Cao Dai

Saigon. We were back in Saigon and pleased to be there.  The energy and drive of the city is infectious. In the park people exercise according to their inclination and abilities. Here an octogenarian moves gently to the rhythms of Tai Chi, there a couple jog energetically in conversation. Ranks of white shirted children with red scarves parade with proud smiling faces. Not only do these members of Ho Chi Minh’s communist youth movement march they also dance and play games around the bushes of the park.

Having seen the museums, galleries and monuments of Saigon in previous visits we wanted to explore further afield. Our destination was the great Cao Dai Cathedral. Cao Dai is a new religion. An amalgam of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism with contributions from Christianity and Islam. During the serene Sunday morning service the congregation in white tunics were led by older, wiser practitioners in brightly coloured robes. Those in yellow robes were the Buddhist elders, blue denoted Taoist adherents while the red robes were worn by the Christian or Moslem elders.   The immaculate interior sparkled with brightly painted images of mythical creatures whilst the whole cathedral was dominated by the single all seeing eye of the great creator of the universe.    

The pictures of the Great Cao Dai Cathedral are in Cao Dai Pictures, Vietnmam. If you want to see pictures of Saigon you can click on Vietnam Journal, click on Tet and then click on the links to individual pictures. Alternatively go straight to Vietnam Pictures and scroll down the list.