Bai Dinh Pagoda | All you need to know before visit update 2024

Complex located on Bai Dinh Mountain in Gia Sinh commune, Gia Vien district about 5 km from Hoa Lu ancient capital, 12km from Ninh Binh city. Every year attracts thousands of visitors to pray for peace and good luck for themselves and their families. Besides that, local visitors often visit Bai Dinh Ancient pagoda because they think it is very sacred.

Bai Dinh pagoda

1. Basic information

1.1. Bai Dinh pagoda history

The ancient pagoda was built in 1136 under Ly dynasty, Nguyen Minh Khong visits Bai Dinh Mountain to searching medicine for the king. He realized this is excellent land for developing Buddha with immense mountains and many precious medicinal plants. So he should decide to stop here and build Bai Dinh ancient pagoda, included: Gieng Ngoc (well of god), Dark and Bright caves, Cao Son temple.
In 2003 (new pagoda) built nearby ancient one with more extensive area and many Vietnam and South East Asia records.
 

1.2. Bai Dinh pagoda opening hours and entrance free ticket

Open every day from 07:00am – 06:00pm
Tourists do not need to pay the entrance fee as this campus is so large that visitors can use electric cars up to the pagoda. Visitors can hire an electric car to go sightseeing. It costs 80.000 VND in 2 ways.
Visiting insider Bao Thap tower: 50.000 VND/person (optional)

1.3. Bai Dinh pagoda map

Bai Dinh pagoda map

1.4. Best time to travel to visit

The best time to visit with Vietnamese people is spring weather after Lunar New Year's (January to March). You can combine travel with pilgrimage and participate in major festivals. However, this is also the peak tourist season, so visitors here are very crowded.
Therefore, if any visitors do not like the situation, they can travel another time in the year.

>>> Read more Ninh Binh tours with best prices, services, and itinerary

2. What can we see inside Bai Dinh pagoda?

Visitors who visit Binh Dinh Pagoda will have a chance to explore the unique architecture and feel the peace of this area. Entering the gate, you can walk along the corridor of arhat statues running long, covering the temple grounds. Inside the temple, there are many small gardens planted with green trees, especially Bodhi trees brought from Indian temples.
This is not only a place for religious activities, Bai Dinh Pagoda has gradually become a famous eco-tourism and spiritual destination. With unique architecture and a long history, This Pagoda has become a famous eco-tourism destination in Ninh Binh, Vietnam.
There are many records in Vietnam and Asia for this pagoda, such as:

• The biggest bronze bell in Vietnam

• The largest Buddha statue in Asia

• The giant Buddha in gold inlaid

• A giant bronze Maitreya statue in Southeast Asia

• The pagoda has the most significant Arhat corridor in Vietnam

• The pagoda has the most Buddha trees in Vietnam.

Besides that, visitors can visit  Bright Cave (Hang Sang) and Dark Cave (Dong Toi). Crossing 300 stone steps, setting foot on the three-gate gate, you will see a fork, which is the attraction of Bright Cave and Dark Cave. It is known that Hang Sang is the place to worship God and Buddha.
The bright cave is about 25m deep, 15m wide, about 2m high, and going to the end of the cave, you will go to the sacred temple of God name Cao Son.
In Dark Cave, a system of lights is designed to combine with stalactite to make the scene mysterious.
When visitors are entering the cave, they will feel relaxed. Here, the statue of the mother and the ancestors are worship.

3. Bai Dinh pagoda photos

Here are some more photos at Bai Dinh pagoda

Arhats corridor 

Belltower Bai Dinh pagoda

4. Bai Dinh pagoda dress code and tips

You should bring comfortable sneakers instead of high heels or doll shoes to protect your feet and move because you will have to walk and climb mountains quite a lot. Should choose polite and comfortable clothing when entering the temple.
There are many stalls selling souvenirs and attractive specialties. However, the price in the mountains is much higher than the outside. So if buying things as a gift, you should go down the hill to find lower prices.
Should bring some small bill of money when coming to pagodas and donating. Do not put money on Buddha statues or the wrong place to avoid can damage the beauty of this area. Instead, visitors should donate money to donation boxes.

5. How to get to Bai Dinh Pagoda

5.1 Bai Dinh pagoda from Hanoi

Visitors can travel with Bus/Car/Taxi 2 hours ~ 96km: You can take a coach at Hanoi Southern Bus Station (Giap Bat Bus Station) to Ninh Binh (every 30 minutes), located on Giai Phong street; Price: from 150.000 VND/ticket. You can also arrange a coach by contacting some tourism agencies right in the Old Quarter.
By Motorbike: Travelling to Bai Dinh by motorbike is another option. It is going to take you around nearly 3 hours (around 100 km to arrive Ninh Binh)
Join group tour
The other option for visitors can take the tour – it’s suitable for visitors have a day to explore Ninh Binh – Tour will pick up and drop off at hotel in Hanoi Old Quarte, visitors can visit another place such as Trang An or Hoa Lu ancient capital.  
The price from 40 USD – including Transfers, entrance fees, lunch, English-speaking tour guide, boat trip
 

5.2. Suggestion Bai Dinh Pagoda 1 day with Trang An

7h30 - 8h00: Our tourist bus will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter for departure to Bai Dinh pagoda.
Arrive in Buddha Prayer place in Bai Dinh pagoda, the biggest pagoda in Vietnam with 500 La Han statues, biggest bronze Buddha statue in Vietnam with 10 meters in height, 100 tons in weight. You will have free time with our tour guide to visit this pagoda and learn more about buddism religion.
12:30 Have a lunch with Vietnamese cuisine.
13:30 -14:00 Get on the tourist bus continue going to Trang An wharf, take boat trip to visit Trang An cave complex.
16:30 - 17:00 Transfer back Hanoi
18:30 - 19:00 Arrive Ha Noi, drop off at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter. Tour finish!
Tour Included:
Pick up and drop off at your hotel  by A/C tourist bus.
Electric car visit Bai Dinh pagoda.
Boat trip to visit Trang An cave complex.
Sightseeing and entrance fees as per the mentioned itinerary.
English speaking tour guide.
Lunch
Free 01 bottles of mineral water 0,5 lit/ 1 pax/ 1 day.
Tour Excluded:
Drink, vat.
Tips for guide and driver.
Personal expenses, travel insurance.
Other things are not mentioned in our tour program.

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>>> Click here to get free itinerary planning for Bai Dinh Pagoda or Ninh Binh tours

Go Viet Trip hope that this article will help you understand more about Ninh Binh if you need more help. Please feel free to contact us: Email: Goviettrip@gmail.com or hotline +84968667589. We are guarantee about quality and prices. Get a full refund if you do not feel happy with our services.

Author Hoan Nguyen

Hoan Nguyen has over 10 years of experience working in the tourism sector and operator. He has traveled to many places in Vietnam and around the world.