Cao Dai Temple is one of the interesting attractions in Hoi An Old Town, Vietnam. It’s the holiest place for local Caodaists who follow a religion unique to Vietnam. Meaning that when come to sightsee, visitors will find many interests about history, culture, belief, architecture, etc. This temple proves the diversity of religions in the town where different communities live together for a long period. So now, let’s HoiAn Day Trip Company provide all information about Cao Dai Temple of Hoi An.
You may also like: Cao Dai Temple in Da Nang, Cao Dai Temple in Hue
• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD
• Designed by Giang Cong Minh, co-founder of LS E&C LTD and his team
• Photo by Dang Cong Loi, Dao Xuan Son, Tam Le & others
Must Knows about Cao Dai Temple (Hoi An)
– Location/address: 88 Hung Vuong Street, Cam Pho ward, Hoi An city, Quang Nam province, Vietnam
– Other name(s): Thanh That Hoi An
– Opening hours: anytime during the day
– Ticket price: free
– Duration: 15-30 mins
– Reason(s) to visit: the holy see of Caodaists living in Hoi An, learn about a new religion that is seen only in Vietnam
– Best time to visit: ceremonial times
– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/cao-dai-temple-of-hoi-an
– Tour guide: contact +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo)
– Recognition(s): Unesco world heritage site (1999)
– Food & drink: not available
– Shopping: not available
– Fact:
Cao Dai Temple of Hoi An on Map
Better to Know about Caodaism
What is Caodaism? Caodaism is a Vietnamese monotheistic syncretic religion that retains many elements from religions and beliefs within Vietnam (such as Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Roman Catholicism). It’s one of five major religions in Vietnam (others are Islam, Christianity including Catholicism and Evangelicalism, Hoahaoism, Buddhism). It’s found in the first half of the 20th century.
Here are essential information that visitors should know about Caodaism:
– Full name: Dai Dao Tam Ky Pho Do ‘the Great Faith (for the) Third Universal Redemption’
– Year of foundation: 1926 at Tay Ninh province, south Vietnam
– Founder: Ngo Van Chieu or Ngo Minh Chieu (religious name), borned in 1878 in present-day Ho Chi Minh city and died in Can Tho city, considered as first disciple
– Headquarter: Tay Ninh Holy See, Hoa Thanh town, Tay Ninh province, south of Vietnam (approx 80 km from center of Ho Chi Minh city)
– Symbols: the Divine Eye (symbolizing the Eye of God)
– Number of believers: 1,24 million people (around 1% of Vietnam’s population)
– Number of facilities: 1,300
Introduction of Caodaism in Hoi An
Caodaism was introduced into Hoi An in the first half of 20th century, making it the ‘youngest’ religion in this old city. Amongst branches, the Caodaist Executive Council of Tây Ninh Province (majority) is most popular here. According to the latest statistics, the number of Caodaists today is around 600, a small percentage in Hoi An’s population (roughly 120,000 people).
In 1950, while the war between Vietnamese and French army was occuring, Caodaists in Go Noi area (Dien Ban town, west of Hoi An) had to move to different places. Hoi An was one of their destinations. Here, they continued practicing their religion at the house of a member and then constructed a temple (known as Cao Dai Temple of Hoi An).
There are 3 Cao Dai temples in Hoi An city today: on Hung Vuong Street, in the alley of Tran Cao Van Street (near Hai Ba Trung Street) and on Ton Duc Thang Street.
History of Cao Dai Temple in Hoi An
On 15th October 1952, construction of Cao Dai Temple at Hoi An got started at the current location, a 200-m2 garden of Mr Nguyen Hong Tan’s family. In December 1952, the temple was completed. The inauguration ceremony took place on 19th April 1953. However, at this time, it’s just a small brick house.
On 27th October 1954, all Caodaists in the central Vietnam region gathered at Cao Dai Temple at Hoi An.
In July 1959, Cao Dai Temple at Hoi An was restored. Later, believers bought nearby rice fields to bury dead members.
Architecture of Cao Dai Temple in Hoi An
About architecture, Cao Dai Temple in Hoi An has a main entrance, Great Divine Temple, administrative offices. All of them are arranged along a north-south axis, with entrance in the south (by Hung Vuong Road).
