Cao Dai a native Vietnamese religion that brings together beliefs and practices from numerous world religions, including Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and native Vietnamese practice. The center for Cao Dai is Tay Ninh, northwest of Saigon.
We arrived at the temple not long before the noon mass. The temple is a large open air building that is ornate and colorful.
Non followers are ushered to side balconies (after taking off shoes and hats) and permitted to observe the worship. Women dressed in white enter from one side, men dressed in white with the higher ranked men dressed in colors enter from the other side.
It took five minutes for them all to quietly enter and organize themselves. Some did not appear to be fully aware of where to go--leaders pointed them in the right posiiton.
Music and singing started (in Vietnamese so I did not know what was being said) and the worshippers knelt and prayed.
These are the leaders--two high ranking women in white known as nuns. Their head wear is different from the rest of the women. The highest ranked men are professors and monks.
At the very front of the temple above what appears to be an altar are images of various religious figures, including Christ in the center.
From the back of the temple looking foward. We had approximately thirty minutes to observe and the service was still in progress when we had to leave.
In the balcony at the back this orchestra played and was accompanied by singers and chanters. The worshippers on the main floor did not speak.
In the foyer there is a painting of three important Cao Dai saints, including Sun Yat Sen, 16th century Vietnamese poet Trangh Trinh, and curiously enough--Fench novelist Victor Hugo. Cao Dai was started in the early twentieth century and reflects a strong French influence.
This drowsy attendant kept non followers from entering the main floor. Another attendant prevented us from using the main entrance. We entered and left through the side entrance where the men gathered.
The symbol for God for Cao Dai is the all seeing eye.
Cao Dai a native Vietnamese religion that brings together beliefs and practices from numerous world religions, including Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and native Vietnamese practice. The center for Cao Dai is Tay Ninh, northwest of Saigon.
We arrived at the temple not long before the noon mass. The temple is a large open air building that is ornate and colorful.
Non followers are ushered to side balconies (after taking off shoes and hats) and permitted to observe the worship. Women dressed in white enter from one side, men dressed in white with the higher ranked men dressed in colors enter from the other side.
It took five minutes for them all to quietly enter and organize themselves. Some did not appear to be fully aware of where to go--leaders pointed them in the right posiiton.
Music and singing started (in Vietnamese so I did not know what was being said) and the worshippers knelt and prayed.
These are the leaders--two high ranking women in white known as nuns. Their head wear is different from the rest of the women. The highest ranked men are professors and monks.
At the very front of the temple above what appears to be an altar are images of various religious figures, including Christ in the center.
From the back of the temple looking foward. We had approximately thirty minutes to observe and the service was still in progress when we had to leave.
In the balcony at the back this orchestra played and was accompanied by singers and chanters. The worshippers on the main floor did not speak.
In the foyer there is a painting of three important Cao Dai saints, including Sun Yat Sen, 16th century Vietnamese poet Trangh Trinh, and curiously enough--Fench novelist Victor Hugo. Cao Dai was started in the early twentieth century and reflects a strong French influence.
This drowsy attendant kept non followers from entering the main floor. Another attendant prevented us from using the main entrance. We entered and left through the side entrance where the men gathered.
The symbol for God for Cao Dai is the all seeing eye. 
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