The Cao Dai Temples of Tay Ninh: Tay Ninh is the center of the Cao Dai religion. This sect, which is particular to Viet Nam, draws its origins from Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. Included among the many luminaries are Joan of Arc, Sun Vat Sen, William Shakespeare, and Victor Hugo. At various times, the Cao Dai sect supported the Japanese, the Americans, and the Viet Minh. During the 1950s and 1960s, followers of Cao Dai formed their own private army, which the southern regime brutally repressed. The architecture of the religion's headquarters, a twin-towered cathedral in Tay Ninh Town, is a mixture of European and Oriental inspiration. It and a number of community buildings are all painted light yellow. The blue-and-yellow pillars inside the cathedral have intricate carvings of dragons. These, together with priests who wear turbans and flowing white cloaks and worship before a large "all-seeing eye," provide a colorful and moving sight. Visitors are allowed to observe the daily prayers from the balcony. The service is from 12:00-1:00 P.M.
The Tunnels of Cu Chi: The Cu Chi Tunnels, which are only an hour's drive northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, are one of the few remaining monuments to the war. Underground lie 200 kilometers of tunnels some of which the Viet Minh dug by hand and inhabited while fighting against the French. During the American War, resistance fighters extended the tunnel system, which they used as a base to launch the 1968 Tet Offensive. At its peak, prior to the crucial Tet Offensive, the tunnel complex was home to nearly 10,000 troops.
To this day, the tunnels of Cu Chi remain one of the most powerful examples of how the war was fought. There are two areas open to the public, including sections of the tunnels that tourists can enter. These have been enlarged so that international guests can crawl through the narrow tunnels. Another area is more open and shows the underground layouts for the hospital, emergency aid stations, birthing room, and the kitchens, meeting rooms, and sleeping quarters. Uniformed former Viet Cong veterans lead these tours. In addition, visitors can watch film footage taken in the area during the war. At a special firing range, they can choose an AK-47 (the rifle used by Vietnamese resistance fighters) or M-16 (the rifle used by the Americans and the ARVN) and try a few shots.
The Mekong Delta: The mighty Mekong River begins its journey to the sea in Tibet and winds for 4,500 kilometers through China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and southern Viet Nam; here it branches into tributaries to form a rich delta. The Vietnamese name for the Mekong is Cuu Long, which means "nine dragons" and refers to the nine major tributaries. Over the centuries, local villagers have created a system of canals through hat was once marshland and forest. Now, most of e delta, which covers an area of 60,000 square kilometers, is cultivated. The Mekong Delta produces over half the nation's rice, and the area is filled with orchards, and fish farms. A visit to this rich flood plain is or of the best ways to experience Vietnamese rural Iii and typifies the living standards of over 75% of the country's population. The diverse mix of ethnic Khmer, Chinese, and Vietnamese make the area culturally interesting. A variety of day tours are available; these car also be extended to overnight. The two most popular areas to visit are:
My Tho: This city of 100,000 people sits at the northern reaches of the Mekong Delta. Chinese fleeing Taiwan for political reasons founded the city in the late seventeenth century. The Kinh (ethnic Vietnamese) subsequently extended their influence farther south and began to take control of the city. Today, My Tho is the both the capital of Tien Giang Province and a meeting point for the sale and purchase of agricultural and seafood products. A typical day trip begins with a two-hour drive from Sai Gon. The visitor passes through the countryside and then through villages and rice fields to My Tho. There, visitors transfer to a local sampan to explore the small canals and islands on the Tien Giang River. The sampan ride meanders through small villages, where visitors can sample local life at the grass roots level. A recommended stop is Thoi Son Island, where villagers have turned their community into a large garden with a thriving business growing and selling many varieties of bonsai plants. After the sampan ride, a good lunch stop is an outdoor eatery in a bonsai garden.
Vinh Long: Farther south is the riverside town of Vinh Long, where the surrounding canals and villages are perhaps more representative of the delta lifestyle than those found in the city of My Tho. The drive to Vinh Long takes about three hours. We recommend stopping at Cai Be. From here, visitors can take a sampan to boat-building villages, family businesses making rice paper, and the Cai Be Floating Market. The various islands have many good Vietnamese restaurants. Local seafood specialties include Ca Tai Tuong or Elephant Ear Fish.
Vung Tau: Known as Cap Saint-Jacques under French rule, Wing Tau is the most accessible beach resort to Ho Chi Minh City, which is 125 kilometers away. There is one white sand beach, Bai Sau, which is of reasonable quality but not as fine as beaches farther up the coast. A golf course is an added attraction. Every week-end Bai Sau Beach overflows as families and courting couples come to enjoy the fresh sea breeze and boardwalk atmosphere. Originally settled by the Khmer, the Vung Tau City became a Vietnamese possession in the late 17th century and subsequently fell under French control. Now a base for offshore oil prospecting, it is also becoming a port city with rapidly improving infrastructure. An alternative to visiting Vung Tau by road is to travel by hydrofoil on the Sai Gon River, a trip that takes an hour and a half.
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