The main gate follows Vietnamese traditional gate design, with 4 columns, 3 entrances and 4 tile roofs. On the columns, there are parallel sentences written in Chinese language. Above the middle entrance, the name board has 6 Chinese words which mean Dai Dao Tam Ky Pho Do or ‘the Great Faith (for the) Third Universal Redemption’ and other Vietnamese words inform the name of the temple and their address.
In the middle of the yard between the main gate and the temple, there is a tall pillar to hang up Cao Dai flag. At its base, will see a lotus flower.
From front to back, the Great Divine Temple has three sections: Hiep Thien Dai, Cuu Trung Dai and Bat Quai Dai (built at different times). The front section has two tall towers on either side. The left tower is the bell tower, named Bach Ngoc and the right tower is the drum tower, named Loi Am. On the sides of the main entrance, there are 2 guardians or door gods who represent the good and the evil. Visitors have the chance to go in and see the interior around 12:00 pm when the main ceremony of the day occurs. On the façade, it’s possible to see the Divine Eye and 35 rays of light emanating from it, representing 3 major religions and 5 main major religious doctrines in the world. The eye is one of Caodaism symbols.
The middle section of the Great Divine Temple is a long space divided into 9 levels from low to high, corresponding to the 9 ranks in the Cao Dai spiritual hierarchy. The 5th level is the area for bishops. Daily ceremonies occur here or at home, depending on personal choice, at 6:00 am, 12:00 pm, 6:00 pm and 12:00 am. Each lunar month, many religious activities will be on the 1st and 15th days. Visitors need to ask for a believer’s permission if want to go into the temple. If they do not allow it, please respect and stay outside.
The last section of the Great Divine Temple is the Bat Quai Dai, which consists of a high octagonal-shaped tower. In Caodaist tradition, this is the place of the Jade Emperor, Saints, Buddha, and Fairies. It is considered the soul of the temple. The eight sides of Bai Quai Dai correspond to a part of the Eight Trigrams in Taoism: Qian, Dui, Li, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Gen and Kun. The floor of this section is a twelve-tiered octagonal platform. In the center, on the highest level, there is a large sphere called the cosmos ball or the Qian-Kun ball, which represents the Jade Emperor’s universe. The sphere has a large symbol of the Divine Eye, corresponding to the Left Eye of the God, painted above the North Star in the Ursa Minor constellation. Caodaists believe that God witnesses everything, everywhere.
To the left of the Great Divine Temple, there is a temple for the Holy Buddha Mother (Duc Phat Mau). Her existence in Caodaism is to represent the balance or harmony between yin and yang elements in Vietnamese traditional culture. She represents the yin element, while Duc Cao Dai (the ‘Greatest Lord’) represents the yang element.
Tips to Visit Cao Dai Temple in Hoi An
– Visitors need to wear respectively if want to visit Cao Dai Temple at Hoi An because it’s a holy site. In other words, it’s needed to wear long pants or shorts covering upper knees, T-shirts or shirts covering armpits, navel, shoulder and breast.
– Following rules and regulations at Cao Dai Temple at Hoi An. For example, man will need to walk into the temple via man gate and otherwise.
– Do not enter the Great Divine Temple (main temple) without permission from Caodaists. To see the holiest place, visitors need to go with them.
– Vietnamese traditional costume ao dai dress is highly recommended. Any garment made of see-through material is not respectful.
– In the dry season, from February to the end of August, visitors should bring sun cream, hat/cap/umbrella, sun glasses, and bottles of water to drink. If don’t have, it’s easy to buy at shops near the Cao Dai Temple at Hoi An.
– In the rainy season, from September to January, visitors should bring rain poncho/jacket or umbrella, sandals or waterproof shoes. Don’t forget to check the weather forecast usually when traveling during this period.
– From October to December, the town may be flooded, so visitors need to keep updating the weather before going to Hoi An.
– The best way to visit the Hoi An Old Town is walking, so make sure that you have good/comfortable shoes or sandals.
– Smartphone or camera is needed for taking pictures. For more experiences, visitors can consider renting Vietnamese traditional costume (for example, ao dai long dress for ladies) or even booking a private photographer.
– Don’t forget to bring cash to pay for entry fee tickets and small things because many places in Vietnam don’t accept payment by cards.
