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Voykit pocket guide · Vietnam
Tây Ninh
One day covers the Cao Dai Holy See, Ba Đen Mountain and a quick walk in the rubber plantation; add a night only for extra rest.
Tây Ninh is a small provincial capital best known for the Cao Dai Holy See and Ba Đen Mountain. The sights cluster within 10 km, so a single day is enough for the highlights; a night adds flexibility for slower travel or a visit to the reservoir.
- Country
- Vietnam
- Best months
- Dec–Apr
- Avoid
- May–Nov
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- VND
- Money
- VND in small notes (10k–100k) for stalls, markets, xe ôm and tips at spas.
- Daily spend
- Budget ≈ 100,000 VND (hostel, street food, local transport) · Mid ≈ 200,000 VND (basic hotel, meals, taxi rides) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Viettel, Vinaphone and Mobifone sell tourist SIMs at airport arrivals; passport and a face photo are required for registration.
- Emergency
- Police 113 · Fire 114 · Ambulance 115
- Plugs
- Types A, C, F · 220 V · 50 Hz · Two-pin sockets take flat US pins and round European pins; UK plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and cafés: Nothing; leave small change if you like.; Sit-down restaurant: Round up or 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Grab / taxi: Round up; tip in the app if you want.; Spa and massage: ₫50,000–100,000 to the therapist directly; some spas ask for more.; Guide and driver on a day tour: ₫100,000–200,000 per person for the guide, about half that for the driver.; Hotel porter: ₫20,000–50,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Bottled and filtered water everywhere; hotel refill stations are common. Café ice is factory-made.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in cities and hotels; squat toilets and no paper in rural stops and on long buses — carry tissues. Old plumbing: paper in the bin.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bus ticket HCMC → Tây Ninh (one‑way) | ≈ 130,000–180,000 VND |
| Taxi (city ride, 5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (city ride, 3.1 mi (5 km)) | ≈ 30,000 VND |
| Bún/Phở bowl | ≈ 30,000 VND |
| Coffee (street vendor) | ≈ 15,000 VND |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SGN · Tan Son Nhat International Airport
- Main airport for Ho Chi Minh City, about 2 h bus to Tây Ninh
Typical fares
- HCMC → Tây Ninh bus
- ≈ 130,000–180,000 VND, 2.5 h (check)
- Taxi within Tây Ninh (5 km)
- ≈ 30,000 VND
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Taxi and motorbike‑taxi (xe om) are the main options; Mai Linh operates locally. Short rides to the Holy See (3 km (1.9 mi)) and Ba Đen (≈10 km (6.2 mi)) are easy.Taxi and motorbike‑taxi (xe om) are the main options; Mai Linh operates locally. Short rides to the Holy See (1.9 mi (3 km)) and Ba Đen (≈6.2 mi (10 km)) are easy.
See and do
Known for
- Cao Dai Holy See
- Ba Đen Mountain
- Dau Tieng Reservoir
- Rubber plantations
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ba Đen Mountain | Taxi or xe om to mountain base, then 2 h hike | ≈ 3 h round trip |
| Dau Tieng Reservoir | Taxi or motorbike, 19 km (12 mi) eastTaxi or motorbike, 12 mi (19 km) east | ≈ 1 h each way |
Sleep
- Anh Dao Hotel
- 150,000 VND, breakfast included
- Hoa Binh Hotel
- 320,000–500,000 VND, breakfast included
- Nha Nghi Quyen
- 200,000 VND (double) – 250,000 VND (family)
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Xin chàosin chow |
| Help me! | Cứu tôi với!kuh-oo toy vuh-ee |
| 1, 2, 3 | một, hai, bamoht, hai, bah |
| How much is it? | Bao nhiêu tiền?bow nyew tyen |
| Please take me to this address | Làm ơn chở tôi đến địa chỉ nàylahm uhn chuh toy den dee-ah chee nay |
| Excuse me! (to a younger server) | Em ơi!em uh-ee |
| I have a booking | Tôi đã đặt phòngtoy dah daht fong |
| What time? | Mấy giờ?may zuh |
| Thank you | Cảm ơnkahm uhn |
| Call the police! (113) | Gọi cảnh sát! (113)goy kahn saht |
| 4, 5, 6 | bốn, năm, sáubohn, nahm, sow |
| Too expensive! | Đắt quá!daht kwah |
| I booked a Grab | Tôi đặt Grabtoy daht grab |
| I'll have this one | Cho tôi cái nàychaw toy kai nay |
| Do you have a room free? | Còn phòng không?kon fong khohm |
| Now | Bây giờbay zuh |
| No, thank you (street sellers) | Không, cảm ơnkhohm, kahm uhn |
| Fire! Call the fire service! (114) | Cháy! Gọi cứu hỏa! (114)chai! goy kuh-oo hwah |
| 7, 8, 9, 10 | bảy, tám, chín, mườibay, tahm, cheen, muh-ee |
| Come down a bit | Bớt đibuht dee |
Say it for greetings, prices and 'no ice'. Show the screen for addresses, allergies, medical problems and anything you need done exactly — a wrong tone on those costs more than the embarrassment of pointing at a phone.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Nod and smile; handshake with men, let women offer first; avoid: Hugs and cheek kisses with people you have just met
- Names: Title plus given name — 'Anh Nam', 'Chị Lan' — the given name comes last; avoid: Calling someone by the family name alone (Nguyễn, Trần)
- Handing things: Both hands, especially money, cards and gifts to older people; avoid: Tossing things across a table
- Conversation: Expect questions about age, marriage and income; they place you, not pry; avoid: Raising your voice or correcting someone in front of others
- Temples and pagodas: Covered shoulders and knees; step over the raised threshold; enter by the right-hand door; avoid: Sitting with your back to an altar; climbing statues for photos
- Photos: Ask first, especially in minority villages; avoid: Paying children for photos — it keeps them out of school
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring fruit, tea or sweets; accept at least a drink; avoid: Pointing your feet at people or the family altar
- Beckoning: Palm down, fingers waving towards you; avoid: Curling one finger — it is used for animals
Scams and watch-outs
- Hot, humid climate year‑round; stay hydrated.
- Monkeys at the Holy See may approach; do not feed them.
- Bus schedules from HCMC vary; confirm times before travel.
Generally safe for tourists; keep an eye on belongings in crowded markets and follow local advice on monkey interactions.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tây Ninh yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Cao Dai Holy See
- Ba Đen Mountain
- Dau Tieng Reservoir
- Rubber plantations
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Tây Ninh coordinates: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12345
- Wikivoyage: Tây Ninh, revision 3854431 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=3854431
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/tay-ninh). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.