Tay Ninh Travel: The Ultimate A-Z Guide

Located approximately 100 km from Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh serves as an attractive destination with numerous exciting activities, ideal for a gentle weekend getaway.

Tay Ninh Travel: The Ultimate A-Z Guide

Getting to Tay Ninh from Ho Chi Minh City is straightforward via bus, coach, or personal vehicle. Motorbikes or cars offer more convenience for exploring local sights. Travel along National Highway 22 through Cu Chi and Trang Bang, then at the Go Dau town roundabout, switch to National Highway 22B to reach Tay Ninh.

Travelers can easily get to Tay Ninh by bus, coach, or private vehicle. Motorbikes or cars are more convenient for visiting attractions. From Ho Chi Minh City, follow National Highway 22 through Cu Chi district (Ho Chi Minh City) and Trang Bang (Tay Ninh), then at the Go Dau town roundabout, turn onto National Highway 22B directly to Tay Ninh.

For coach travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Tay Ninh, start at An Suong bus station in Hoc Mon district and buy a ticket from Dong Phuoc bus service (028 3504 4999), with fares ranging from VND 80,000 to 100,000. Alternatively, for bus travel, go to Ben Thanh market bus station, take bus number 70-3 to Moc Bai, then switch to bus number 05 to Tay Ninh bus station, costing a total of VND 55,000.

Accommodation in Tay Ninh

Hotels in Tay Ninh city are mainly located near Black Lady Mountain on 30/4 Avenue, CMT8 street, etc., with room rates from VND 100,000 to 400,000 per night. Additionally, camping at Black Lady Mountain to watch the sunrise is a favored activity among young travelers.

For a luxurious retreat in Tay Ninh, the 5-star Vinpearl Tay Ninh hotel is indispensable. Located at the central junction of three arterial roads, Vinpearl Tay Ninh has become the new pinnacle of the city, offering a unique charm.

Vinpearl Tay Ninh perfectly embodies classic European style with a dominant white color theme, harmoniously blending with gold and mysterious black. The grand lobby and modern bar, ideal for savoring cocktails and fresh beverages, provide a welcoming first stop for guests.

The hotel, featuring a European royal design, is crafted with extreme harmony and detail, offering a complete restful space for guests. Additionally, a full range of in-house services and amenities ensures satisfaction for every visitor.

From their accommodation, guests can enjoy a panoramic view that encompasses the entire Tay Ninh border cityscape, offering a unique and novel perspective.

Essential Check-In Spots in Tay Ninh

1. Black Lady Mountain

Black Lady Mountain, about 8km from Tay Ninh city, is known as the rooftop of Southern Vietnam with its highest peak at 986m, formed by three mountains: Heo, Phung, and Ba Den. The mountain's poetic landscape, resembling a giant inverted leaf hat over lush fields, has become a primary reason for its popularity among hikers wanting to experience breathtaking natural moments.

2. Ma Thien Lanh Stone Lake

Ma Thien Lanh Stone Lake, also known as Ma Thien Lanh Valley, situated among the Ba Den, Phung, and Heo mountains in Thanh Tan commune, Tay Ninh province, boasts stunning primeval forest scenery likened to the 'Da Lat of the Southeastern region,' and remains relatively undiscovered by many visitors to Tay Ninh.

3. Dau Tieng Lake

Dau Tieng Lake is serene with deep green waters year-round, surrounded by lush grasslands. Unique natural islets and the dark brown of local wooden boats add to its tranquil beauty. Sunrise and sunset are the prime times for visiting, offering soul-stirring views.

4. Tay Ninh Holy See

A visit to Tay Ninh is incomplete without exploring the Holy See, a spiritually significant site with unique architecture. Its interior columns are adorned with vibrant dragon carvings. The Holy See features nine levels, known as 'Nine Degrees of Angels,' each representing a rank, centered around a large sphere symbolizing the universe with the Divine Eye at its front. It attracts thousands annually to this remarkable structure.

5. Chop Mat Tower

Chop Mat Tower is a recognized historical and cultural relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, and one of the last three ancient towers in Southern Vietnam. Constructed from brick and schist, the tower narrows to a pointed apex, approximately 10 meters high from its base to the top.

6. Vinpearl Hotel Tay Ninh

Upon its opening, Vinpearl Hotel Tay Ninh immediately became the most enticing destination in Tay Ninh, offering locals and tourists alike access to luxurious accommodations, high-quality services, and a suite of premium amenities in line with international 5-star standards.

8. Tay Ninh Wild Grape Garden

Located at 622 Phan commune, Duong Minh Chau district, Tay Ninh province, the wild grape garden managed by Vang Cy wine company stands as one of Tay Ninh's most fascinating attractions. Open to the public, the garden invites visitors to explore, taste grapes, and enjoy complimentary grape juice.