– Toilets are near the second gate (outside) and behind the second worshipping area. Visitors may give a small money to pay for cleaning (usually 5,000 VND).
– It’s better to visit Cao Dai Temple at Hoi An with a local guide. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) if need a professional guide in Hoi An.
How to Get to Cao Dai Temple in Hoi An
Cao Dai Temple is at 88 Hung Vuong street, Cam Pho ward, Hoi An city, Quang Nam province, Vietnam. It lies within the buffer zone of Hoi An Ancient Town world heritage site area.
From Hoi An, visitors can go to the Cao Dai Temple by walking, bicycle, motorcycle, taxi/car, electric bus, shuttle bus of the hotel/resort, cyclo, bus/minivan. If stay in the hotel within Cam Pho ward, it’s absolutely possible to get there by foot. From the areas of Minh An, Tan An, Son Phong, Cam Nam, Thanh Ha, Cam An and Cam Chau, visitors can cycle or ride the motorbike easily. Just part near the main entrance of the temple. It’s free. If want to take a car/taxi/bus/electric car, the driver can drop passengers off at the main entrance. From here, the distance to major sights in the Hoi An Old Town is not long.
From Da Nang, the distance to the Cao Dai Temple in Hoi An is some 30 kilometers, to the south. Visitors often choose a car or ride the motorbike by themselves. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/zalo/line) to book a private roundtrip transfer by car.
HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD daily organizes transfers to Hoi An and Da Nang. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Itinerary to Visit Hoi An Old Town for First Timer
First of all, to enter and visit the Hoi An Old Town (the part inscribed by Unesco), visitors need to buy an entry ticket. Its price is 120,000 VND per adult and children above 15 years old and free of charge for smaller kids. Entry to 5 attractions is also included for free. See more information & details
If possible, first time visitors should go with a local guide, to know better about history and culture. Contact us by +84968009827 (call/whatsapp) to book a private English-speaking guide.
We suggest this itinerary for first timers:
Total distance: 1,65 kilometers
– Starting point: the Japanese style gate (the west end of Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street). A model of the Red Seal Ship (Japanese merchant’s ship) and a ticket office are in a close distance.
– Walk along Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street. On this road, visitors will have the chance to sightsee Cam Pho Communal House (ticket required), Japanese Culture Gallery (ticket required), Phung Hung Old House (one of the best heritage houses, ticket required), Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel (in the alleyway, ticket required).
– Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, the symbol of Hoi An. This place definitely is a must see attraction.
– Walk along Tran Phu Street, the most beautiful road in Hoi An, until Hoi An Central Market. On this road, visitors will have the chance to sightsee so many historical attractions. From the bridge to the market, there are Cantonese Assembly Hall (ticket required), Museum of Sa Huynh Culture (ticket required), Duc An Old House (ticket required), Kazik Park (free), Quan Thang Old House (ticket required), Museum of Trade Ceramics (ticket required), Trung Hoa Assembly Hall (ticket required), Fujian Assembly Hall (ticket required), Quan Cong Temple (ticket required), Quan Am Pagoda (ticket required), Hoi An Central Market (free to enter), a couple of rooftop coffee shops, Instagrammable spots, shophouses selling lanterns, food, souvenirs and fashion items.
– Walk southwards and along Tieu La Street (east side of Hoi An Central Market). On this road, there are many vendors and stalls selling a diversity of local products, giving a good chance to know about local life and photograph.
– Walk westwards and along Bach Dang Street (the riverside street). On this road, visitors will see Hoi An Traditional Performance House (ticket required if want to watch shows) and Museum of Folklore (ticket required).
– Turn into Le Loi Street and then turn left, walking along Nguyen Thai Hoc Street. On this road, visitors will see Tan Ky Old House (one of the best heritage houses, ticket required) and Diep Dong Nguyen Old House (not yet opened to visitors, see from outside).
– The ending point: the crossroad near the north end of An Hoi Bridge or the west end of Nguyen Thai Hoc Street. In the evening, from here, visitors can walk cross the bridge and then turn right to see the entrance of the Hoi An Night Market, the biggest night market in Hoi An.
