Caodaism’s journey has looked more like a roller-coaster than a straight path. At home in Vietnam, the French colonial government eyed any popular movement with suspicion. Crackdowns in the late 1920s meant temples were shuttered and spirit-mediums hauled in for questioning. Though officially recognized in 1934, the faith quickly found itself squeezed between warring factions during the First Indochina War—sometimes forced underground, other times co-opted by rival political groups.

When the Việt Minh seized power in 1954, Caodaists found themselves walking a tightrope. The new State of Vietnam flirted with official endorsement of Caodaism as a bulwark against communism, only to see many clergy split loyalties between the Saigon government and local village networks. Internal schisms bloomed, especially over claims of divine legitimacy and control of Tây Ninh’s grand temple complex—rumors of temple-board corruption didn’t help calm the waters.

After 1975, the Communist regime again branded Caodaism “superstitious.” Monastic orders were disbanded, holy music silenced, and sacred spaces repurposed for secular use. A handful of temples reopened under strict state supervision after the 2004 Law on Belief and Religion, but worshippers still have to register ceremonies and submit sermon texts for approval—a constant reminder of being between a rock and a hard place.

Abroad, diaspora communities in the United States, Australia and Europe face subtler hurdles. Keeping youth engaged in what can feel like an ancient ritual system competes with modern hustle and secular life. Temple founding committees often wrestle with zoning laws and fund-raising headaches. On the plus side, Caodaist gatherings have skyrocketed in online spaces since 2020, using livestreamed homilies and digital spirit-sessions to bridge continents.

Controversies over authentic spirit messages still spark online debates—skeptics and believers square off in Facebook groups, with accusations flying about fraudulent mediums. Yet this syncretic faith quietly adapts, proving resilience one temple restoration or virtual séance at a time.