Tay Ninh Day Trip: Ba Den Mountain and Cao Dai Holy See
A Tay Ninh day trip pairs the Cao Dai Holy See, where a service lasts about 30 minutes, with the Ba Den Mountain cable car. The Holy See is 96 km and about 2 hours from Ho Chi Minh City. From 28 September to 31 December 2026 the Van Son Summit cable car costs VND 450,000 per adult.
On this page
Build the day around the noon service at the Cao Dai Holy See. Services run at 6:00, 12:00, 18:00 and 24:00 (midnight). Ba Den Mountain opens 05:30 to 21:00, so the cable car fits before or after the temple.
Ba Den Mountain cable car prices and opening hours
Sun World’s price list applies from 28 September to 31 December 2026. Hours are 05:30 to 21:00, and they can change.
| Ticket | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| Van Son Summit cable car | VND 450,000 | VND 350,000 |
| Tam An cable car | VND 450,000 | VND 350,000 |
| Chua Hang cable car, round trip | VND 250,000 | VND 150,000 |
| Chua Hang cable car, one way | VND 150,000 | VND 100,000 |
| Van Son Summit + Chua Hang combo | VND 650,000 | VND 500,000 |
| Tourist area entrance ticket | VND 10,000 | VND 5,000 |
| Buffet ticket | VND 300,000 | VND 200,000 |
Combos with a meal
Weekday and weekend prices differ for the two buffet combos.
- Van Son Summit + Chua Hang + Buffet: VND 800,000 per adult and VND 600,000 per child Monday to Friday, VND 850,000 and VND 650,000 on Saturdays and Sundays.
- Van Son Summit + Buffet: VND 650,000 per adult and VND 450,000 per child Monday to Friday, VND 700,000 and VND 500,000 on Saturdays and Sundays.
Tickets after 5 PM
After 5 PM the Van Son Summit cable car costs VND 300,000 per adult and VND 200,000 per child. The Van Son Summit + Chua Hang combo costs VND 400,000 per adult and VND 300,000 per child. The Van Son Summit + 5 PM Dining sunset combo costs VND 400,000 per adult and VND 300,000 per child.
Child height and free entry
Children from 1 m to under 1.4 m tall pay the child price, and children under 1 m enter free. Visitors 1.4 m and taller pay the adult rate. Guests aged 80 and above get free admission and show a valid ID, such as a citizen ID card or passport.
What to see at Ba Den Mountain and the Holy See
The summit and the cable car
Ba Den Mountain stands 986 m above sea level, the highest peak in southern Vietnam. Trekking to the top once took more than two hours. The Van Son cable car now takes about 8 minutes from the base station to the top.
The Chua Hang cable car serves the Ba Temple complex and takes about 5 minutes from the base to the pagoda complex.
The Cao Dai Holy See
Services run four times a day, at 6:00, 12:00, 18:00 and 24:00. A service lasts about 30 minutes.
During the noon service, visitors must remain on the upper balconies and not go down to the main floor. After the service, visitors may go down to the main floor and walk through the nave.
Who a Tay Ninh day trip suits (and who should skip it)
- Short on time: the Van Son cable car takes about 8 minutes.
- Families: children under 1 m enter free.
- You want to watch a Cao Dai service: four run daily.
- Skip the Holy See in shorts or sleeveless tops: shoulders and knees must be covered.
- Skip doing both sights in one day if you want a slow pace. Ba Den Mountain is about 15 km from the Holy See.
How to get to Tay Ninh from Saigon
The Holy See is 96 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, about 2 hours by bus or private car. Ba Den Mountain is about 15 km from the Holy See.
- Choose the noon service as the anchor of the day.
- A Cu Chi + Holy See tour leaves around 8:00 and reaches the Holy See for the noon service. Vietnam Paradise Travel sells it from US$45 per person joined, US$58 for 5 to 6 guests and US$76 for 2, with entrance fees included. For Ba Den + Holy See together, a small-group tour with lunch and round-trip transfers starts at VND 1,250,000 per person for 11 hours, and the cable car ticket is extra.
- By bus, fares start at VND 125,000.
