Across the level plains of southeastern Tây Ninh Province, looking toward the solitary peak of Mount Bà Đen rising in the north, the Tây Ninh Holy See stands out as an architectural form unlike any Buddhist pagoda, Christian church, or Islamic mosque built before it in Vietnam. Foundation earthworks began in 1931, construction of the Great Temple (Đền Thánh) commenced in 1933 under the direction of Hộ Pháp Phạm Công Tắc, and the complex was inaugurated in 1955 as the central headquarters of the Cao Đài Holy See of Tây Ninh. Every meter of length, every stepped platform, and every dragon-entwined pillar inside the Great Temple is translated directly from the teachings of Caodaism, turning the building itself into a scripture cast in mortar, bamboo, and reinforced concrete.
ISite and orientation
Viewed on a regional map of southeastern Vietnam, the Long Hoa area of Tây Ninh is a high, firm sandy plain lying between the Vàm Cỏ Đông River basin to the west and the Sài Gòn River and Dầu Tiếng Lake system to the east. The commanding landmark of the entire region is Mount Bà Đen, rising 986 meters straight out of the flatlands to the north-northeast. A major religious complex set on this ground naturally receives that lone mountain peak as a spiritual anchor for the wide plain around it.
The Inner Sanctuary (Nội Ô) is laid out on level terrain, set apart from the surrounding market town by twelve triple-arched gates. The main axis of the Great Temple runs from west to east, with the front facade of Hiệp Thiên Đài facing west toward the grand boulevard leading in from the Main Gate (Chánh Môn), while the rear sanctuary of Bát Quái Đài sits at the eastern end. The expansive boulevard forecourt in front of the facade forms a wide bright hall (minh đường), capable of gathering tens of thousands of worshippers during major festivals while keeping the flow of air and energy open and uncrowded.
The body of the Great Temple itself is shaped in the posture of the Dragon Horse (Long Mã) bowing before its master, with its head facing west and its tail turned toward the east. The two 27-meter bell and drum towers rising at the front facade resemble dragon horns reaching toward the sky, the central nave of Cửu Trùng Đài rises through nine stepped levels to form a sturdy spine, and the octagonal mass of Bát Quái Đài at the rear gathers the entire flow of qi into the sanctuary housing the Divine Globe (Quả Càn Khôn). This gradual ascent along the depth of the hall keeps the energy entering from the main doors from scattering, allowing it to settle step by step and heighten the sense of solemnity all the way to the altar of the Divine Eye.
IIHistory across periods
- 1926Opening of the Way in Tây NinhFollowing the earliest spirit-writing séances in Saigon, the founding dignitaries submitted their formal declaration and celebrated the Founding Ceremony on the full moon of the tenth lunar month of the Bính Dần year (November 1926) at Gò Kén Pagoda (Từ Lâm Tự) in Tây Ninh before purchasing land in Long Hoa.
- 1927Move to the new land at Long HoaAfter returning the borrowed pagoda, the Holy See purchased a large tract of land in Long Thành Village, former Hòa Thành District, to erect a temporary timber-and-thatch temple and begin laying out the Inner Sanctuary.
- 1931 - 1933Excavating foundations and starting the Great TempleEarthworks for the foundation platform began in 1931 under Acting Pope (Quyền Giáo Tông) Lê Văn Trung and Hộ Pháp Phạm Công Tắc. In 1933, permanent construction of the Great Temple officially commenced following instructions received through spirit-writing.
- 1936 - 1947Building through voluntary merit laborThousands of male and female adherents took vows of vegetarianism and slept on the ground to work unpaid as masons, carpenters, and sculptors. During the Franco-Japanese war period from 1941 to 1946, when Hộ Pháp Phạm Công Tắc was exiled to Madagascar, construction was interrupted before resuming in 1947.
- 1955Inauguration of the Holy SeeAfter more than two decades of intermittent construction, the Grand Inauguration Ceremony was held on the 9th day of the first lunar month of the Ất Mùi year (February 1, 1955), completing the central sanctuary of the Cao Đài Holy See of Tây Ninh as it stands today.
