If the provinces in the West are famous for their rivers and gardens, and the Central region is famous for its blue sea and white sand, then Tay Ninh - the borderland in the Northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, has its own unique beauty: majestic, sacred, and full of epic qualities.
I used to think Tay Ninh only had Ba Den Mountain, but when I set foot here, I realized that this land contains countless more unique things than you think.
Overview of Tay Ninh
Tay Ninh map after merger
Tay Ninh is located in the Northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, bordering Cambodia, and is an important gateway for trade between Vietnam and Southeast Asian countries. This land has both the typical features of the Southeast region with semi-plains, hills, and valleys, and the wild features of the border region with dense forests and high mountains. It is thanks to this special location that Tay Ninh has a very unique identity: it is both a strategic land in history and an attractive tourist destination today.
Tay Ninh's climate is tropical monsoon, hot and humid, divided into two distinct seasons: the rainy season from May to November, the dry season from December to April. People often call Tay Ninh the land of "burning sun and strong wind", but it is that sun that makes the landscape more brilliant, and the strong wind makes the sugarcane fields, rice fields, and rubber forests become immense and open.
I once visited Tay Ninh in the dry season, when the sky was blue and the golden sunlight stretched across the roads. The sweltering heat made me tired, but it made the trip more memorable - because only in that sunlight could I see the full strength of this land.
The attraction of the gateway land
Tay Ninh is a land that converges many unique values, both possessing majestic natural beauty, preserving important cultural and historical heritages, and being a sacred place of religious beliefs. It is this diversity that has created a unique attraction, making it difficult for anyone who has ever set foot here to forget.
Some destinations not to be missed when visiting Tay Ninh:
Ba Den Mountain - The Roof of the South
Ba Den Mountain is over 986m high, known as the "roof of the South", and is a symbol of Tay Ninh. The mountain not only has majestic beauty with steep cliffs and winding trails, but is also associated with many folk legends about Ly Thi Thien Huong - a faithful girl, from which the mountain is named Ba Den. Standing on the top of the mountain, looking far away, you can see the whole land of Tay Ninh appearing like a vast picture, where plains, rivers and forests blend together. With a modern cable car system, Ba Den Mountain today has also become an attractive tourist destination, both experiential and spiritual.
Southern Central Bureau Base
If Ba Den Mountain is a natural symbol, then the Southern Central Bureau Base is a historical symbol. This was once the “brain” of the Southern revolution during the resistance war against the US, a place that marked the arduous but resilient years. Visiting the base, tourists not only see secret tunnels and barracks, but also feel the indomitable spirit of our ancestors.
For me, when entering this place, the space seems to quiet down, so that each person can remember and pay tribute to the great sacrifices for national independence.
Binh Thanh Ancient Tower and Chot Mat Ancient Tower
Tay Ninh still preserves ancient architectural works, evidence of the brilliant Oc Eo culture. Among them, the most prominent is Binh Thanh Ancient Tower, built from the 8th - 9th century, is one of the rare ancient towers still existing in the South. The baked brick architecture, sophisticated patterns, and majestic appearance make this place like a living museum of ancient art.
Next is the Chot Mat Ancient Tower - although less famous, this structure has a quiet beauty, reminiscent of an ancient period where culture and beliefs intermingled. These ancient towers are not only material heritage, but also evidence of cultural exchange between ethnic groups in history.
Lo Go Xa Mat primeval forest
In the middle of the sunny and windy land, Lo Go Xa Mat appears like a cool green symphony. This is a nature reserve with a diverse ecosystem, home to many rare species of flora and fauna. Walking in the forest, you will hear the birds chirping, the rustling of leaves, and feel the pristine peace.
This place is not only a destination for exploration, but also a place to find balance in the soul, to see that nature is always a companion of humans.
Tay Ninh Holy See
Tay Ninh is also known as the “Holy Land” of Cao Dai, with the famous Tay Ninh Holy See. This unique architectural work has both Eastern and Western features, creating a distinct style. Entering the Holy See, visitors will see a sacred space where believers solemnly perform rituals. This is not only a religious center, but also a cultural destination, a place to show the diversity of beliefs in Vietnam.
Going through each destination, I realized that the attraction of Tay Ninh is not only in the landscape or construction, but also in the harmony between nature, history, culture and spirituality.
Tay Ninh is really more special than you think - because each element here has its own story, value, and emotion.
Which direction for Tay Ninh tourism
In recent years, Tay Ninh has become a bright spot of tourism in the South, especially after the Ba Den Mountain cable car system came into operation in 2020. This project not only helps tourists easily access the "roof of the South" but also creates a big boost for the local tourism industry. According to the report of the functional sector, by the end of July 2025, Tay Ninh had welcomed about 5.1 million visitors, with total tourism revenue reaching over 3,250 billion VND. At Sun World Ba Den Mountain Tourist Area alone, 4 million visitors used the cable car service in just 7 months - this is an impressive number, affirming the position of Ba Den Mountain as the leading destination in the region.
However, besides outstanding achievements, Tay Ninh tourism is still facing many major challenges:
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Unsynchronized infrastructure: The routes connecting to other tourist destinations besides Ba Den Mountain are limited, making it difficult to travel.
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Undiversified services: Most tourists focus on Ba Den Mountain, while other destinations such as Binh Thanh ancient tower, Chot Mat tower, Lo Go Xa Mat forest or the Southern Central Bureau base have not been exploited to their full potential.
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Unstrong promotion: Tay Ninh still does not have many large-scale communication campaigns to bring the image of local tourism to the international market.
To overcome these limitations, Tay Ninh should have a sustainable tourism development orientation because only when preserving its cultural identity and pristine nature, can Tay Ninh truly exploit its inherent potential to the fullest to become a unique destination for tourists.
With the current growth momentum, if Tay Ninh continues to invest in infrastructure, diversify products and promote, this province can completely become a leading cultural and spiritual tourism center of the Southern region in the coming years.
Conclusion
Tay Ninh is not only a tourist destination, but also a journey of experiencing a full range of emotions. From natural scenery, outstanding spiritual destinations to cultural and historical works, ... all blend together, turning this place into a colorful picture.
And in the future, when tourism infrastructure is invested synchronously, services are improved and promoted more strongly, I believe that Tay Ninh will become a leading destination in the South.
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CREDIT:
- Photography: Kien Trang
- Content: Giang Huynh
- Design: Trung Huynh
