7 Best Things To Do In Tay Ninh, Vietnam

I’d wanted to visit Tay Ninh for a while, mostly because Ba Den Mountain and the Cao Dai Holy See looked so different from anywhere else I’d been in Vietnam. And they really were.

What surprised me was how easily the day came together. We went from mountain views to one of the most colorful temples I’ve ever seen, then finished with good food and a much slower afternoon.

Tay Ninh also makes an easy day trip from Ho Chi Minh City, so you don’t need to completely rearrange your Vietnam trip to fit it in.

Here are the things I enjoyed most in Tay Ninh and what I’d make time for on your first visit.

Plan your Tay Ninh trip

1. Spend a few hours on Ba Den Mountain

Ba Den Mountain was the place I was most excited about before our Tay Ninh trip. I’d seen those huge views from the summit in photos, so of course I wanted to get up there myself.

Thankfully, you don’t have to spend hours climbing unless you actually want the hike. The cable car gets you up the mountain ridiculously easily, so you can save your energy for wandering around once you arrive.

I’d visit both the pagoda area and the summit because they don’t feel like the same experience at all.

The pagoda area is the older, quieter side of Ba Den, with temples built into the mountain and people coming here to pray. I liked slowing down here before heading farther up because it feels much more traditional than the newer summit complex.

Then you reach the top, and everything suddenly feels huge.

There are gardens, wide-open viewpoints and the enormous Tay Bo Da Son Bodhisattva statue looking out across the landscape. When the weather is clear, you can see for miles, and on cloudier mornings you may end up looking down over layers of mist instead.

I wouldn’t rush Ba Den just because the cable car is quick. Give yourself a few hours and enjoy the fact that getting up Vietnam’s highest mountain in the south is now the easy part.

Book Ba Den Mountain cable car tickets →

2. See the Cao Dai Holy See during prayer time

The Cao Dai Holy See was probably the place in Tay Ninh that made me stop and look around the most.

There is so much color everywhere. Dragons curl around bright pink columns, painted eyes appear above doorways, and even the ceiling is full of details.

But I wouldn’t come just to photograph the building.

Try to be here around the noon ceremony because that was what made the visit much more interesting for me. Once everyone dressed in white starts taking their places inside, you get to see the Holy See as an actual place of worship rather than another beautiful building.

I liked standing quietly at the side and watching everything happen. Even if you know very little about Cao Dai before arriving, you quickly realize how different the religion is from anything else you’re likely to see during a Vietnam trip.

Give yourself a little time before the ceremony to walk around too. You’ll need to remove your shoes before going inside, and I’d dress respectfully because this is still a very important religious site.

Book a Tay Ninh day tour →

3. Eat something from Trang Bang

After spending the morning sightseeing, food becomes a very good next plan.

Bánh canh Trảng Bàng is one of Tay Ninh’s best-known dishes, and I’d happily have a bowl for lunch. The thick noodles come in a comforting broth with meat and herbs, and it’s exactly the kind of meal I want after being out all morning.

Then there’s Tay Ninh’s famous dew-wetted rice paper.

You wrap the soft rice paper around pork, vegetables and loads of fresh herbs before dipping everything into sauce. I love meals like this because half the fun is sitting around the table making each roll yourself.

You’ll also notice plenty of vegetarian restaurants around Tay Ninh because of the area’s strong religious culture.

I wouldn’t treat food as something to squeeze between attractions here. Make lunch part of the day because Tay Ninh has some really distinctive local dishes worth trying.

4. Stop by Binh Thanh Ancient Tower

Binh Thanh Ancient Tower is the kind of place I like adding when I don’t want every stop to be huge and busy.

The old brick tower stands out immediately against the quiet countryside, and you can get right up close to see the patterns worked into the structure. It feels very different from both Ba Den and the Cao Dai Holy See.

There isn’t a massive complex to work your way through, which I actually liked.

Walk around, have a proper look at the brickwork and enjoy the quieter surroundings. I’d fit it into a longer drive around Tay Ninh rather than planning the whole day around it.

5. Have a slow afternoon at Dau Tieng Lake

Dau Tieng Lake is a nice change after a morning of temples and sightseeing. We could simply enjoy the water and open scenery without needing to follow another route or learn another list of facts.

Late afternoon is the best time to visit.

The light gets softer, the temperature is nicer, and it’s the sort of place where sitting around for a while feels perfectly acceptable. Bring a drink, find a spot you like and enjoy having absolutely nowhere else to be for a bit.

6. Visit Lo Go-Xa Mat National Park

If you’re staying overnight in Tay Ninh, you can start looking beyond the main sights.

Lo Go-Xa Mat National Park is much more about being outdoors, with forest, cycling routes, birdlife and the Vam Co Dong River. I’d save this for a second day because trying to squeeze it in with Ba Den and the Cao Dai Holy See would make the trip feel far too rushed.

This is the one I’d choose when I wanted a greener, quieter day after seeing Tay Ninh’s big attractions.

And if nature isn’t really your thing, I’d simply give yourself more time around the city instead. You don’t need to add another excursion just because you have an extra day.

Where to stay in Tay Ninh

A lot of people visit Tay Ninh from Ho Chi Minh City and go back the same evening, but staying overnight makes the trip much more relaxed.

Meliá Vinpearl Tay Ninh is a nice place to stay in Tay Ninh. It’s right in the city, the rooms look toward Ba Den Mountain and it gives you a much more comfortable base if you want another day to explore.

I especially like the idea of waking up with Ba Den outside the window instead of sitting in traffic back to Ho Chi Minh City that evening.

Final thoughts

Tay Ninh ended up being a really fun change from the places I’d been visiting elsewhere in southern Vietnam.

Ba Den Mountain and the Cao Dai Holy See were the reasons I wanted to go, and I’d still put both at the top of your list. But I also really liked that the day didn’t feel like one long sightseeing marathon.

There was time to eat well, wander around and slow down by the lake too.

If you’re visiting from Ho Chi Minh City, one day is enough to see the main Tay Ninh attractions. But I’d happily stay overnight if you want the trip to feel a little less rushed and leave room for whatever else you find along the way.