Bai Dinh Pagoda, once the largest pagoda in Vietnam, is a religious complex with an impressive scale and scenery. Bai Dinh is without a doubt one of the must-see attractions in Ninh Binh Vietnam.
Bai Dinh Pagoda is located on National Highway 38B, near Gia Sinh commune, at the gateway to the west of the ancient relic Hoa Lu. The pagoda is about 15 kilometers from Ninh Binh city and 95 kilometers from Hanoi.
The complex spans 539 hectares and offers a plethora of things to see and do. Overall, there are two Bai Dinh Pagodas (27ha and 80ha), a beautiful lake and park system, and a Bao Thap (stupa) with 12 levels that glows brightly at night. Bai Dinh is a model of ancient-pagoda architecture in Vietnam on a grand scale. Dien Tam The, the largest building on campus, has the most beautiful architecture. There are three layers of twelve curvy roofs shaped like Vietnamese blades. The tiles used are ‘ngoi mui hai,' which are shaped like traditional Vietnamese shoes. The steps are embellished with Ly dragons, which are thinner and smaller than Chinese dragons.
>> Ninh Binh Travel Guide – Everything you need to know
An ancestor worshiping house is located in the complex's center, Bright Cave and a small temple worshiping Genie Cao Son are on the right side, and another temple worshiping Saint Nguyen is on the left side, adjacent to which is Dark Cave worshiping Fairy.
There are over 500 intricately carved Buddha statues in Bai Dinh Pagoda, one of which is 10m tall and made of bronze.
The new Bai Dinh pagoda, located about 800 meters away from the old one, was constructed in 2003 using materials sourced from local handicraft villages.
There are La Han statues throughout the area, as well as small gardens with Bodhi trees planted.
Spring is the best time to visit Bai Dinh, one of Vietnam's most beautiful pagodas. After the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, you can visit the pagoda to enjoy the festival atmosphere and warmer weather.
Tip for visiting Bai Dinh pagoda:
- There is no entrance fee to Bai Dinh Pagoda. However, electric cars can be used to get around the pagoda. The fee for this service is 30,000VND per person.
- Bai Dinh Pagoda is open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Leave your comment here!