. If you’ve already made it to Bac Ha (usually via the train or bus stations in Lao Cai some 47 miles away), then its an easy enough amble to market by foot. Day trips also depart Sapa early for the nearly three-hour trip to Bac Ha on market days returning later in the afternoon. For the true market lover, weekend-long organized shopping sprees, often including village treks or stays, visit the smaller Saturday Can Cau Market 12 miles north of Bac Ha first before visiting Bac Ha Market on Sunday.
Address: Lao Cai, Vietnam
From $ 29
Bao Quoc Pagoda
On Hàm Long hill by the Perfume River in Hue, Bao Quoc Pagoda is a Buddhist temple that dates back to the Nguyen Dynasty, when it was commissioned in 1670 by Chinese Zen Master Thích Giác Phong.
Though Bao Quoc was renovated in the mid-20th century, it still retains its traditional charm. A spring flows from the top of the hill down into the grounds of the temple, where the peaceful courtyard is surrounded by balconied buildings and stupas built in honor of Buddhist patriarchs, the oldest of which was built in 1714 and dedicated to Thich Giác Phong. At the temple, look closer at its four pillars carved with dragon figures.
Bao Quoc Pagoda is also famous for its monk training center, which has been running since 1940 when Vietnam initiated a revival in Buddhist education.
Practical Info
Open from sunrise to sunset on Ham Long Hill, Bao Quoc is free to enter. About a kilometer west of Hue city center on the south side of the Perfume River, the pagoda is on Báo Quoc Street in the Phuong Ðúc ward.
Address: Lịch Đợi, tp. Huế, Thừa Thiên Huế, Vietnam
Hours: Daily sunrise to sunset
From $ 88
Bai Dinh Temple
Not your average Vietnamese pagoda, the Bai Dinh Temple (Chua Bai Dinh) is actually an almost-three-square-mile complex of temple buildings and gardens dominating the slopes of a rounded hill in Ninh Binh province. The impressive site—whose three-tiered-roof hall leads to attractions such as 30 foot, 200,000 lb. bronze Buddha statue statue; intricate laquerwork and stone carving; a 72,000 lb. bronze bell housed in the 13-story Phap Chu pagoda; and 500 arhat (wisened Buddhist) statues—is a relatively new attraction. Though a much older temple exists up 300 stone steps and tucked into caves at the back of the complex, some of the larger and showier additions, including the bell and its tower, were built only in the last 15 years.
Thousands of Vietnamese pilgrims flood the site regularly, particularly during an annual Bai Dinh Temple Festival combining new and old rituals around the sixth day of the first lunar month. Some sources duby this the largest pagoda complex in Vietnam, but regardless of ranking, there’s no question this superlative site is worth a visit. Just don’t expect to have the place to yourself.
Practical Info
The temple complex is located 13 miles west of Ninh Binh town and admission is free. Tours to the Ninh Binh countryside almost all include a stop at the Bai Dinh Temple leave and regularly from Hanoi; boat trips to the Trang An Grottoes or Tam Coc cave systems are also often included. The temples are open from 7 a.m. til 5:45 p.m. daily.
Address: Gia Sinh, Gia Viễn, Ninh Binh, Vietnam
Hours: The temples are open from 7 a.m. til 5:45 p.m. daily.
From $ 38
Cantonese Assembly Hall (Quang Dong)
For centuries, assembly halls have been a place where migrant Chinese communities socialize and pass on the regional traditions of their home to future generations. With a population that’s over a quarter ethnic Chinese, Hoi An’s Cantonese Assembly Hall is one of five such hubs in town.
Founded in 1786, at the Cantonese Assembly Hall (Hoi Quen Quang Trieu), the colorful building materials you see today were first put together in China then shipped to Hoi An before being reassembled into the assembly hall, which has typical grand entrance gates that lead onto an ornamental garden, followed by a main hall and elaborate altar room.
Look out for the Cantonese Assembly Hall’s special flourishes, like the main altar dedicated to a red-faced Quan Cong, who symbolizes loyalty and righteousness. Also keep an eye out for the mosaic dragon statue by the entrance hall, and the even bigger dragon statue in the garden. In Cantonese lore, the fiery creatures are said to signify power, stability, and prosperity.
