Four main Caodaist branches each wear a slightly different hat, even though they share the same vibrant tapestry of Eastern wisdom and Western symbolism.

1. Tây Ninh Holy See
   • The heavyweight, accounting for about 90% of adherents.
   • Headquarters in Tây Ninh Province—often called “the Vatican of Caodaism.”
   • Emphasizes a centralized hierarchy: Pope, cardinals, bishops and a well-oiled bureaucratic machine.
   • Rituals here tend to be highly ceremonial, with ornate altars, elaborate spirit-medium séances and a strict dress code for clergy.

2. Bình Xuyên
   • Originated as a militia-turned-sect under warlord Lê Văn Viễn before folding into civilian life.
   • Less rigid structure; local dignitaries often wield more influence than distant cardinals.
   • Priests here are known for a more relaxed dress code and a tendency to mix traditional ceremonies with local festivals.
   • Seen as the “wild card” branch—less tied to Tây Ninh’s chain of command and more open to grassroots interpretation.

3. Phú Mỹ
   • Focuses on a purist vision of Caodaism, harking back to the faith’s 1926 inception.
   • Places heavier emphasis on Confucian ethics and Taoist inner cultivation.
   • Rituals are simpler: fewer incense offerings, more meditation and Taoist breathing exercises.
   • Governance is flatter—congregations often elect their own spiritual advisers rather than defer to a distant hierarchy.

4. Biên Hòa
   • Blends Caodaism with elements of Vietnamese folk religion and local spirit worship.
   • Less inclined toward European-style church trappings; some temples look more like traditional communal houses.
   • Mediumship dominates services here, with elaborate rituals to commune with ancestors, saints and even Shakespearean spirits.
   • Recently gained attention for livestreaming séances, especially among younger devotees during the pandemic.

Across all these branches, common ground remains in the quest for unity among religions, the embrace of modern science alongside spirit séances, and a penchant for vivid iconography—from Confucius and Joan of Arc to Laozi and Victor Hugo. Despite occasional friction—think of it as a family squabble—each sect contributes a unique thread to Caodaism’s ever-evolving mosaic.