- Saco Travel runs a limousine van from 133 De Tham Street to the entrance of Ba Den Mountain (also called Black Virgin Mountain).
- For both sights with no bus changes, hire a private car with driver: VND 1,500,000 to 2,500,000 for the full day, waiting time included.
- Between the Holy See and the mountain (about 15 km), take a taxi or xe om.
The Holy See is at Pham Ho Phap Street, Long Hoa, Tay Ninh.
Pham Ho Phap, Long Hoa, Tay Ninh 80606, Vietnam · Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
The mountain address is Ba Den Mountain, Ninh Phu, Binh Minh ward, Tay Ninh Province.
957H+PCJ, Duong Minh Chau, Tay Ninh, Vietnam · Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
When to go and how long
The mountain runs 05:30 to 21:00, and after-5-PM tickets cover the evening. Cable car schedules shift with the weather.
At the Holy See, arrive at least 45 minutes before noon to find a place on the balconies. The service lasts about 30 minutes.
The Holy See grounds are open daily from 6:00 to 18:00. The dry and rainy months are covered in Best Time to Visit Ho Chi Minh City: Dry and Rainy Months.
Nearby and how to combine it
The Cu Chi Tunnels lie roughly halfway between Saigon and Tay Ninh. A combined tour typically visits Cu Chi in the morning and reaches the Holy See for the noon service. The two Cu Chi sites are compared in Cu Chi Tunnels: Ben Duoc vs Ben Dinh Compared.
A same-day plan: leave Saigon around 8:00, watch the noon service from the balconies, then take the cable car in the afternoon or after 5 PM.
Before you go
- Cover shoulders and knees: this applies to the entire temple complex.
- Switch off the flash: photography is allowed from the balconies, but flash is prohibited.
- Stay on the upper balconies during the noon service.
- Arrive at least 45 minutes before noon.
- Keep your shoes on inside, but take off hats and sunglasses.
- Match each child to the height rule: 1 m to under 1.4 m is the child price.
- Bring a passport or ID if a guest is aged 80 and above.
Photos and clips uploaded to Google Maps (Ba Den Mountain on Google Maps (opens in a new tab), Cao Dai Holy See on Google Maps (opens in a new tab), Cu Chi Tunnels Ben Duoc on Google Maps (opens in a new tab)) by Dung Le, Tran huy hoang, Thanh Thanh Ta, Bui Thien An, Linh Truong, La Quoc Thinh, O Chan Cong.
Step by step
- Fix the noon service as the anchorThe Holy See holds services at 6:00, 12:00, 18:00 and 24:00.
- Choose how to travelA combined tour with Cu Chi reaches the Holy See for the noon service; a bus ticket starts at VND 125,000.
- Watch the service from the balconiesDuring the noon service visitors must stay on the upper balconies.
- Ride the cable carThe Van Son Summit cable car costs VND 450,000 per adult.
Not confirmed: Cable car prices: the list covers 28 September to 31 December 2026; confirm the new price at the ticket gate after that date.
Common questions
What time is the Cao Dai ceremony at Tay Ninh?
Services run at 6:00, 12:00, 18:00 and 24:00 (midnight).
Do I take my shoes off at the Holy See?
No, shoes stay on inside; take off hats and sunglasses.
How long does a Cao Dai service last?
A service lasts about 30 minutes.
What are the photo rules at the Holy See?
Photography is allowed from the balconies, but flash is prohibited.
What should I wear at the Holy See?
Shoulders and knees must be covered for men and women, across the whole temple complex.
How far is Tay Ninh from Ho Chi Minh City?
The Holy See is 96 km northwest of the city, about 2 hours by bus or private car.
How long is the Ba Den Mountain cable car ride?
The Van Son route takes about 8 minutes from the base station to the top.
Which height gets the child price at Ba Den Mountain?
Children from 1 m to under 1.4 m tall pay the child price, and children under 1 m enter free.
Are there cheaper cable car tickets in the evening?
After 5 PM the Van Son Summit cable car costs VND 300,000 per adult and VND 200,000 per child.
Read next
Places in this guide
General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.
Spotted an error? Report it.