Binh Thanh Tower is an architectural masterpiece from the Oc Eo culture, dating back more than a thousand years. The tower not only stands out for its architecture but also has profound historical and cultural value, making it a tourist destination in Tay Ninh that attracts many culture lovers.

Overview of the Binh Thanh Tower

Binh Thanh tower (Vietnamese: tháp Bình Thạnh, tháp means tower), also known as Binh Thanh Cham Tower, is one of three typical architectures representing the remaining Oc Eo culture in the South that still exists today. This ancient tower was built in the 8th-9th centuries and is now more than 1,000 years old. The overall area of the Binh Thanh tower consists of three buildings, but only the central tower remains intact.

This is the only tower with stone walls that has remained largely intact since its discovery in 1886. It is also a rare example of Oc Eo cultural heritage that retains its original construction; two other towers have collapsed, leaving only ruins on the square foundation.

Additionally, the Binh Thanh ancient tower embodies many traditional cultural values, religions, and beliefs of the ancient Funan people. Typically, the patterns and reliefs embossed on the tower, mostly images of stylized flowers, gods, and vitality, were popular images in Hinduism, worshiped by the Funan people.

Not only that, the discovery of the ancient tower further confirms that the land of Tay Ninh has long been a focal point for trade and exchange among many great cultures, with a long history before the Vietnamese people set foot there in the 17th century.

Binh Thanh tower

Binh Thanh Tower was first documented in archaeological reports at the Indochina Archaeological Research Library in the early 20th century. It was designated a Cultural-Historical Monument by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in 1993.

Sophisticated and unique architecture at Binh Thanh tower

Binh Thanh Tower is located on a high mound, in the middle of a large rice field in Binh Thanh commune, Trang Bang district. Similar to the Champa tower temples in the Central region, this ancient tower was built by stacking stone slabs and fired bricks, with no mortar in between. This construction technique remains a major question for archaeologists.

The main gate of the tower is located on the East, 2m high and 1m wide, carved with reliefs on the walls. Above the main gate is a rectangular stone slab, 0.8m high and 2m wide, carved with a sophisticated, skillful stylized chrysanthemum. The remaining doors of the tower are all fake doors carved with elaborate patterns. To understand the details of this unique architecture, visitors can hire a tour guide to explain the Binh Thanh tower.

Binh Thanh tower

Thus, visiting Binh Thanh Tower, visitors can see unique, meticulous construction techniques that have been lost for thousands of years, along with the nation’s cultural and historical values. This is a must-visit destination when traveling to Tay Ninh.

How to get here?

Tourists from the Northern and Central provinces who plan to visit Tay Ninh must first fly to Ho Chi Minh City. Flights to Ho Chi Minh City depart from major cities such as Hanoi, Hue, and Da Nang. Visitors can then travel to Tay Ninh to visit Binh Thanh Tower by local bus or motorbike.

If you want to explore the tower by driving yourself, from the center of Tay Ninh, head along Highway 22B toward the center of Go Dau, then turn right at the intersection of Voi hamlet (Ben Cau) to enter Road 786. From here, you run about 20km more. You will see a turn leading to the ancient tower.

private car to Tay Ninh

sample of a 7-seater car to Tay Ninh

Don’t forget that the best way, especially when traveling with a group, is to book a private car to Tay Ninh with a driver, as it’s convenient for sightseeing and for stopping along the way for a break.

Source: collected by An

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