For more information and details, please browse https://hoiandaytrip.com/hoi-an-self-guided-walking-tour
Guided Tours to Hoi An Ancient Town Vietnam
From Hoi An
– Hoi An Old Town Walking Tour – 2 Hour Express Tour with Local
– Hoi An Half Day Walking Tour: Heritage Sites, Crafts & Show
– Hoi An Early Morning Walking Tour with Local Pho & Coffee
– Hoi An Afternoon Walking Tour + Thu Bon River Sunset Cruise
– Hoi An Night Tour from Hoi An: Lantern Boat, Markets & Food
– Hoi An Walking Tour with Sightseeing & Cooking Class
– Hoi An Late Afternoon Walking Tour with Local Food Tastings
– Hoi An Walking Tour with Thanh Ha Pottery Village by Boat
– Hoi An Instagram Tour: Best Photo Spots & Rooftop Café
– Hoi An Old Town Food Tour with Night Boat Ride
– Hoi An Old Town Private Walking Tour with Local Expert (4 hours duration from departure time)
HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD daily organizes tours in Hoi An and Da Nang. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
From Da Nang
– Hoi An Half Day Tour from Da Nang
– Hoi An Night Tour from Da Nang
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Day Tour from Da Nang
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Night Tour from Da Nang
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Highlights Tour
– Marble Mountain, Lady Buddha & Hoi An Day Tour from Da Nang
– Hoi An Day Tour from Da Nang with Chinese Speaking Guide
– My Son Sanctuary & Hoi An Tour from Da Nang
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills Tour & Hoi An Tour from Da Nang
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Tour from Da Nang Cruise Port
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Tour from Chan May Cruise Port
HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD daily organizes tours in Hoi An and Da Nang. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Places to Visit near Cao Dai Temple of Hoi An
– Bridges: Japanese Covered Bridge (Pagoda Bridge), Moonlight Bridge, An Hoi Bridge (Bridge of Lights), Cam Nam Bridge, Cam Kim Metal Bridge
– Museums: Museum of Sa Huynh Culture, Museum of Sa Folklore, Museum of Trade Ceramics, Museum of Traditional Medicine, Hoi An Museum of History & Culture, Japanese Culture Gallery, Black Sesame Soup Demonstration
– Chinese assembly halls: Cantonese Assembly Hall, Fujian Assembly Hall, Trung Hoa Assembly Hall, Hainan Assembly Hall, Teochew Assembly Hall
– Heritage houses: Tan Ky Old House, Phung Hung Old House, Duc An Old House, Quan Thang Ancient House, Diep Dong Nguyen House, Thai Phien Ancient House
– Temples & pagodas: Quan Cong Temple (Ong Pagoda), Ba Mu Temple, Phap Bao Pagoda, Quan Am Pagoda, Hoi An Confucius Temple, Cao Dai Temple of Hoi An, Hoi An Ancestral Temple, Cam Pho Confucius Temple, Minh Huong Confucius Temple, Vien Giac Pagoda, Hy Hoa Temple
– Family chapels: Tran Family Chapel, Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel
– Communal houses: Cam Pho Communal House, Hoi An Communal House, Minh Huong Communal House, Tu Le Communal House, Xuan Lam Communal House, Son Phong Communal House
– Markets: Hoi An Central Market, Hoi An Cloth/Fabric Market, Hoi An Night Market (Nguyen Hoang Night Market), Cam Pho Market
– Theatres: Hoi An Traditional Art Performance House, Hoi An Lune Center for Performing Arts (now where Teh Dar Show takes place), Hoi An Memories Land Theme Park (now where Hoi An Memories Show takes place)
– Famous streets: Tran Phu Street, Phan Chu Trinh Street, Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Bach Dang Street/Wharf, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Cong Nu Ngoc Hoa Street, Phan Boi Chau Street (Hoi An French Quarter), Hoi An Lantern Streets
– Other points of interest: Red Seal Ship Model, Hoi An Evanlegical Church, Thong Dang Prison & Park, Kazik Park (Memory Statue of Kazimierz Kwiatkowski), Hoai River (Hoi An River), Song Hoai Square, An Hoi Sculpture Park, Hoi An Catholic Church, Hoi An Prison, Hoi An Central Park, Ba Le Well, Hoi An Book Street, Hoi An Lantern Park, An Hoi Island, Cam Nam Island, Thu Bon River, Da Ken Tree
Photos, Videos about Cao Dai Temple of Hoi An
Here are beautiful photos and videos about Cao Dai Temple of Hoi An:
