Cao Dai Holy See
The cathedral of a religion founded in 1926 that combines several faiths and holds noon services daily.
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Caodaism was founded in southern Vietnam in 1926 and draws deliberately on Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Christianity and Vietnamese folk religion, with a hierarchy modelled loosely on the Catholic church and a body of saints that includes Victor Hugo, Sun Yat-sen and the poet Nguyen Binh Khiem. Its Holy See at Tay Ninh, built between 1933 and 1955, is a long hall of columns wrapped in dragons, painted in strong colours, with the Divine Eye - the symbol of the faith - above the altar. Services are held four times a day, at six, noon, six and midnight, with the congregation in white and the priesthood in red, blue and yellow.
What you actually see
- A religion founded in 1926 - combining several traditions deliberately.
- A hall of dragon-wrapped columns - built between 1933 and 1955.
- The Divine Eye above the altar - the faith's central symbol.
- Services four times a day - the noon one is the usual visit.
When to go
Year round; the noon service is when most visitors come. Half a day.
Honest expectations
This is worship, not a performance - visitors watch from the balcony, shoes off, and are expected to be quiet. Coach groups arrive for noon and can be intrusive. Photography rules apply. Dress modestly.
Nearby
Ba Den mountain is north-east; Ho Chi Minh City is south-east.
What to pack for Cao Dai Holy See
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.