Tay Ninh is located in the Southeast region, bordering Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh city, to the east and south, Dong Thap to the west and Cambodia to the north with a long border.
With the location is a key economic zone and is the gateway connecting the Southeast with the Mekong Delta. Tay Ninh is also considered one of the provinces with rich and diverse tourism potential, bringing visitors many memorable experiences when coming here.
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General information about Tay Ninh
In terms of geographical location, Tay Ninh has the Dong Vam Co River flowing through before converging with the Tay Vam Co River to form the Vam Co River.
Furthermore, Tay Ninh has important strategic locations, bordering Ho Chi Minh City and the Cambodian border. After the merger between Tay Ninh And Long An in 2025, the new province has a space of more than 8,500 km² with a population of more than 3.3 million people.
What’s the best time to visit Tay Ninh?
Tay Ninh’s climate is divided into two distinct seasons. The dry season is from December to April of the following year. The dry season is sunny and convenient for sightseeing. Tay Ninh’s rainy season lasts from May to November.
A magnificent view from Ba Den mountain.
However, the rain does not last long and there are still sunny days, visitors should follow the weather forecast to have a suitable schedule.
How to get here
Tay Ninh is about 100 km from Ho Chi Minh City, travel time is 2 – 3 hours depending on the means of transport. From An Suong bus station or Tan Son Nhat airport, popular passenger vans such as Dong Phuoc, Le Khanh, Hue Nghia limousine, to Tay Ninh city center, one-way ticket price is 100,000 – 250,000 VND.
The old Long An is just about 60 km from Ho Chi Minh City. National highways from Ho Chi Minh City through Long An to other provinces in the region include QL1, 50, 61, N1 and N2. Travel time is from one and a half to two and a half hours, depending on traffic conditions, means of transport and destination in the province.
Phuong Trang – one of a popular bus company to Tay Ninh.
In Tay Ninh, visitors can go to tourist attractions by taxi, or rent a motorbike for 100,000 – 180,000 VND each. Personal cars and motorbikes are the most flexible means of transport.
There is no airport in Tay Ninh, and the nearest airport is Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City. Travel time is one and a half to two hours, depending on traffic conditions. With a location not too far from the center of Ho Chi Minh City, visitors have many options in using or renting means of transport.
Accommodation in Tay Ninh
Tay Ninh is located next to Ho Chi Minh City, so it is suitable for a day trip or short trips of 2-3 days. If staying overnight in Long An, visitors should choose to stay in eco-tourism areas. The accommodation area in Tan Lap floating village has rooms with prices ranging from 450,000 VND to 1.1 million VND per night.
A view from Melia Vinpearl Tay Ninh.
In the center of Tan An, visitors can choose 2-3 star hotels with prices ranging from 200,000 VND to 600,000 VND per night.
Sightseeing in Tay Ninh
Scared temples and pagodas
Ba Den Mountain
Ba Den Mountain is located in the Ba Mountain relic complex in Binh Minh commune, 11 km northeast of Tay Ninh. Compared to the two remaining mountains in the group, Heo Mountain and Phung Mountain, Ba Den Mountain stands out with a height of 986 m and is the highest mountain in the Southeast. The mountain has white clouds floating all year round on the top, looking like it is wearing a thin silk cloth, so the mountain is also called Van Son. From afar, Ba Den Mountain stands tall like an upside-down conical hat in the middle of the plain, attracting tourists to visit.
If you visit all the pagodas on the mountain, you will pass by Ba Den Pagoda (Linh Son Tien Thach Tu), Hang Pagoda (Linh Son Long Chau), Linh Son Hoa Dong Pagoda, Linh Son Phuoc Trung Pagoda, and Quan Am Pagoda. Of which, Ba Den Pagoda, which is over 300 years old, is a pilgrimage destination especially crowded at the beginning of the year and the Ba festival is held annually in the 5th lunar month.
The statue of Buddha Tay Bo Da Son sits on a bronze lotus platform, appearing and disappearing among the sea of clouds, amidst the natural scenery on the top of the mountain.