A distinctive detail recorded in both press accounts and Caodai historical texts is that this monumental Great Temple was built without blueprints drawn on paper by a professional architect. According to temple records, overall dimensions, column counts, tower heights, and interior arrangements were transmitted piece by piece through spirit-writing séances. Hộ Pháp Phạm Công Tắc personally visualized the structure, staked out the ground, and guided teams of volunteer craftsmen through each stage of construction.
During the 1930s, building supplies in the forested frontier of Tây Ninh were scarce and structural steel was costly. Caodai craftsmen soaked mature bamboo poles (tầm vông) in water and wove split bamboo strips to serve as reinforcement in place of steel across many wall panels, ceiling vaults, and relief ornaments, while reserving steel-reinforced concrete for the main load-bearing pillars. Thanks to this resourceful folk technique, the raised reliefs of dragons, phoenixes, lotus blossoms, and grapevines have remained lightweight and durable through nearly a century of tropical sun and rain.
The Tây Ninh Holy See complex encompasses far more than the Great Temple at its center. The entire Inner Sanctuary spans roughly one square kilometer, enclosed by twelve triple-arched gates (of which Chánh Môn is the largest) and containing nearly one hundred large and small buildings. Within these grounds stand administrative and religious halls such as Giáo Tông Đường, Hộ Pháp Đường, Báo Ân Từ (the temporary Temple of the Mother Goddess), academies, vegetarian dining halls, and preserved woodland, forming a self-contained religious community.
IIIArchitecture and layout
Seen from the outside, the Great Temple is a bold synthesis of Eastern and Western religious architectural forms, reflecting the Caodai principle that all religions return to a single origin. The two tall bell and drum towers at the western facade recall the twin spires of Christian cathedrals, the rounded dome atop Nghinh Phong Đài evokes Islamic mosques, the tiered curved tile roofs with paired dragons and lotus motifs carry the imprint of East Asian temples, and the octagonal Bát Quái layout at the rear draws on Taoist cosmology.
The length of the building is divided into three connected sections known as the Three Palaces (Tam Đài), running from the western front facade to the eastern rear sanctuary, namely Hiệp Thiên Đài, Cửu Trùng Đài, and Bát Quái Đài. In Caodai doctrine, these three sections correspond to the three treasures of Essence (Tinh), Vital Breath (Khí), and Spirit (Thần) in a human being, as well as the judicial-legislative, executive, and supreme unseen spiritual bodies of the religion. The measurements specified in the original design are all multiples of 9, the supreme yang number in the Book of Changes.
Positioned at the west end with two towers rising 27 meters to the roof (28.2 meters to the gourd finials). On the left is Bạch Ngọc Chung Đài housing the Lôi Âm drum, and on the right is Lôi Âm Cổ Đài hanging the Bạch Ngọc bell. The ground floor enshrines statues of Hộ Pháp Phạm Công Tắc along with Thượng Phẩm and Thượng Sanh standing on the seven-headed serpent.
Located in the center, linking Hiệp Thiên Đài with Bát Quái Đài. The floor is divided into nine stepped levels rising from front to back, each level 18 centimeters higher than the last, symbolizing the nine celestial and ecclesiastical ranks of Cửu Trùng Đài from lay adherent up to Pope (Giáo Tông).
An octagonal sanctuary at the eastern end topped by a twelve-tiered roof, designed to a height of 30 meters and crowned with statues of the Three Pure Ones (Tam Thanh). At its center rests the Divine Globe (Quả Càn Khôn), 3.3 meters in diameter, painted sky blue with 3,072 stars and the Divine Eye set at the North Star.
Set atop the roof of Cửu Trùng Đài near the middle of the temple, rising 17 meters high. Above its spherical dome stands a statue of the Dragon Horse (Long Mã) carrying the Yellow River Map (Hà Đồ), galloping west while turning its head back toward the east as a symbol of cosmic harmony and remembrance of one's origin.
Eighteen columns wrapped in sculpted dragons are arranged in two rows, dividing the interior of Cửu Trùng Đài into nine bays, each stepped 18 centimeters higher to match the nine ranks of Cửu Trùng Đài. The ceiling arches into nine sky-blue vaults dotted with white stars and clouds like a night sky above the congregation.
