All Things To Know About Bai Dinh Pagoda Ninh Binh

All Things To Know About Bai Dinh Pagoda Ninh Binh

 

 

 

 

One of the top 10 most famous pagodas to see in Vietnam like Jade Emperor Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh, The Bat Pagoda in Soc Trang or One Pillar Pagoda in Ha Noi. It is known as the Bai Dinh Pagoda and is located in the Bai Dinh-Trang neighborhood.

A place for ecotourism with ties to the Dinh, Early Le, and Ly feudal states that go back more than a thousand years Both the old and new Bai Dinh Pagodas are part of the complex, which is in Gia Sinh Commune, Ninh Binh Province, about 95 kilometers from Hanoi.

It covers 539 hectares of land. This is without a doubt an important place to visit on your trip. It has the biggest group of Buddhist pagodas in Vietnam and holds many other records for the country, Southeast Asia, and Asia.

Join Vietnam Budget Carrental on an adventure to the Bai Dinh Pagoda complex and find out why Buddhists from all over Vietnam come to this place.

A look at the past of the Bai Dinh Pagoda

During the Dinh, Early Le, and Ly dynasties, Buddhism was very important and seen as the national faith in Ninh Binh, the capital of Hoa Lu. During these dynasties, many pagodas were built in the area. The old Bai Dinh Pagoda, which is on the western slope of Dinh Mountain, is one of them. The pagoda was built during the Dinh Dynasty, but many of its features and artifacts clearly show that they were made during the Ly era.

The name of the pagoda, Bai Dinh, means "heading to Dinh Mountain." This is where important events in Vietnamese history happened, like when King Dinh Tien Hoang De built an altar to pray for good weather or when King Quang Trung held a flag ceremony to motivate soldiers before going to Thang Long to defeat the Qing army.

In the 1600s, the feudal family Le-Trinh and the Mac dynasty fought over Dinh Mountain. At the time, the Mac government only controlled the land from Ninh Binh backward. In the Quynh Luu battle zone during the resistance war, Bai Dinh was also a revolutionary relic. This is where the leaders of the Communist Party of Vietnam told the people about the revolution.

The modern Bai Dinh Pagoda is part of a complex that includes the old pagoda and a new pagoda that was finished in 2003.

You can now find the old Bai Dinh Pagoda about 800 meters south of Tam The Hall of the New Pagoda. A big prayer hall and natural rocks make up this peaceful temple. People pray to Buddha and mountain spirits like Genie Cao Son and Saint Nguyen there. In 1997, the old pagoda was named a national historical, cultural, and political relic.

The media have called the new building and the old tower the largest complex in Southeast Asia. They are both grand, huge, and very traditional. Even though it was still being built, this new spot quickly became a famous tourist spot that drew a lot of people.

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When is the best time to go to Bai Dinh Pagoda Complex?

When the moon is full, from January to March, is the best time to visit the area because the weather is nice. You can travel to beautiful places, pray at pagodas, and attend important regional events all at the same time. But this is also the busiest time of year for festival-goers, so it will be very crowded. If you want to avoid people, you could also go to Bai Dinh Pagoda at different times of the year.

Architecture of the Bai Dinh Pagoda Complex

The magnificent architecture and unique landscape of this religious complex will amaze tourists from the moment they arrive.

To start your tour, you will go to the new Bai Dinh Pagoda, which is on the 80-hectare Ba Rau hills near the Hoang Long River. This is a huge complex with many buildings that were built in stages from 2003 to 2010. 500 artisans from traditional villages all over the country finished them.

The pagoda is mostly made of things that can be found in the area, like Ninh Binh green stone, quartet wood, dark brown Bat Trang painted tiles, and other things. The pagoda's design also reminds people of well-known Vietnamese artisan towns, like Y Yen, which makes bronze; Ninh Van, which carves stone; Phu Loc, which builds furniture; and Ninh Hai, which embroiders.

You can rent an electric car for a fee and start your trip at the reception area, where you will get some basic information. The main parts can be reached through the external triple gate or the internal triple gate.

From here, you can see the most important parts of the new tower, such as:

Hallway with statues of Arhats

This building is made of wood and has a "Gia chieng-Chong ruong" truss style. It has two sides that are 3.40m long and 250 rooms that are 4.5m x 4.5m. 500 Arhat statues, carved from stone blocks by residents of the Ninh Van stone craft hamlet (Hoa Lu), line the right and left halls.

Each statue, which is between 2 and 2.5 meters tall and between 2 and 2.5 tons heavy, has a unique posture and facial expression that can't be found on any other statue. This shows how Taoist theory applies to everyday life with feelings of happiness, anger, love, and hatred.

People say that the hallway with the Arhat statues is Asia's longest passage of its kind.

Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara Hall

The seven-part Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara Hall is 14.8 meters tall, 40.4 meters long, and 16.8 meters wide. In the temple's main room, there is an 80-ton metal statue of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara covered in gold. The statue has many eyes and hands. It is known as the biggest metal statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara in Vietnam.

Maitreya Statue

There is a statue of Maitreya on the pagoda complex's largest hill, which is about 100 meters above sea level. It is made of metal, is 10 meters tall, weighs 80 tons, and shows Maitreya as a monk who is mumbling. The South-East Asian metal statue of Maitreya is the biggest one that can be seen outside.

The Bell Tower 

It is 17 meters wide and 22 meters tall. It looks like a lotus flower. The tower is made of reinforced concrete and is shaped like an old bell tower. It has an octagonal shape and a three-layer curved roof with dark brown painted tiles made in Bat Trang pottery village.

Inside the Bell Tower is a 36-ton metal bell that was made by skilled craftsmen in Hue. This bell is the biggest in Vietnam.

Next to the bronze bell is a Dong Son Bronze drum. It's over 6 meters wide and over 7 meters tall, and it weighs 13 tons.

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Phap Chu Hall

There are 5 parts to Phap Chu Hall. The bronze Buddha statue in the middle compartment is 10 meters tall and weighs 100 tons, which is why it is called "Vietnam's largest bronze Buddha statue." Three panels and the three biggest chairs in Vietnam can be found in this hall as well.

Tam The Hall

It is 76 meters above sea level, 59.1 meters long, and 40 meters wide. The three metal statues of Tam The Buddha (past, present, and future) are the tallest and heaviest in Vietnam. They are 7.2 meters tall and weigh 50 tons each.

Releasing Lake

This lake is 77 meters long and 63 meters wide. The lotus is a symbol of the Buddha and peace. The pagoda is Yang, and the lake is Yin. Together, they create a beautiful "water front, leaning against the mountain" scene that is a balance of Yin and Yang.

Bao Thap Tower

Sacred Buddha relics from India and Burma are kept in the Bao Thap Tower, a building that is 100 meters tall and has 13 stories and 72 steps. In a mysterious Indian way, the ceiling of the tower is made. The walls around the tower are carved with Buddhist symbols. There are thousands of small figures all over the area. You can walk 72 steps on your own to get to the top and see a view of the pagoda and the area around it, or you can pay extra to take an elevator.

You should also check out the new pagoda's more important sites, like Stone House, which has 55 rooms with a stone that is 2.9 meters tall, 1.45 meters wide, and 0.40 meters thick sitting on top of a stone turtle that is 2.95 meters long, 1.70 meters wide, and 0.97 meters thick; or Bodhi Tree Garden, which is known for having the most Bodhi trees in Vietnam (100 trees brought in from India).

There are enough facilities at the new pagoda for anyone or any group who wants to stay overnight for a more in-depth experience or hold a conference. For example, the International Conference Center has up to 3500 seats and modern audiovisual equipment, which is where Vesak 2014 was held successfully. There is also the Bai Dinh Hotel inside the pagoda, which offers many services such as lodging, conferences, and great vegetarian food at the Bon Mua restaurant.

The new fairy tale building is big and grand, but the old pagoda is much smaller and more simple. It is tucked away near the top of a mostly calm mountain range. About 800 meters south of Tam The Hall of the New Pagoda, it spreads out over 27 hectares.

Near the base of Dinh mountain is Ngoc Well, also known as Pearl Well. It will catch your attention first. Buddhist monk Nguyen Minh Khong used water from the well to make plant medicines for people in the area and Crown Prince Duong Hoan about a thousand years ago.

The well site is 6000m2 and is 30m wide and 6m deep. The well's water lever has never run dry since it was built, which is a surprise. The Vietnam Book of Records lists this well as the biggest Ngoc Well in the country.

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A 300-step path goes up the mountain to the old Bai Dinh Pagoda. Overall, the old pagoda is shaped like "Tien Nhat - Hau Cong," with the front part written in "Nhat" script and the back part written in "Cong" script. This shape firmly sets classic harmonious architectural design with its vivid engravings of old architectural patterns, including fresh flowers, strong dragons, and unicorns.

There is a temple to Buddha in the Light Cave and a temple to the mountain god Genie Cao Son in the Cao Son temple. People honored Saint Nguyen (Nguyen Minh Khong), a Zen Master and skilled magician, and Vu Lam guarded the entrance to the western Hoa Lu ancient city. The shrine of Saint Nguyen was also known as the Dark Cave, where people worshiped motherhood and fairies.

All of the Buddhist, Mother, and Fairy worship boards are set up in the dark heart of the caves, which adds to the spooky and solemn atmosphere. The top of the cave has been turned into the strong roof of the old pagoda, keeping it safe for generations. According to Vietnamese myth, this is where Kings, Saints, and Gods were born.

Ticket price to visit Bai Dinh Pagoda

Because the temple grounds are very large and connected to Trang An an eco tourism complex, one of the 10 best places to visit in Ninh Binh, you can combine additional tours and related services with the following costs:

• Electric car rental: 30,000 VND/way.
• Explore Trang An scenic spot: ferry ticket price is 150,000 VND/person.
• Tram ticket: 60,000 VND/person
• Tickets to visit the Stupa: 50,000 VND/person
• Tour guide ticket price: 300,000 VND/tour

The festival at Bai Dinh Pagoda

This is a spring event that starts in the afternoon of the first day of Tet break and goes until the end of March. This is the start of the party for the pilgrimage to Hoa Lu, which used to be the capital of Ninh Binh Province.

There are two parts to the festival: the ceremony and the event itself. As part of the rituals, people burn incense to honor Buddha, remember Saint Nguyen's good deeds, worship Genie Cao Son, Saint Nguyen, and Thuong Ngan God Mother, and carry the procession of worshiping Genie Cao Son, Saint Nguyen, and Thuong Ngan God Mother from the old pagoda to the new pagoda to run the festival.

There are also folk games, tours of caves and pagodas, and singing of Cheo and Xam Dat. Ninh Binh Cheo Theater also held a reenactment ceremony for King Dinh Tien Hoang and a chess ceremony for King Quang Trung on Dinh Mountain before the fight.

These celebrations are big and draw a lot of people because they take place in a huge pagoda complex. There are relics of the kings Dinh Tien Hoang, Quang Trung, and Le Thanh Tong at the Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival, and people worship Saint Nguyen, Genie Cao Son, and Thuong Ngan God Mother. The festival also includes worship of nature and beliefs from Buddhism, Motherism, and even Confucius.

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How are you going to get there?

The old city of Hoa Lu is about 12 kilometers away, Ninh Binh City is 25 kilometers away, and Ha Noi is 95 kilometers away.

From the center of Ninh Binh, it's easy to get to the place by motorbike, scooter, taxi, or even bike.

If you take a cab or your own car or van, the trip to Bai Dinh Pagoda Complex will take about two hours. It might take more than two hours to ride a motorbike there.

There are also buses from Hanoi to Ninh Binh with some trusted suppliers such as Vietnam Budget Carental, Huu Binh Limousine, X.E Vietnam Limousine, Daily Limousine, Trang An Limousine… with the price range from 125,000VND – 400,000VND/ticket depending on each suppliers with several time schedule per day.

By train Hanoi – Ninh Binh (~ US$ 10/ticket for soft seat):
Station in Hanoi: 120 Le Duan Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi City
Station in Ninh Binh: 1 Hoang Hoa Tham Street, Thanh Binh District, Ninh Binh City.

	SE7	SE5	SE9	SE3	SE19
Departure	6:00	8:50	14:25	19:25	20:00
Arrival	8:14	11:04	16:05	21:39	22:09

 

* Train schedule is subject to change according to the weather condition or operation safety.

Then you continue to go Bai Dinh Pagoda by taxi or motorbike (~ 30 minutes more); or stay overnight at hotel if catching late train and visit the pagoda in the next day.

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The Bai Dinh Pagoda complex is without a question a work of art. It is the pride of the Vietnamese people when it comes to its unique architecture, culture, and history.

Ninh Binh City is open to people with a wide range of interests, from religious views to nature tours and exciting activities like hiking, biking, and kayaking.

You can spend one full day or more (2,3 days…) to have enough time for combined visit with other attractions of the city such as Bai Dinh Pagoda – Trang An complex; Tam Coc – Bich Dong; Mua Cave; Van Long Nature Reserve Center; Thung Nham Bird Sanctuary; Tuyet Tinh Coc; Cuc Phuong National Park; Phat Diem Stone Cathedral…

Just contact us Vietnam Budget Car Rental to get our best services that we offer you.

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Things you need to consider when traveling to Bai Dinh

Although Bai Dinh Pagoda is an attractive tourist destination, you also need to pay attention to the following issues to have the most complete travel trip:

• Because during the journey to visit the temple, you will walk quite a lot, so you should wear sports shoes instead of high heels to help you move more easily.
• If you want to buy souvenirs, wait until you get off the mountain to buy them. Because if you buy inside the temple grounds, the price will be exorbitant.
• Please bring a few coins to donate and pray for good luck for yourself and your family.
• If you go in early spring, you should bring an umbrella to prevent heavy drizzle.