Discover 5 must-see destinations when visiting Tay Ninh with Mavis Vi Vu Ky.

Besides its cultural and spiritual sites, upon further exploration, I discovered that Tay Ninh also boasts stunning natural landscapes, from the lush green of its vegetation to the dreamy white of its sea of ​​clouds. If you have the chance to visit Tay Ninh, don't miss these 5 amazing places:

Go to Ba Den Mountain to chase the sea of ​​clouds.

Mount Ba Den, known as the "roof of the Southeast region," stands at 986 meters high. There are two ways to reach Mount Ba Den: hiking for those who love mountain climbing or taking the cable car. That day, I woke up early to catch the first cable car ride of the day to witness the magnificent sea of ​​clouds on the way to the summit. And luck was on my side. The feeling of watching the sun shine on the endless expanse of fluffy white clouds was truly indescribable.

At the summit of Ba Den Mountain stands the tallest bronze statue of the Goddess of Mercy in Asia, majestically overlooking the panoramic view of Tay Ninh with its lush green fields. Additionally, you can visit the temples on the mountain such as Hang Pagoda, Linh Son Hoa Dong Pagoda, Quan Am Pagoda, etc. Among them, the famous and sacred Ba Den Pagoda is over 300 years old.

Lo Go - Xa Mat National Park - a breathtaking natural landscape in the border region.

This is an ideal destination for those who love unspoiled nature and peaceful scenery. Lo Go - Xa Mat National Park is located in Tan Bien district, about 30km from the center of Tay Ninh city.

The best experience I had here was climbing the Ta Not observation deck to admire the border scenery, waiting, and then being overwhelmed when I saw thousands of birds flying back from Cambodia, perching on the trees and lush green fields.

In addition, I also had some extremely interesting experiences, such as taking a boat trip on the upper reaches of the Vam Co Dong River, which flows from Cambodia into Vietnam, discovering two centuries-old heritage trees, and admiring the primeval forest with its incredibly rich ecosystem. It felt truly peaceful and like being one with nature.

Tay Ninh Holy See with its unique architecture

The Tay Ninh Holy See is the greatest structure of the Cao Dai religion and one of the most distinctive destinations in Tay Ninh. The grounds are quite spacious, and the Holy See itself boasts a unique architectural style that combines elements from various religious civilizations around the world.

Outside, there are stunning photo opportunities, while inside are "miniature works of art" marked by drawings, statues, pillars... and every detail holds profound meaning. That day, I also listened to a lecture on Cao Dai religion, and I was captivated by the extremely interesting and novel knowledge.

Tam Quen - a long-standing, extremely peaceful cafe.

That afternoon, I was very curious when I stood in front of a cafe with a very unusual name: Tam Quen (Forgetfulness). Looking from the outside, with its seemingly old gate, I was immediately drawn to it, and then extremely impressed by the nostalgic atmosphere inside.

The cafe is designed in a vintage style and has many charming corners, preserving numerous items and photos from decades ago, from old banknotes, music speakers, typewriters to vintage Vespas. In addition, the cafe has many plants and books – perfect for those seeking a truly chill and peaceful "hideaway".

Dau Tieng Lake - an ideal location for camping enthusiasts.

Dau Tieng Lake is the largest irrigation lake in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Quite fascinated by the scenery around the lake, my group of friends and I decided to spend an afternoon exploring and camping on a peaceful island - Nhim Island.

Before reaching the island, on the small boat gliding through the water, I was thrilled by the peaceful scenery around the lake: the calm water under the afternoon sun, the small islands scattered about, and herds of buffalo and cows grazing peacefully. Soon we arrived at Hedgehog Island. We quickly set up our tents, grilled fish, built a campfire, and strolled along the lush green grass. And so, a peaceful afternoon passed.

Things to keep in mind when traveling to Tay Ninh:

When is the best time to visit Tay Ninh?

Like other southern provinces, Tay Ninh has two distinct seasons: the rainy season (from May to November) and the dry season (from December to April of the following year). However, you don't need to worry too much if you visit during the rainy season, because if it rains the night before, the chances of catching a sea of ​​clouds on Ba Den Mountain are extremely high!

Transportation options to Tay Ninh:

Tay Ninh is located about 100km from Ho Chi Minh City, so if possible, you can travel there by motorbike, conveniently stopping in Trang Bang to eat banh canh (a type of noodle soup) and enjoy the scenery along the way.

If you want to save time and effort, there are many buses going to Tay Ninh, ranging from regular buses to limousines.

Some other things to note:

The Lo Go - Xa Mat National Park is being preserved and is very close to the border, so if you want to visit, you need to book a tour in advance. To optimize your experience, you can combine the Lo Go - Xa Mat National Park with the Xa Mat border gate, the Central Committee of the Southern Region, and explore Tan Bien. Boat services on Dau Tieng Lake are not yet very common. To take a boat, you need to go to the pier at the lakeside intersection, near Suoi Da Church, Duong Minh Chau Town, Tay Ninh. Opposite the intersection is Dong Phuoc parking lot, which offers hourly parking for cars or motorbikes.

This article was written by Nguyen Khanh Hoang Anh - Mavis Vi Vu Ky, a young woman who has conquered 56 provinces and cities in Vietnam and many Asian countries. She has a strong passion for travel and brings back wonderful stories about her youthful trips.

Mavis's Travelogue