The wild grape garden features grapes that ripen in clusters similar to conventional grapes but are dark in color and the size of a coffee bean. Each ripe cluster, weighing about 2 kg, is part of an 8,000 m2 garden not harvested to allow free visitor exploration.

Visitors to Tay Ninh's wild grape garden can enjoy free tours and the opportunity to take pictures with the lush, heavy grape clusters. Besides photo opportunities, guests are welcome to taste the wild grapes on-site. Note, the wild grapes have a slightly sour taste, and consuming them in large quantities may cause a tingling sensation on the tongue, so it's advised to sample them in moderation.

Directions: From Saigon, take the route via Duong Minh Chau district towards Black Lady Mountain, follow DT784 to K13 bridge, then turn onto DT781. Continue past Phan elementary school for about 100m to find CY Wine Company on the left.

Key Tay Ninh Specialties You Must Try

Trang Bang Rice Noodle Soup

Trang Bang is famous for its rice noodle soup, a simple yet captivating dish featuring pork knuckle, blood pudding, and fresh scallions. The aromatic steam and sizzling fat make the first sip unforgettable, blending the scents of scallions, the spiciness of pepper, the sweetness of the broth, and the tenderness of the meat.

Dew-Soaked Rice Paper Rolls with Meat

A signature dish of Trang Bang, dew-soaked rice paper undergoes a meticulous and detailed preparation process. Made from high-quality rice without any additives, a bit of salt is added during grinding. The rice paper, thicker and double-layered compared to other types, requires skillful and precise handling. After cooking, it's sun-dried and then roasted over a special stove until it changes color, followed by a period of dew-soaking.

Dew-Soaked Rice Paper is often served with fresh vegetables, boiled pork, and an intricately prepared fish sauce. Its soft and flexible texture, combined with fresh meat slices and a rich dipping sauce, along with the tangy and sour taste of the vegetables, creates a wonderfully enticing dish.

Tamarind Rice Paper

Expanding on dew-soaked rice paper, the locals have innovated additional dishes such as mixed rice paper, grilled rice paper, and notably, tamarind rice paper, which has become a sought-after snack among the youth. This dish includes dew-soaked rice paper, a packet of tamarind sauce, fried shallots, peanuts, roasted shrimp powder, and chili salt, all pre-packaged.

Guests can adjust the spice packets to taste, creating a special dipping sauce. Peel off the chewy rice paper pieces, roll them up, dip into the freshly mixed special sauce, and enjoy leisurely. The mild sourness of the tamarind, the spicy bite of the chili, the saltiness of the rice paper, the aroma of the roasted shrimp, and the crunchy richness of the peanuts combine to create a unique, irresistibly delicious flavor.

Ba Mountain Snails

Resembling snails but flatter and smaller, locals believe Ba Mountain snails are not only uniquely flavorful but also beneficial for relieving fatigue and aches. These snails are transformed into various appealing dishes such as grilled, steamed with lemongrass, sautéed with tamarind, and sautéed with garlic. The snail meat is chewy, crisp, mildly sweet, and carries a hint of precious herb aroma.

To enjoy the unique flavor of snails, locals often mix them with finely grated coconut before steaming with lemongrass or ginger, accompanied by a dipping sauce of salt, pepper, and lime.

Black Lady Mountain Lizards

Regarded as the top culinary delight in Tay Ninh, mountain lizards are a popular delicacy among men, always in demand by visitors to the region.

Mountain lizards are prepared in various ways, such as being finely chopped and stir-fried with green pepper, served with rice paper and betel leaves. The most delicious is the crispy fried mountain lizard served with lettuce, herbs, and tamarind sauce.

Shrimp Salt

Tay Ninh is famous for its unique shrimp salt, a local specialty primarily used for dipping fruits like ambarella, guava, and mango, which attracts many visitors. Tourists often purchase jars of shrimp salt as souvenirs or gifts for friends and family.

This special dip is made from a blend of salt, shrimp, pork, garlic, red cabbage, and chili. Each ingredient is precisely measured, ground smoothly, then roasted and sun-dried to bring out a fragrant aroma.

Pomelo Salad Rolls

Pomelo salad rolls are a popular snack in Tay Ninh, offering a mix of sour, salty, sweet, and spicy flavors, complemented by a distinctive aroma that makes this dish uniquely appealing and rich in taste.

The main ingredients for this dish are pomelo peel and green papaya shredded and dried, combined with sour starfruit, bird's eye chili, pepper, ambarella leaves, and banana leaves. The finished rolls have a pinkish hue, a moderate chewiness, and must blend the flavors of sour, salty, sweet, spicy, and aromatic to create a uniquely enticing taste.

For travel to Tay Ninh, wear comfortable, easy-to-move clothing, bring a jacket, hat, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, insect bite medication, and stomach medicine (in case of trying exotic foods). Wear sneakers or flat shoes for mountain climbing, and carry a sewing kit for emergencies. If planning to camp overnight on Black Lady Mountain, pack tents, warm clothing, and food.

According to Mytour

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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide