Traveling to Bai Dinh Pagoda - A Spiritual Destination You Should Visit

Exploring Ninh Binh without visiting Bai Dinh Pagoda would truly be a missed opportunity. Forget the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and step into the peaceful, serene, and sacred atmosphere of the pagoda...

Let’s explore more about Bai Dinh Pagoda from Etrip4u and get ready for an exciting journey.

1. General Introduction to Bai Dinh Pagoda

Over a thousand years ago, the present location of Bai Dinh Pagoda was the temporary capital of the Dinh Dynasty. During the Ly Dynasty, the National Teacher Nguyen Minh Khong built the pagoda for spiritual practice, making medicine, and especially curing the illness of King Ly Thanh Tong.

Since ancient times, the pagoda has been a sacred land, a center of Buddhism, Taoism, and the worship of Mother Liễu Hạnh. Today, the reconstructed temples consist of 21 main structures, including the ancient Bai Dinh Pagoda and the newly built Bai Dinh Pagoda.

The Bai Dinh Pagoda cultural and spiritual tourism area is part of the Trang An scenic complex, located in Gia Sinh commune, Gia Vien district, about 7 km from the ancient capital Hoa Lu and 15 km from Ninh Binh city.

It is the starting point of the Hoa Lu limestone mountain range in the northwest, part of the Himalayan range—the origin of Buddhism. The mountains in this system rise to an average height of 70–170 meters.

Bai Dinh Mountain is the highest peak in the area and is also considered the main mountain here. According to local legends, Bai Dinh means "mountain with ceremonies at its peak."

General Introduction to Bai Dinh Pagoda

2. When is the Best Time to Visit Bai Dinh Pagoda?

Bai Dinh Pagoda is suitable for visits at any time of the year. However, from January to March of the lunar calendar, when the spring weather brings warmth, it is the ideal time to explore Bai Dinh and Trang An. You can enjoy the spring atmosphere with its natural beauty, participate in temple ceremonies for good luck, and attend important festivals held in both the Trang An area and Bai Dinh.

The festival takes place from the 10th day of the Lunar New Year to the end of March, offering visitors a special experience with religious rituals, cultural activities, and traditional festivals. However, this period also coincides with the peak tourist season, leading to crowds and a bustling atmosphere.

Therefore, if you want to avoid the crowd and noise, you can visit Bai Dinh Pagoda after March. The weather is cooler, and the peaceful atmosphere will provide a more tranquil experience to enjoy the spiritual beauty and unique architecture.

When is the Best Time to Visit Bai Dinh Pagoda?

3. Famous Tourist Spots at Bai Dinh Pagoda

• Ngoc Well: This well covers an area of about 6000m², with a diameter of approximately 30m and a depth of about 10m. The water level is around 6-7m, and the water remains turquoise throughout the year. There are four octagonal towers surrounding the well, and despite being on high terrain, it has never run dry.
• Tam Quan Gate: When entering Bai Dinh Pagoda, visitors pass through the Tam Quan Gate. The gate has four characters “Minh Đỉnh Danh Lam,” which were supposedly written by King Le Thanh Tong. The phrase means the pagoda is beautiful and valuable enough to be inscribed on the top of a bronze bell so that everyone can see.
• Phat Worship Cave: Also known as the Bright Cave, this cave is about 25m long and 15m wide. It was established by National Teacher Nguyen Minh Khong around 1096-1106, with two guardian statues: Khuyen Thien and Trung Ac. Inside the cave, the main altar is dedicated to the Three Jewels of Buddhism, symbolizing the past, present, and future.
• Cao Son Temple: Going deeper into the Bright Cave, behind the Phat altar, lies the altar of the God Cao Son. According to mythology, Cao Son was a general from the ancient Vietnamese people, revered for helping the community. The temple has a similar architecture to that of the Nguyen Saint Temple.
• Cao Son’s Medicinal: Garden This garden, known as Sinh Duoc, is said to have been used by Nguyen Minh Khong to find medicinal plants to cure illnesses. Many later physicians have come here to find rare medicinal herbs.
• Mother Worship Cave: Known as the Dark Cave, this cave is dedicated to the Three Mother Goddesses. The cave consists of seven smaller caves connected to each other, with natural stalactites forming a pillar-like shape called “The One Pillar of Heaven.” When struck, it produces beautiful, melodious sounds, resembling a stone musical instrument.

Famous Tourist Spots at Bai Dinh Pagoda

4. Some Records of Bai Dinh Pagoda

In 2003, based on the original foundation of the ancient pagoda, the new Bai Dinh Pagoda was rebuilt, and it holds several records recognized by the Vietnam Book of Records, including:

• The largest bronze bell in Vietnam (weighing 36 tons and 18.25 meters tall)
• The largest bronze statue of Buddha in Vietnam
• The largest set of Three Worlds statues in Vietnam
• The largest water well in Vietnam
• The largest statue of the Goddess of Mercy in Vietnam
• The longest corridor with 500 Arhats in Vietnam
• The heaviest bronze statue of the Eight-Diamond Bodhisattvas in Vietnam
• The largest wooden altars in Vietnam
• The largest pair of bronze cranes in Vietnam
• The largest statue of Laughing Buddha in Southeast Asia
• The tallest pagoda tower in Asia

Additionally, Bai Dinh Pagoda continues to have other architectural projects like the cultural park and Buddhist academy, as well as the Dam Thi Lake, which are still under construction.

Some Records of Bai Dinh Pagoda

5. Transportation to Bai Dinh Pagoda

To reach Bai Dinh Pagoda, you can choose from various transportation methods such as buses, trains, or motorbikes. If you take a bus or train, you will need to take a taxi or rent a motorbike from Ninh Binh to reach the pagoda.

• By Motorbike: If you're looking to save money, you can drive a motorbike to Ninh Binh. The route to Bai Dinh is simple. Travel along National Highway 1A to the center of Ninh Binh City. Bai Dinh is about 12 km away from Ninh Binh, and the route is straightforward. You can follow signs, ask locals, or use Google Maps.
• By Bus: If you're using public transportation from Hanoi, you can take buses from Giap Bat or My Dinh bus stations to Bai Dinh – Ninh Binh. The fare is usually around 70,000 to 80,000 VND per person. Once you arrive in Ninh Binh, you can transfer to a bus or take a taxi (around 130,000 VND) to the pagoda area.
• By Train: For a scenic route, you can choose to travel by train. Trains depart from Hanoi Railway Station and stop at Ninh Binh Station. Afterward, take a bus or taxi to Bai Dinh. Train fares usually range from 70,000 to 120,000 VND per person, depending on the class of seat.

Due to the vast area of the Bai Dinh Pagoda complex, visitors can opt for electric cars to travel around. You can wait at the designated waiting area and take the 3.5 km drive to the main gate of Bai Dinh Pagoda.

Transportation to Bai Dinh Pagoda

6. Things to Note When Visiting Bai Dinh Pagoda

• The Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival typically runs from the afternoon of the first day of the Lunar New Year, opening on the 6th day and lasting until the end of March. Outside of this period, you may not be able to participate in the cultural activities and ceremonies, so plan your visit accordingly.
• Bring a map to avoid getting lost, as the pagoda area is quite large.
• Since this is a spiritual site, dress respectfully and modestly. Wear comfortable shoes such as sneakers instead of high heels, as the walking distance is quite long and high heels could cause discomfort.

With the travel information shared by Etrip4u, we wish you an enriching and complete nature exploration. Don’t forget to contact Etrip4u for advice and tour services to enhance your experience.

Refer to the full Bai Dinh Pagoda tour package at Etrip4u.com