The largest of the twelve gates entering the Inner Sanctuary, adorned with two dragons flanking a flaming pearl, lotus flowers, and the emblems of the Three Teachings. This gate opens only for major festivals or visiting heads of state, while daily visitors and adherents enter through numbered side gates.
| Feature | Recorded figure | Meaning and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Overall building | 97.5 m long, 22 m wide | Actual built dimensions (original metric design was 135 x 27 m) |
| Hiệp Thiên Đài at the front | 36 m design height | Front facade section with the twin bell and drum towers |
| Bell tower and drum tower | 27 m high (28.2 m to gourd finial) | Bạch Ngọc Chung Đài and Lôi Âm Cổ Đài |
| Nghinh Phong Đài and Bát Quái Đài | Nghinh Phong Đài 17 m high | Bát Quái Đài at the rear has a 12-tiered roof (30 m design height) |
| Ground-floor columns | 112 corridor columns (156 total) | Supporting the outer veranda eaves and the entire ground floor |
| Stepped levels of Cửu Trùng Đài | 9 levels, 18 cm per step | Symbolizing the nine ranks of celestial hierarchy |
| Divine Globe (Quả Càn Khôn) | 3.3 m diameter, 3,072 stars | Representing the Three Thousand Worlds and Seventy-Two Earths |
IVDaily worship and ritual life
Daily life at the Tây Ninh Holy See revolves around four prayer services held at the hours of Tý (midnight), Ngọ (12 noon), Mẹo (6 a.m.), and Dậu (6 p.m.). When the Bạch Ngọc bell and Lôi Âm drum resound from the two front towers, dignitaries and lay followers dressed in ceremonial robes walk quietly from the avenues of the Inner Sanctuary toward the Great Temple.
Entry into the Great Temple follows a strict yin-yang order. Men enter through the right-hand door (hữu nam) and women through the left-hand door (tả nữ) as viewed from inside the sanctuary looking out, which means that when standing in the forecourt facing the front facade, men enter on the left and women on the right. Everyone removes shoes and hats outside before stepping onto the porch. Lay followers wear white tunics (áo dài), while dignitaries from the rank of Giáo Hữu upward in Cửu Trùng Đài wear ceremonial robes in yellow (Thái branch, representing Buddhism), sky blue (Thượng branch, representing Taoism), or red (Ngọc branch, representing Confucianism).
Throughout the service, male and female liturgical choirs sit on either side chanting prayers to the accompaniment of traditional southern Vietnamese stringed instruments played from the upper gallery. Worshippers sit in neat rows according to ecclesiastical rank across the nine stepped levels of Cửu Trùng Đài, facing the Divine Globe in Bát Quái Đài. Caodai prostration uses the Tý hand clasp, offering four bows with three nods per bow to make twelve nods in all, symbolizing the twelve cosmic numbers of Heaven.
VAnnual festivals
| Lunar date | Festival name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 9th day of the 1st lunar month | Grand Festival of the Supreme Being (Vía Đức Chí Tôn) | One of the two largest annual festivals at the Holy See, praying for national peace and harmony |
| 15th day of the 8th lunar month | Banquet of the Yaochi Palace (Hội Yến Diêu Trì Cung) | The largest annual gathering, honoring the Mother Goddess and the Nine Female Immortals at Báo Ân Từ |
| 15th of the 1st and 7th lunar months | Thượng Nguơn and Trung Nguơn Festivals | New-year prayers for peace and mid-year prayers for the deliverance of ancestors |
| 15th day of the 10th lunar month | Hạ Nguơn and Founding Day Anniversary | Commemorating the 1926 founding of Caodaism in Tây Ninh |
The two grand festivals that draw the largest crowds of adherents and visitors to the Holy See are the Grand Festival of the Supreme Being on the 9th day of the first lunar month and the Banquet of the Yaochi Palace (Hội Yến Diêu Trì Cung) on the full moon of the eighth lunar month. During these days, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from across southern and central Vietnam as well as overseas communities gather in the Inner Sanctuary. Dormitories and vegetarian kitchens inside the grounds stay open day and night to serve free vegetarian meals to all pilgrims.