Practical Info
Hoi An’s Cantonese Assembly Hall (Quang Dong) is on 176 Tran Phu Street. Admission is by old town ticket (120,000 VND, valid for 10 days), and the hall is open from 8am - 5pm. Guided tours are available.
Address: 176 Tran Phu, Hoi An, Vietnam
Hours: Daily 8am-5pm
Admission: Old Town Ticket 120,000 VND
From $ 28
Can Cau Market
The vibrant traditional costumes of the Flower Hmong dominate the vibrant open-air market at Can Cau. Everywhere you look, women in electric-colored skirts and sashes sashay between market stalls, sharing gossip and bartering for local wares. The market materializes along a hill on the northern outskirts of Bac Ha each Saturday morning, commanding large crowds to its produce, food, handicraft and livestock stalls—don’t be surprised to see buffalo and even dogs for sale toward the bottom of the valley.
Set to a backdrop of agricultural terraces, and tree covered mountains and villages, the Can Cau market is a more scenic—and arguably less touristy—alternative to the similar but larger Sunday market within Bac Ha; some of the more eager vendors sell both days. Just five and a half miles to the border with China, market vendors and patrons also include a fair number of Chinese as well as other area ethnic minorities including Blue Hmong in patterned clothing of their namesake color. Bring your bartering skills for bags, scarves, clothes, handicrafts and more.
Practical Info
Can Cau Market is held 12 miles north of Bac Ha each Saturday morning and runs until the early afternoon (around 1:30 or 2 p.m.). Tours leave Bac Ha in the early morning and often include a short trek to a nearby Phu La ethnic village—or sometimes run two days with overnight homestay starting on Fridays. It’s also possible to reach Can Cau Market via day trips from Sapa—it’s an almost three-hour ride over windy mountain road, so be sure to grab a window seat to soak in the stunning scenery.
Address: Sapa, Vietnam
Hours: Saturday mornings until early afternoon.
From $ 35
Cao Dai Temple
Near Tay Ninh town, in Long Hoa village, this temple is considered the greatest of all Vietnam’s Cao Dai temples. Founded in 1926, the complex functions as a Holy See for the Cao Dai religion (Caodaism), Vietnam’s third most popular belief system after Buddhism and Catholicism. Visitors are welcome at prayer sessions in the Great Temple.
The Basics
Besides the Great Temple, the complex is home to offices, accommodations, and a traditional herbal medicine hospital, but most tours focus on the colorful Great Temple. Tay Ninh is roughly 60 miles (100 kilometers) northwest of Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam, from where most day trips depart.
Tours are by far the easiest way to see the temple, and many day tours pair the Cao Dai Temple with the Cu Chi Tunnels, underground tunnels from the Vietnam War that are also northwest of Saigon. Tours typically visit to coincide with the noon prayers, which you can both witness and photograph.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Cao Dai temple is Cao Dai’s answer to the Vatican: Dress respectfully (no shorts or sleeveless T-shirts).
- A Cao Dai temple tour is a must for anyone interested in culture and religion.
- While you are allowed to photograph prayers from the upstairs balcony, ask permission before photographing worshippers.
How to Get There
Self-driving in Vietnam is risky, and Tay Ninh is around 60 miles (100 kilometers) northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. By far, the easiest way to reach the Cao Dai temple is by joining a day tour, perhaps paired with a Cu Chi tunnels excursion, from Ho Chi Minh City. Many tours include door-to-door round-trip transfers from central hotels.
When to Get There
The Great Temple hosts four prayer sessions a day—suspended during Vietnamese New Year (Tet)—so time a visit to coincide with one of those. Most tours visit during noon prayers, so if traveling independently or on a private tour, aim for the 6am, 6pm, or midnight prayer meetings.
The Cao Dai Religion
Unique to Vietnam and founded in 1926, the Cao Dai religion is a fusion of various religions, including Christianity, Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. Cao Dai saints include Jesus Christ, Mohammed, Buddha, Julius Caesar, and Sun Yat-sen. The symbol of an eye in a triangle, which you’ll see at Cao Dai temples around Vietnam, represents God.
Address: Tay Ninh, Vietnam
Admission: Free
From $ 39