Bai Dinh Pagoda is a famous spiritual tourist destination located in the Bai Dinh – Trang An eco-tourism area, with an age of more than 1000 years old and associated with the land of many feudal dynasties from the Dinh and Tien Le dynasties.

Visitors coming here will be attracted by the majestic architecture, magnificent stupas and captivating scenery. Every year, this location attracts a number of tourists to visit and sightseeing the temple. Not only does it impress tourists with its unique architecture, it also owns the most in Vietnam and the world. Also explore Bai Dinh Pagoda, the number one spiritual landscape in Ninh Binh through the content below.

Where is Bai Dinh Pagoda?

Bai Dinh Pagoda is located in the North of the Bai Dinh – Trang An eco-tourism complex. It is one of the famous landmarks in Ninh Binh, with a rich history and development. Bai Dinh Pagoda is located on Bai Dinh mountain in Gia Sinh commune, Gia Vien district, 5km northwest of Hoa Lu ancient capital, 12km from Ninh Binh city. The campus of Bai Dinh pagoda has an area of 539 hectares, including 27 hectares of the ancient Bai Dinh pagoda area, 80 hectares of the new Bai Dinh pagoda area.

Each season, Trang An tourist complex puts on a unique beauty that captivates many tourists. Therefore, visitors can visit Bai Dinh Pagoda regardless of the season of the year. However, according to experience traveling to Bai Dinh Pagoda – Trang An, the most suitable time is from January to March of the lunar calendar, at this time the weather is extremely cool and fresh, many festivals are held during this time this moment. Therefore, visitors can go to Bai Dinh Pagoda to enjoy the Tet atmosphere.

In addition, visitors will also have the opportunity to attend rituals taking place at the pagoda: Cao Son god sacrifice ceremony, Buddha incense offering ritual, commemorating Saint Nguyen Minh Khong, worshiping Holy Mother Thuong Ngan,… Part The festival will feature Cheo, folk games, Xam, etc. However, this is also the peak festival tourist season, so the number of visitors coming here is very large, causing overcrowding.

Bai Dinh Pagoda

Ancient pagoda area:

Pearl well: The pearl well has an area of 6000m2, diameter of 30m, depth of 10m, water level of 6-7m and surrounded by 4 octagonal floors. The Vietnam Record Book Center has issued a certificate certifying “The pagoda has the largest jade well in Vietnam”.

Cave to worship the Patriarch: The Patriarch Cave worships two statues: Dat Ma Patriarch and a Vietnamese Patriarch (currently unknown).

Buddha worship cave: The Buddha worship cave is 25m long and 2m high. During a visit by King Le Thanh Tong to Bai Dinh Pagoda, he bestowed four words “Minh Dinh Danh Lam” on the cave entrance, to praise the beauty and sacredness of the mountains and forests here. In front of the cave are two bronze statues of Dharma Protectors, Mr. Khuyen Thien and Mr. Trung Ac.

The middle of the cave worships the Three Jewels: Buddha Jewels are the Buddhas of the 10 directions and three generations (Buddha Shakyamuni is the leader); Dharma Jewels are the scriptures, precepts, teachings… of Buddhism; Sangha are monks who practice according to Buddha’s precepts and propagate the Dharma.

His Holiness is the Elder Monk Tu Dat, also known as Anathapindika. He was a wealthy man in ancient India, born at the same time as Buddha Shakyamuni, a lay disciple and an effective dharma protector of the Buddha. After Buddha Shakyamuni attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, Elder Tu Dat and Prince Ky Da together built a Vihara to offer to the Buddha as a place to preach the Dharma and save sentient beings. After Buddha Shakyamuni entered Nirvana, this place became a place to worship Buddha and is considered the first temple.

Mau worship cave: Like other pagodas in Vietnam, Bai Dinh Pagoda has the belief of worshiping the Three Holy Mother Goddesses, wishing for health, fortune, luck… In which, Mother Thoai is the third Mother Goddess who governs the river area, wearing a white shirt; Mother Thuong Ngan is the second Mother who governs the mountains and forests, wearing a green shirt; Model Lieu Hanh is the first model, wearing a red shirt.

The Mother’s attendants are the pair Kim Dong – Ngoc Nu along with the Five Immortals, which are the five supreme officials who carry out the Mother’s duties when she gives orders.

Thanh Cao Son: According to legend, Thanh Cao Son was a general of King Hung (Tan Vien was the eldest brother, Cao Son was the second brother, Quy Minh Dai Vuong was the third). Legend has it that the order he held on his chest was given by King Hung to the troops going to Bai Dinh mountain to guard 99 mountains.

New Pagoda Area:

Triple gate: Tam Quan Gate is built entirely of 550 m3 of wood, with 4 pillars, each 13.85m high, 0.87m in diameter and weighing nearly 10 tons/column.

On both sides of the Tam Quan gate are two statues of Dharma Protectors: Mr. Khuyen Thien and Mr. Trung Ac, cast in solid bronze by artisans in Y Yen – Nam Dinh, with a height of 5.5m and weight of 30 tons. Mr. Encouragement Thien specializes in encouraging people to do good deeds; Mr. Trung Evil specializes in warning people not to do evil.

La Han Corridor: Arhats are disciples of Buddha Shakyamuni, those who have practiced enlightenment and attained Arhatship, but have not yet become Buddhas. The Arhat corridor consists of 02 rows with a total length of 1700m and contains 500 Arhat statues made of monolithic green stone carved by artisans in Ninh Van – Hoa Lu stone craft village. Each pho is on average 2.5 meters high and weighs 2 – 4 tons. The Arhat Corridor has set a record as “The longest Arhat Corridor in Asia”.

The Arhat corridor also has statues of two Vietnamese masters: Venerable Thich Quang Duc (on the right side of the hallway) real name is Lam Van Tuc, from Khanh Hoa. During the resistance war against America – Diem in 1963, he burned himself to protest the suppression of Buddhism by the Ngo Dinh Diem government. His body burned to ashes but his heart was immortal, so people honored him as Bodhisattva Quang Duc.

Buddha Emperor Tran Nhan Tong (on the left side of the hallway) was born in 1258, Crown Prince Kham, son of King Tran Thanh Tong. In 1278, he succeeded to the throne and took the name Tran Nhan Tong. He is a wise, talented and generous king. After 15 years in office, he ceded the throne to his son Tran Anh Tong, went to Yen Tu mountain to practice and founded the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect.

Steeple: The bell tower has a height of 18.25m, a diameter of 17m, built of wood-colored concrete, following the ancient octagonal bell tower architecture, 03 floors with 24 curved roofs shaped like a lotus flower. Stylized.

On the steeple hangs a 36-ton bell cast by artisans from Hue City. In 2007, the bell was certified by the Vietnam Record Book Center as “the largest Dai Hong Chung in Vietnam”.

The bell stick weighs 5 quintals, is 4.5m long and 0.32m in diameter. The bronze drum has a head diameter of 5.5m and a weight of 70 tons, cast by artisans of Kien Xuong district, Thai Binh province.

Quan Am Palace:

Quan Am Palace is built entirely of 900 m3 of wood. In the main room of the hall, the statue of Avalokiteshvara Buddha Thien Thu Thien Nhan is worshiped, made of gold-plated bronze, 10 meters high, weighing 90 tons of bronze, cast by artisans in Y Yen district, Nam Dinh province. On the right side of the Palace is the statue of Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva; On the left side of the Palace is the statue of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, carved from two monolithic trees, each 10m high and weighing 4 tons.

This statue has been certified by the Vietnam Record Book Center as “The largest gold-plated bronze statue of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva in Vietnam”.

With charming mountain scenery, the quiet and airy space at Bai Dinh Pagoda Ninh Binh will help you feel relaxed and gentle. Find history, immerse yourself in the Buddhist space. Visiting the breathtakingly beautiful landscape will be a memorable experience in your life.

With charming mountain scenery, the quiet and airy space at Bai Dinh Pagoda Ninh Binh will help you feel relaxed and gentle. Find history, immerse yourself in the Buddhist space. Visiting the breathtakingly beautiful landscape will be a memorable experience in your life.