Cu Chi Tunnels, Cao Dai Temple & Ba Den Mount Day Trip

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/7

Duration11h–12h

GroupUp to 99

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Ba Den cable car views, Cao Dai colors and Cu Chi tunnels in a day

You’ll ride the Ba Den cable car above lush countryside, witness vibrant rituals at Cao Dai Temple, share a Vietnamese lunch with locals, and crawl through historic Cu Chi Tunnels—all in one day with pickup included. Expect moments of awe (and maybe nerves) alongside laughter and real stories from your guide.

11h–12h

Step-by-step itinerary

Cu Chi Tunnels, Cao Dai Temple, Ba Den Mount

Pick up guests from hotels
Drive to Tây Ninh province
Take cable car to Bà Đen Mountain peak
Admire Buddha statue and panoramic views
Visit Cao Đài Temple and join ceremony
Enjoy lunch at local restaurant
Drive to Củ Chi Tunnels Historical Site
Watch propaganda video and explore tunnels
Try local tapioca
Drive back to Hồ Chí Minh City
Drop off guests at pick-up points

The Experience

We almost missed our hotel pickup because I’d underestimated Saigon’s morning chaos—motorbikes everywhere, horns, that sticky heat. Our guide, Hien, just grinned when we finally stumbled out, sweating and apologizing. She handed us cold water and said something like, “No rush here, just more stories to tell.” The van felt like a little bubble as we left the city for Tây Ninh. I remember the road: endless green rice paddies flashing past, and at one point someone’s rooster darted across the highway (everyone laughed except maybe the driver).

The cable car up Bà Đen Mountain was smoother than I expected—no swaying or creaking—and suddenly we were above everything. There’s a kind of hush up there except for kids giggling and someone’s ringtone playing some old K-pop song. The air was cooler; you could smell incense drifting from somewhere. Hien pointed out Cambodia in the distance, which I wouldn’t have guessed. We wandered around the giant bronze Buddha (it really is massive), but mostly I just stared at those patchwork fields down below.

Cao Dai Temple came next—honestly, it looked like something out of a dream: dragons everywhere, every color you can imagine. We tried to follow along with part of the ceremony but I got distracted by this old man in a blue robe who kept nodding off mid-prayer. Lunch was at a local spot nearby—five courses, all things I couldn’t pronounce (Li laughed when I tried to say it in Mandarin—probably butchered it). The tofu dish had this smoky flavor that stuck with me.

I thought I’d be brave in the Cu Chi Tunnels but wow—they’re smaller than you think. Crawling through them felt claustrophobic; you could taste earth and metal in the air. Hien told stories about people living down there for months—hard to imagine until you’re actually inside. We tried boiled tapioca after (chewy, not my favorite), then sat quietly on the drive back while dusk settled over the fields outside. Sometimes travel days feel like a blur but parts of this one—I still think about that view from Bà Đen and how quiet it got underground—you know?

What’s included

Your day includes early morning hotel pickup in Ho Chi Minh City by air-conditioned vehicle, all entry fees for Bà Đen Mountain cable car, Cao Dai Temple ceremony access and Cu Chi Tunnels exploration.
two bottles of water per person.
boiled tapioca tasting.
plus a five-course Vietnamese lunch served at a local restaurant before returning to your drop-off point in the city center.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by Asiana Link Travel