Many major Buddhist festivals are regularly held at Ba Den Mountain, such as the Maitreya Buddha’s birthday in early January, Buddha’s birthday in the fourth lunar month, or Vu Lan festival in the seventh lunar month, the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara’s renunciation festival and the ninth lunar month, attracting a large number of tourists from all over the world.
To go up the mountain, most tourists choose to travel by cable car. The three cable car stations are Ba Den station, Chua Hang station, and Van Son station, which are not only places for passengers to transfer to tourist attractions on the mountain, but also places to see the scenery from above as well as the entire plain at the foot of the mountain.
The round-trip cable car ticket price is 250,000 VND for adults, 150,000 VND for children 1-1.4m tall. In addition, each visitor must buy an additional entrance ticket for adults at 16,000 VND, 8,000 VND for children 1-1.4m tall, people over 60 years old, and people with severe disabilities.
The Van Son cable car to the top of the mountain operates from 7:45 am to 16:00 pm on weekdays, 7:00 am to 17:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The cable car from Hang Pagoda to Ba Pagoda operates from 7:00 am to 17:00 pm on weekdays, 6:00 am to 18:00 pm on Saturdays and 6:00 am to 17:00 pm on Sundays.
Tay Ninh Holy See
Located in Long Hoa commune about 5 km southeast of old Tay Ninh city, Tay Ninh Holy See stands out in its campus with its unique architecture, combining Eastern and Western philosophical views, expressing the synthesis of many spiritual elements in one project. The Holy See began construction in 1933 and was completed in 1947, but was not inaugurated until 1955.
Tay Ninh Cao Dai religion was born in late 1926 in Tay Ninh. The symbol of the religion is Thien Nhan with an eye in a triangle, symbolizing God. In addition, the religion also worships Buddha Shakyamuni, Jesus, Confucius, Lao Tzu, and Guanyin. These images are depicted in many places inside and outside the Holy See, especially the main entrance.
The two biggest festivals of the Holy See are the Great Festival of the Supreme being held on the 8th of January and the Yaochi Palace on the 15th of the 8th lunar month every year. Visitors will admire the magical space of the Holy See and the large-scale, unique cultural activities.
At the Holy See, ceremonies are solemnly held 4 times a day at 0:00, 6:00, 12:00 and 18:00. This is the address for visitors to learn about religion and experience the cultural beliefs of Tay Ninh.
Note that when entering the Holy See, visitors must leave their shoes outside (with someone watching) and are not allowed to take pictures of people with the Holy Eye as the background, only take pictures of the scenery. Visitors can ask for permission to go upstairs to take panoramic photos of the Holy See.
Go Ken Pagoda
8 km from the center of Tay Ninh, Go Ken Pagoda is located on National Highway 22B in Hoa Thanh commune. The pagoda is over 100 years old and is home to two giant Buddha statues, including a 25-meter-high statue of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara standing on a 7-meter-high dragon body and a 25-meter-long statue of Buddha entering nirvana.
The Go Ken Pagoda complex is a blend of traditional and modern architectural styles. The space of the pagoda brings visitors a sense of peace because of the harmonious combination of a quiet and ancient atmosphere. The pagoda has typical Buddhist structures that were elaborately built, from the triple-gate, the Maitreya Buddha shrine, to the Lumbini garden, Ngu Hanh Son mountain, and the 9-storey Xa Loi Stupa.
Ton Thanh Pagoda
Ton Thanh pagoda is located in the Thanh Ba quarter of My Loc Commune. Built in 1808 by northern emigrants, Ton Thanh Pagoda is the oldest pagoda in Tay Ninh. Several valuable ancient statues with its design in 19th century still are remained in the pagoda. In particular, the bronze statue of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, 110 cm high, sitting on the back of a lion, his right hand in a mudra, his left hand across his chest, with a pearl in his palm.
Ton Thanh Pagoda was also where Nguyen Dinh Chieu, a great Vietnamese poet, lived and wrote, especially the poem “Eulogy for the Righteous People of Cần Giuộc”, during the period 1859 – 1861. During that time, he also opened a class to teach outside, but inside he directly directed the resistance.
