Our day begins with a visit to Tayninh, the center of Caodaism, a local sect of Buddhism founded by a Vietnamese countryman in early 20th century. The road is thru the typical Southern Vietnam delta. Arriving at noontime, we will have the chance to join the daily ceremony at the temple of Cao Dai called Tayninh Holysee. In his novel “The Quiet American,” Graham Greene described the temple as the “Walt Disney Fantasia of the East”. The eye over the main entrance and on the inside ceiling is characteristic of every Cao Dai church, and is a reminder of the Creator of the Universe. Yet, the midday mass is very solemn and respectful. Today, the Caodaism numbers over 2 million members, who are vegetarians, obey the rules of chastity, and lead very simple lives helping the sick and the infirm. They are known for their séances and communications with the spirit world.
On the way back to Saigon is located Cu Chi Tunnels, one of the few remaining monuments to the Vietnam War. Beneath the ground lie 200 km of tunnels, dug by hand and inhabited by the forces of the Vietnamese guerillas during the conflict. At its peak, prior to the Tet Offensive in 1968, the tunnel complex was base to almost 10,000 troops. To this day, it remains one of the most impressive examples of how fierce the war used to be. We can even crawl a part of the tunnel to experience the real life of the Vietnamese guerrillas, who used to use and live inside this system during the wartime. Return to Saigon late afternoon. Overnight in Saigon.
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