Holy See - Tay Ninh

The Tay Ninh Holy See is considered one of the greatest religious architectural works of the Cao Dai religion. It is also one of the most popular tourist attractions in Tay Ninh. Not only is it an ideal photo spot, the Tay Ninh Holy See is also a famous cultural landmark, showcasing unique architectural styles that attract thousands of visitors annually. This magnificent Cao Dai structure is also conveniently located near many other tourist attractions in Tay Ninh, making it easily accessible for visitors.

The Tay Ninh Holy See, also known locally as the Holy Temple, is located on Pham Ho Phap Street, Hoa Thanh town, Tay Ninh province. Vietnam.vn introduces you to one of the unique architectural features of the Tay Ninh Holy See through the photo series "Tay Ninh Holy See" by author Vu Thanh Tung. This series will provide you with images of the Tay Ninh Holy See, showcasing a blend of styles from various religious civilizations around the world . Therefore, a trip to the Tay Ninh Holy See will surely offer you many experiences in culture and architecture. The author submitted this photo series to the "Happy Vietnam" photo and video contest, organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications .

The Tay Ninh Holy See is one of the religious structures with a very distinctive architecture, unlike any other structure today. While large structures are usually designed and built by architects according to blueprints, the Cao Dai Holy See in Tay Ninh was built by Đức Phạm Hộ Pháp without relying on any documents or drawings, but entirely on the labor and hands of the workers. This is a uniquely designed structure, harmoniously blending nature and human ingenuity. The Tay Ninh Cao Dai Holy See is a sacred place for worship and contemplation, a convergence of unique Eastern and Western architectural styles. Therefore, the Tay Ninh Holy See is one of the ideal religious tourist destinations in the region.

Like other religious architectural works around the world, the architectural layout of the Tay Ninh Holy See also embodies philosophical, religious, or mystical viewpoints. Within the Holy See grounds are nearly 100 different architectural structures of varying sizes, built gradually over 14 years, such as Bao An Tu (Temple of the Mother Buddha), religious offices, and the stupas of high-ranking religious officials.

An aerial view of the Tay Ninh Holy See.

The Tay Ninh Holy See is a complex of buildings constructed on an area of ​​nearly 12 square kilometers, covering approximately 2,000 square meters, notable for its two bell and drum towers, each about 25 meters high. The Tay Ninh Holy See is surrounded by a fence and includes many large and small structures such as the Holy Temple, the Mother Goddess Temple, and the stupa. The Holy See is approximately 100 meters long and has 12 gates. All gates are carved with images of the Four Sacred Animals (dragon, unicorn, tortoise, phoenix) and lotus flowers. The main gate is the largest, with a distinctive decoration featuring two dragons fighting over a pearl. The main gate is only opened on major holidays or special events such as welcoming heads of state or leaders of other religions.

The Tay Ninh Holy See was built with the help of the local people, who did not receive any payment for their labor. They even refrained from marrying during the construction period to ensure the balance of yin and yang for the structure. All theories regarding size and architecture were guided by the divine intervention of the Ly Giao Tong. In this way, the Tay Ninh Holy See was completed after 22 years of construction. In 2024, the "Happy Vietnam" photo and video contest was again organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications in collaboration with the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists on the website.   https://happy.vietnam.vn is open to all Vietnamese citizens and foreigners aged 15 and above. The competition aims to honor individuals and groups with positive informational products that make practical contributions to promoting a beautiful image of Vietnam to the world. Through this, it helps people at home, overseas Vietnamese, and international friends access authentic images of Vietnam, its people, its achievements in ensuring human rights, and working towards a happy Vietnam. Each competition category (photos and videos) has the following prizes and prize values: – 1 Gold Medal: 70,000,000 VND – 2 Silver Medals: 20,000,000 VND – 3 Bronze Medals: 10,000,000 VND – 10 Consolation Prizes: 5,000,000 VND – 1 Most Voted entry: 5,000,000 VND. Winning authors will be invited by the Organizing Committee to attend the Award Ceremony and Certificate Presentation, broadcast live on Vietnam Television.

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