Ancient and unique architecture
Binh Thanh Ancient Tower
The thousand-year-old tower was discovered in 1886, located in Thu Thua commune. This is one of the rare ancient towers that still remains almost intact, representing the architecture of the Oc Eo culture of the South. The Binh Thanh Ancient tower was built on a square foundation, each side 5 m long and 10 m high; the tower’s sides were built in the four directions East, West, South, North. The main door on the East side was built to protrude outwards, 1 m wide, 2 m high, in front of which was a “square pond”. Above the main door was a large, rectangular stone slab measuring 0.8 x 2 m, embossed with stylized chrysanthemums.
The three sides West, South, and North all had fake doors, above which were embossed patterns and elaborate decorations. On July 23, 1993, Binh Thanh Tower was recognized as a historical and cultural relic.
Nguyen Tam Kien Ancient House
The house at 39 Phan Chau Trinh Street, old Tay Ninh city was built in 1894 with traditional Southern architecture. The wooden structures and tiled roofs are preserved intact to this day. In 2017, the building was ranked as a provincial-level architectural and artistic relic.
The owner of the house is Mr. Nguyen Tam Kien, the Governor during the French colonial period. The house still has descendants living there and preserving many ancient objects. Visitors are welcome to visit and take photos for free.
House with Hundred Columns
An ancient house with Hue architecture with 120 precious wooden pillars, has existed for more than 100 years in Long An. The house with Hundred Columns is located on the bank of the Vam Co Dong River, in Long Huu Commune.
Bearing a clear mark of Hue style but made according to the owner’s order in the context of the Southern region during the French colonial period, the house has many changes in the decorative theme, creating harmony between Central and Southern architecture.
Rach Cat Fort
Rach Cat Fort is one of the largest military fortresses in Vietnam, located in Long Ninh Hamlet, Long Huu Commune, old Long An Province. This is a solid coastal defense fortress with unique architecture and a strategic position in both defense and attack.
Rach Cat Fort was built by the French colonialists in 1903. It was completed in 1914. The fortress was designed in an arc shape and built on an area of about 3 hectares. The cost of building the fortress was about 7 million francs at that time, 3.5 times higher than the cost of building the Hanoi Opera House. The fortress is 300 m long and 100 m wide; consisting of 5 floors (3 underground floors, 2 above-ground floors). The fortress walls are 60 – 80 cm thick, making the basements always cool. On the roof of the highest floor, there is a 105 mm heavy artillery gun. The relic has been ranked at the provincial level. This is considered the place that preserves the most magnificent French fortresses and fortifications in the South. Standing near the cannons on the roof, you will get a view of a beautiful landscapes of the Go Cong River Area.
Nature & wildlife areas
Dau Tieng Reservoir
From the city center, about 45 minutes by car, visitors will arrive at Dau Tieng Reservoir – the largest artificial lake in Vietnam. The lake has an area of 27,000 hectares, so it is also known as the Sea Lake of Tay Ninh.
During the flood season from August to November, Dau Tieng reservoir is filled with water, creating a freshwater ecosystem with many types of shrimp and fish.
During the dry season, Dau Tieng reservoir is a camping spot chosen by many tourists because of its green lawn and fresh air. Nhim Island in the middle of the lake is also an attractive camping spot. To reach the island, visitors must rent a boat from local people. Around Dau Tieng reservoir, tourism services have been developed. In addition to camping, visitors can choose to paddle SUP or play thrilling games.
Lo Go Xa Mat National Park
Lo Go Xa Mat National Park with a total area of 19,000 hectares, about 30 km northwest of Tay Ninh. In 2019, the park was recognized as an ASEAN Heritage Park. After the appearance of the stork flock, the park management board has had many protection plans, and at the same time organized for visitors to visit and watch birds. At the national park, visitors have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the peaceful, pristine beauty of nature at the border when traveling by motorboat on the Vam Co Dong River, watching wild flowers and birds on both sides of the river.
