Tây Ninh

Tây Ninh is home to one of the world's most colorful and eclectic religions, Caodaism. This religion was formed in 1919 and is influenced by Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, native Vietnamese spirituality, Christianity and Islam and has a formal structure based on the Catholic Church.

By the 1950's the religion's regional influence had become very powerful and it even boasted its own 25,000 men strong army. After 1975 the Caodai were victims of fierce reprisals by the Viet Cong for their failure to support anti American actions. Throughout the 1980's however, the religion re-established its position in the region.

Most visitors come to Tây Ninh to see the nine-level Cao Dai Holy See complex, some 4 km (2.5 miles) east of town. Construction of the Holy Tower commenced in1933, but it was not finished until 1955. Tây Ninh is also home to Thien Lam, or Go Ken Pagoda. The bustling Long Hoa central market is a good place to buy local food.

Other places of interest include Black Virgin Mountain, the tallest mountain in southern Vietnam. It can be reached by cable-car; Dau Tieng Lake is one of the largest man-made lakes in Vietnam and Southeast Asia; Lò Gò-Xa Mát National Park and Chang Riec Forest.

Tây Ninh has regular bus connections with Ho Chi Minh City, although most people get there by taxi on a day trip that includes the Cu Chi tunnels. There are several hotels and restaurants in Tây Ninh. The city is 90 km (55 mi) northwest of Ho Chi Minh City and not far from the border with Cambodia. The Mộc Bài International Border Gate is also a popular site with visitors.