The signature spectacle of both festivals is the procession of the Dragon Horse (Long Mã) and the Four Sacred Creatures (the Incense Dragon, Jade Unicorn, Sacred Tortoise, and Phoenix) accompanied by traditional eight-tone ensembles marching along the grand boulevard in front of the Great Temple and Báo Ân Từ. During Hội Yến Diêu Trì Cung, the avenues around Báo Ân Từ and Phạm Hộ Pháp Boulevard are lined with dozens of elaborate fruit-and-flower pavilions shaped into phoenixes, dragons, and floral tableaux offered by parishes from every province.
VILocation And How To Get There
- Address
- Đại lộ Phạm Hộ Pháp, phường Long Hoa (thị xã Hòa Thành cũ), tỉnh Tây Ninh
- Getting there
- The Holy See stands on Phạm Hộ Pháp Boulevard, Long Hoa Ward (formerly Hòa Thành Town), Tây Ninh Province, about five kilometers southeast of the former Tây Ninh city center and roughly 90 kilometers northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. From Ho Chi Minh City, travelers can follow National Highway 22 through Củ Chi, turn onto Provincial Roads 782 and 784 at the Trảng Bàng junction, or continue along National Highway 22B straight into Long Hoa. Interprovincial buses and coaches bound for Tây Ninh from An Sương Bus Station stop near the gates of the Inner Sanctuary.
- Coordinates
- 11.3037, 106.1337
The Inner Sanctuary of the Holy See is open around the clock with free admission. Visitors wishing to witness a full liturgical service will find the noon (12 p.m.) or evening (6 p.m.) sessions the most convenient.
Modest attire is required, with trousers or skirts covering the knees and shirts with sleeves. Shoes, sandals, and hats must be left on the racks outside before entering the Great Temple.
Non-adherent visitors walk only along the side aisles and observe ceremonies from the second-floor balconies overlooking the nave. Visitors should not step onto the central floor of Cửu Trùng Đài during services or pass through the central doorway, which is reserved for high-ranking dignitaries.
When taking photographs inside the hall, avoid turning your back directly toward the Divine Globe in Bát Quái Đài and maintain complete silence while the choir is chanting.
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?Quick Questions
Who is worshipped at the Tây Ninh Holy See
At the highest altar inside Bát Quái Đài, the temple worships Đức Chí Tôn (the Supreme Being, or Jade Emperor), represented by the Divine Eye painted on the Divine Globe. Below the throne of the Supreme Being stand altars honoring the founders and sages of the Three Teachings and Five Branches of the Great Way, including Śākyamuni Buddha, Laozi, Confucius, Jesus Christ, Guan Yu (Quan Thánh Đế Quân), Li Bai (Lý Thái Bạch), Avalokiteśvara (Quan Âm Bồ Tát), and Jiang Ziya (Khương Thượng Tử Nha).
Why is the Divine Eye worshipped inside the Great Temple
According to Caodai doctrine, the Supreme Being is formless and pervades the cosmos, so no human likeness is used for worship. The Divine Eye (Thiên Nhãn) is a left eye, corresponding to yang, representing the all-seeing spiritual light of Heaven and human conscience, reminding practitioners that Heaven perceives every thought in the human heart.
What makes the Divine Globe (Quả Càn Khôn) inside Bát Quái Đài special
The Divine Globe is a sphere 3.3 meters in diameter, woven from a frame of bamboo and rattan, layered with paper, and painted sky blue. Across its surface are painted the Divine Eye at the position of the North Star along with 3,072 stars, representing the Three Thousand Worlds and Seventy-Two Earths in Caodai cosmology. Inside the sphere burns the Lamp of the Supreme Ultimate (Thái Cực Đăng), which is kept lit at all times.
What do the yellow, blue, and red robes of Caodai dignitaries signify
The three colors of ceremonial robes worn by Cửu Trùng Đài dignitaries represent the unity of the Three Teachings (Tam giáo quy nguyên). Yellow (the Thái branch) represents Buddhism and compassion, sky blue (the Thượng branch) represents Taoism and serenity, and red (the Ngọc branch) represents Confucianism and moral rectitude.
May non-adherents enter the Holy See to watch a prayer ceremony
Yes. Visitors are welcome to observe the daily prayer services (most commonly the 12 noon session) free of charge. Guests should wear modest clothing covering the shoulders and knees, remove footwear outside, enter through the left door for men or the right door for women (when facing the front facade), and ascend the stairs to the second-floor gallery to watch the ceremony.