Tây Ninh: A Captivating Travel Destination

Tây Ninh, a landlocked region characterized by year-round sunshine and dry winds, might not sound like your typical vacation spot. However, it's precisely these unique characteristics that give the area its distinctive charm, attracting travelers eager to experience and explore this fascinating local destination.
Tây Ninh Travel – The Arid Beauty of a Land Full of Sun and Wind, Featuring Spiritual Destinations and Unique Cuisine
Tây Ninh, a landlocked province without a coastline, experiences sunshine and dry winds year-round. Yet, it's precisely this unique characteristic that draws travelers in, inviting them to explore and discover its local charm.
Located in Vietnam's Southeast region, Tây Ninh serves as a cultural 'bridge' between two major centers: Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh. Situated only about 99km from central Ho Chi Minh City, it's a popular day-trip destination for many visitors.
Unlike coastal cities or the Mekong Delta's eco-tourism with its abundant rivers, Tây Ninh embraces the sunshine typical of the Southeast region, nestled behind the Trường Sơn mountain range. Its climate is relatively mild, clearly divided into two distinct seasons: a rainy season from May to November, and a dry season from December to April.

It would be a significant oversight for visitors to Tây Ninh to miss Núi Bà Đen, as this is the region's most famous tourist attraction.
Here, the climate isn't humid like the watery landscapes of the Mekong Delta; instead, it's dry and crisp. Especially during the dry season, the weather is sunny and pleasant, without being overly hot. This makes it an ideal time for trips to Tây Ninh. Particularly in January (Lunar New Year month), major festivals held on Núi Bà Đen attract a great number of visitors.
It would be a significant oversight for visitors to Tây Ninh to miss Núi Bà Đen, as this is the region's most famous tourist attraction.
Núi Bà Đen, standing at 986m, is the highest mountain in the Southern region of Vietnam. This mountain is part of a renowned historical and cultural relic complex in Tây Ninh. The Điện Bà temple system on Núi Bà Đen includes four major pagodas: Chùa Hang, Chùa Thượng, Chùa Trung, and Chùa Hạ. Additionally, numerous caves have been renovated into places of worship, such as động Thanh Long, động Ba Cô, động Ba Tuần, động Ông Hổ, động Ông Tà, động Thiên Thai, and many other smaller caves.
To visit Núi Bà Đen, you can take a cable car or hike up the mountain, enjoying the fresh air and relaxing in the serene Buddhist atmosphere.

Tòa Thánh Tây Ninh, an appealing tourist destination
Mr. Vũ Anh Tuấn, a visitor from Ninh Bình, exclaimed after his tour of the temple system on Núi Bà Đen: “The scenery here is absolutely beautiful, and the climate is dry and pleasant, not too hot. The atmosphere is deeply Buddhist, and in the distance, lush green rice fields stretch out at the foot of the mountain, creating a truly peaceful, worry-free feeling.”
Another destination, full of an enigmatic charm that leaves visitors utterly captivated, is the unique and rustic beauty of Ma Thiên Lãnh tourist area in Tây Ninh. Nestled where three towering mountains (Núi Bà Đen – Núi Heo – Núi Phụng) converge, it forms a dramatic, undulating hilly landscape. What's more, its steep slopes and sparkling golden streams present an impressive challenge that countless backpackers flock to conquer.
Ma Thiên Lãnh valley is precisely where you can immerse yourself in a sense of relaxation rarely found in urban environments.
Tây Ninh is also well-known for its strong Buddhist presence. Among its spiritual attractions, Tòa Thánh Tây Ninh stands out as a particularly famous destination, recognized by many. This immense Buddhist structure, spanning over 2000m², stretching 140m long and soaring 36m high, leaves many visitors awestruck. Inside the Tòa Thánh, two rows of dragon columns are adorned with intricate motifs painted in the characteristic blue, red, and white colors of Caodaism. The ceiling is beautifully painted with clouds and stars. The Thiên Nhãn altar, situated atop the Càn Khôn orb, features an astounding 3027 stunning celestial bodies.
Another spiritual site you can visit when traveling to Tây Ninh is Chùa Thiền Lâm Gò Kén, a large pagoda with magnificent architecture that attracts many young visitors for 'check-in' photos. Previously, Chùa Thiền Lâm was a humble structure made of bamboo and thatch. It was only in 2007 that it underwent extensive renovation to achieve its current grandeur. The name Gò Kén, appended to the pagoda's name, comes from its location on a small hill (gò) overgrown with kén vines. The highlights of the pagoda are a 25m-tall statue of Quan Âm Bodhisattva standing on a 7m-tall dragon, and a 25m-long reclining Buddha statue depicting Nirvana.
Champa towers aren't exclusive to Phan Thiết or Ninh Thuận; Tây Ninh also boasts the ancient Bình Thạnh Tower, dating back thousands of years. Much like other Champa towers, Bình Thạnh Ancient Tower is a testament to the artistry of the ancient Champa people. Its pristine, archaic charm, preserved as it was in its original state, lends the site an even more humble and appealing simplicity.

Locals making dew-wetted rice paper (bánh tráng phơi sương)
Visiting Tây Ninh isn't just about admiring beautiful landscapes; it's also an opportunity to savor unique local specialties like Bánh Tráng Phơi Sương (dew-wetted rice paper), Bánh Canh Trảng Bàng (Trảng Bàng noodle soup), bò tơ (young beef), nem vỏ bưởi (pomelo skin fermented pork roll), muối tôm (shrimp salt), ốc xu (mountain snails), mắm chua (sour fermented fish sauce), thằn lằn núi (mountain lizards), and vegetarian dishes prepared by Caodaists, among others.
Ms. Nguyễn Anh Thư, a visitor from Hòa Bình, shared: “Tây Ninh has so many beautiful places. Everywhere I went, I took countless photos to cherish as memories. On this trip, I also got to enjoy many dishes with the distinct flavors of the region. I was most impressed by the Bánh Tráng Phơi Sương and Bánh Canh Trảng Bàng – absolutely delicious!”

Bánh Canh Trảng Bàng, an appealing dish for Tây Ninh locals
In Lộc Du Hamlet (Trảng Bàng Town), visitors can ask locals for directions to explore and even try making bánh tráng phơi sương themselves at handicraft workshops – a craft recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. This rice paper is delightfully flexible and has a savory taste, perfect for eating directly without soaking or crisping. It makes a wonderful treat to enjoy or a thoughtful gift to take home.
Tây Ninh Market is a hub for a diverse array of shrimp salt, rice paper, and sour fermented fish sauce. Nem bưởi (pomelo skin fermented pork roll) is another unique local delicacy, suitable for vegetarians as its ingredients are plant-based, including pomelo peel, starfruit, chili, and papaya. Additionally, vegetarian dishes from the Caodaists, ốc xu (mountain snails), thằn lằn núi (mountain lizards), and more can be found and enjoyed in the city center.
Tay Ninh 4863 view
Update day : 15/10/2023
Source : Công luận .VN Affiliate links
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