Bai Dinh pagoda Vietnam with a breakthrough – one of Southeast Asia's largest Buddhist complexes, covers 539 ha, including 27 ha of old Bai Dinh pagoda. This has become a famous place for both domestic and international visitors every year.
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
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.
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)
Bai Dinh pagoda map
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
Tam Quan gate - photo internet
Arhats corridor - photo internet
Belltower Bai Dinh pagoda
Bodhisattva (Quan Am)
Photo - internet
Gieng Ngoc - Well of god - photo internet
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.
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.
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.
You may also like:
>>> Trang An boat tour - UNESCO world heritage site
>>> Conquer Mua cave - Great wall of Vietnam
>>> 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.