Lo Go Xa Mat is home to more than 200 species of rare water birds. This is also a stopover for red-crowned cranes migrating from the Mekong Delta to their breeding grounds in Cambodia. The terrain in the garden is flat and easy to navigate. Visitors can experience trekking through the forest to visit two ancient trees recognized as Vietnam heritage trees, including the 200-year-old tung tree and the more than 200-year-old ven ven tree.
MyQ Safari – My Quynh Zoo
Located in Hau Nghia Commune, My Quynh Zoo has a large space and is divided into many sub-areas such as water park, resort, dining area, koi pond, bonsai garden, semi-wild and wild zoo.
In particular, My Quynh Zoo has more than 30 hectares of area dedicated to building habitats for more than 100 species of wild animals in Vietnam. Like many other zoos, coming to My Quynh you will be able to see the lives of a large animal world such as deer, tigers, lions, hippos, …
However, at My Quynh Zoo, you do not come into contact with animals in cages or closed cages, the animals are released freely in the zoo. For strong animals, visitors will take a bus around the zoo to see them, for more friendly animals, visitors will be supported to have direct contact such as stroking tickets or feeding (depending on the species).
Ticket price: Adults: 100,000 VND; Children 1m – 1.4m: 60,000 VND; Children under 1m: Free
Dong Thap Muoi Eco-tourist site
Dong Thap Muoi Eco-tourist site is spread across Moc Hoa, Vinh Hung, Thanh Hoa, and Tan Thanh districts. This is a wetland area of the Mekong Delta with an area of over 6,000 hectares, a place that attracts tourists with its vast cajuput forests of over 800 hectares. Dong Thap Muoi Ecotourism Area has nearly 120 species of birds and 150 species of animals, including rare species such as herons, red-headed cranes, turtles, snakes and many more.
When coming here, visitors will be able to see cajuput forests and lotus ponds with their own eyes. If you visit the tourist area during the flood season (from September to November every year), you will have the opportunity to see lotus flowers blooming.
Tan Lap Floating Village
Tan Lap Floating Village is located in Moc Hoa Commune, a destination with peaceful river scenery. The nature here is highlighted by ancient cajuput forests, lotus ponds, water lily lakes and hundreds of species of birds, fish and amphibians. Visitors will sit on a boat in the middle of the forest. There is also an observation deck for visitors to enjoy the panoramic view. Visitors can also walk on the route to explore the cajuput forest.
In addition, visitors can also enjoy specialties of the Mekong region such as chicken hotpot with giang leaves, sour hotpot with snakehead fish, crispy fried linh fish, braised fish in clay pot, and stir-fried eel with turmeric…. The cultural identity of local residents through traditional crafts such as wood carving, boat building, and listening to traditional music are also experiences here.
The tourist area is open from 7am to 17pm, with an entrance fee of 70,000 VND. In addition, there are prices for other services such as rowing, electric cars, fishing, and cycling.
Cuisine
Not only known as a province with bustling development, the economic locomotive in the Mekong Delta, Tay Ninh also has a very special culinary culture, which is a highlight that creates attraction for tourism industry in general and the Southern region in general.
Tay Ninh is famous for its rice paper, Trang Bang rice noodles, young beef, nem rin grapefruit, shrimp salt, Ba mountain snails, sour fish sauce, mountain lizards, and vegetarian dishes of Cao Dai followers.
Trang Bang rice noodles
Along National Highway 22 from Ho Chi Minh City to Tay Ninh, there are many Trang Bang rice noodles shops. A bowl of rice noodles is characterized by pig’s feet, blood and green onions, which is considered to be suitable for many people’s taste. Trang Bang rice noodles are characterized by the sweetness of bone broth, soft, sweet meat, and the aroma of fried onions, pepper and green onions.
Customers can find rice noodles shops in Trang Bang town to enjoy, with prices ranging from 30,000 VND – 100,000 VND per bowl.
Dew-Soaked rice paper
Dew-Soaked rice paper is a Trang Bang specialty, with an elaborate and sophisticated processing process. The cake is made from delicious rice, without mixing. When grinding the rice, a certain amount of salt is added to create a salty taste. The rice paper is processed twice, thicker than other types. The cake is steamed and then dried in the sun, then grilled again on charcoal to make it fragrant and spongy, the final step is drying in the dew.
Dew-Soaked rice paper is soft and chewy, often used to wrap meat, fish, raw vegetables and dip in sweet and sour fish sauce or fermented fish sauce.
Tay Ninh veal
Tay Ninh veal is a type of cow about 5 to 6 months old that is naturally raised, so the meat is firm, not too fatty, the skin is not too hard, the ribs are soft and sweet. Beef is processed into many different dishes such as steamed veal with lemongrass, grilled veal with fish sauce, hot pot.
Xiem Lo noodle soup
Originating from Cambodia, Xiem Lo noodle soup is popular in Moc Hoa district and some neighboring localities. The original dish only has broth made from snakehead fish, vermicelli, and chili salt. People in the South have adapted it to local tastes, adding fish meat.
After being processed, the head of the snakehead fish is used to simmer the broth, and the meat is used to make fish cakes. Snakehead fish cakes can be shaped into squares or round balls. To make the broth have a beautiful color, the cook adds finely chopped turmeric and other spices such as salt, fish sauce to taste.
Sour fish soup
The fish is a type of catfish, the largest reaching about one kilogram, which can be found in local rivers and canals. The fish can be cooked into many dishes such as braised in a clay pot, braised with lemongrass and chili, fried with salt or fried fresh, but the best is still sour soup.
Although the fish is small and has little meat, the meat is delicious, the bones are soft, and during the breeding season there will be many eggs. Whether the sour fish soup is delicious or not depends a lot on the choice of young tamarind leaves, and other ingredients such as okra and tomatoes. Sour fish soup has the sweet taste of tamarind leaves and the fatty taste of the fish.
Can Duoc fresh sausage
Can Duoc sausage is associated with the place name Rach Kien, an ancient district of old Long An, where many Chinese people used to live. They learned from their ancestors how to stuff minced meat into pig intestines and let it ferment naturally.
The ingredients for making sausage are selected from delicious parts of meat, usually the thigh meat, without tendons. The second ingredient is thick, crispy pork fat that does not leak water. Meat and fat have their own ratio to ensure that they are not dry or fatty. Can Duoc traditional fresh sausage is the only representative of Long An to be included in the top dishes of 2022 selected by the Vietnam Culinary Culture Association.
Go Den rice wine
This is a type of wine made from rice, or sticky rice, according to the traditional method, produced in Go Den, Ben Luc commune. Go Den is a type of rice wine with a very high alcohol concentration, up to 50 degrees of alcohol, a specialty of the new Tay Ninh in particular and the Mekong Delta provinces in general.
Like many famous local wines in the world, Go Den rice wine emphasizes the soil issue, so to have a delicious product, Go Den rice wine must be brewed in the Go Den area.
Fish sauce hotpot
Tourists traveling to Tay Ninh without trying fish sauce hotpot is considered to have never been to this land. Fish sauce hotpot is a dish with a typical flavor of culture and people. With a delicious broth, rich in fish sauce flavor, combined with spicy and sweet flavors, it creates a rustic hotpot dish, but extremely attractive. After being cooked, the hotpot will be eaten with vegetables such as: lotus, dien dien, banana flower, and other herbs, …
There is nothing better than eating a little bit of hot, fragrant hotpot broth, which will definitely warm your heart and make you miss it forever.
Grilled snakehead fish
Grilled snakehead fish is a rustic dish, familiar to local people. After being caught fresh, the snakehead fish will be processed and grilled directly on hot coals, the mouth of the fish will be inserted with a stick to hold when grilling.
This is also the reason why this dish is called grilled snakehead fish. Right from the moment you see the dish, you will definitely be impressed by the natural aroma of the fish, when eating, you will feel the sweetness and fatness of the fish. If combined with vermicelli, rice paper, raw vegetables, sour star fruit, and a little bit of spicy and sour sauce, it will be hard for you to resist this dish.
Source: collected by An
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