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Where is Bai Dinh Pagoda? Why is Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh an unmissable destination for pilgrims? Let's pocket some tips for visiting Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh.
Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh adorns itself with a serene and ancient beauty amidst the vast landscape of mountains and forests, standing out with its majestic architecture steeped in traditional cultural colors. Bai Dinh Pagoda is acclaimed worldwide as the largest temple complex in Southeast Asia.
Most tourists nowadays know and seek out Bai Dinh Pagoda after this temple has been expanded with a new section. However, there may not be many travelers truly aware of the history of this famous northern temple. Therefore, let's follow Klook Vietnam to add a bit of historical insight into the formation of our proud spiritual tourism complex!
Where is Bai Dinh Pagoda Located?
Bai Dinh Pagoda is a renowned cultural and spiritual tourist destination located within the Bai Dinh - Trang An scenic complex, attracting thousands of domestic and international tourists for visits every year.
This magnificent temple complex is situated on Bai Dinh Mountain in Gia Sinh commune, Gia Vien district, Ninh Binh province. It's only about 12km from the center of Ninh Binh city and approximately 100km from the capital city of Hanoi.
How to Get to Bai Dinh Pagoda from Hanoi?
To reach here, you can choose from various modes of transportation such as airplanes, trains, buses, or private cars. For travelers in the North, especially Hanoi, visiting Bai Dinh and Trang An from Hanoi by bus is very convenient, and there are many ways to travel to Trang An Ninh Binh from the Central region. However, due to its remote geographical location, the South has only three main modes of transportation to reach Ninh Binh: buses, trains, and airplanes.
Additionally, you can book a Ninh Binh day tour from Klook to explore Bai Dinh Pagoda and other famous tourist attractions in Ninh Binh to your heart's content.
When Was Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh Built?
The Bai Dinh temple complex is located within the Trang An scenic landscape complex, comprising an ancient Bai Dinh temple area and a newly built Bai Dinh temple area since 2003. The temple is situated at the western gateway to the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, perched majestically on the slopes of Bai Dinh Mountain amidst vast lakes and surrounded by rocky mountain ranges. Even during its construction phase, Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh has attracted the attention of numerous domestic and international tourists.
For over 1000 years, the spiritual and cultural tourist area of Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh, located in Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh), has been the temporary capital of the Dinh dynasty during the construction of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu and later played an important role as one of the 'four tracts' of the ancient capital. Here, three dynasties - Dinh, Tien Le, and Ly - successively came into existence. These feudal dynasties were deeply interested in and attached great importance to Buddhism, considering it the national religion. Hence, Ninh Binh boasts numerous ancient pagodas, among which Bai Dinh Pagoda, situated within the Trang An scenic landscape complex, stands out.
Who Built Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh?
The ancient Bai Dinh Pagoda was constructed in 1136 by the Zen master Nguyen Minh Khong. It features beautiful and sacred landscapes such as the Jade Well, the Cave of Ancestors, the Cave of Buddha, the Cave of Mother Goddess, and the Altar of Saint Cao Son.
Throughout thousands of years of history, Bai Dinh Mountain in Ninh Binh still proudly stands, enduring the passage of time and worldly dust. It is intertwined with many legends and mythical stories about the revered Zen master Nguyen Minh Khong, renowned throughout the southern region. He was the first high monk to establish the foundation of Buddhism, erect Buddha statues, and open up the Buddhist land in this area.
Starting from 2003, based on the foundation of the ancient pagoda, the Xuân Trường construction company has invested in renovating and expanding the pagoda, with the current total area exceeding 1000 hectares. The prominent architectural works of the new Bai Dinh Pagoda include the Three-Gate Entrance, Bell Tower, Quan Am Shrine, Temple of the Patriarch, Temple of the Three Realms, Bao Thap Tower, and the Arhat Corridor. Additionally, many large-scale projects are still under construction, such as the Buddhist Cultural Park, Dam Thi Lake Area, Reservoir for Liberation of Animals, Green Park, promising to be a meaningful destination for travel enthusiasts in the future.
Why is it Called Bai Dinh Pagoda?
Bai Dinh Pagoda was constructed within the Sinh Duoc Cave, symbolizing the harmonious connection between humans and nature, creating a sense of spiritual elevation and tranquility amidst the vastness of nature.
Why is it called Bai Dinh Pagoda? According to ancient tradition, the name Bai Dinh originates from the significance of the term: 'Bai' means worship, offering reverence to the earth, sky, and celestial beings; 'Dinh' conveys the meaning of summit, being at the top. Bai Dinh signifies worshipping the heavens, earth, and celestial beings atop high mountains. The name carries the meaning of facing Dinh Mountain, where significant events in the history of Vietnam took place.
Bai Dinh Mountain was established by King Dinh Tien Hoang to worship the heavens and pray for favorable weather. Later, it was chosen by King Quang Trung as a site for rallying troops before marching to Thang Long to defeat the Qing invaders. Over 1,000 years have passed, and the ancient pagoda still stands as a testament to the enduring strength and resilience of Buddhism in the spiritual life of the people of the South. Moreover, the ancient Bai Dinh Pagoda is a national-level historical and cultural relic in the former capital of Hoa Lu, holding spiritual and scenic value.
How Large is Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh?
Bai Dinh Pagoda covers the largest area in Vietnam, spanning 1700 hectares, including 80 hectares for the new Bai Dinh Pagoda and 27 hectares for the ancient Bai Dinh Pagoda area.
The Ancient Bai Dinh Pagoda area is located 800 meters south of the new Bai Dinh Pagoda's Tam The Temple area. Founded by Zen Master Ly Quoc Su Nguyen Minh Khong, it is said that he discovered the beauty of the caves in this area while searching for a cure for a royal ailment. He chose this location to build the pagoda, dedicated to Buddha. Within the ancient Bai Dinh Pagoda area are historical relics such as Bright Cave, Dark Cave, the Shrine of Saint Nguyen, the Shrine of Mount Cao Son, and the Jade Well.
The new Bai Dinh Pagoda is constructed on a large scale with many monumental structures, such as the Tam The Hall, the Main Hall, the Quan The Am Bodhisattva Hall, the Bao Thap (Precious Tower), the Bell Tower, and the Statue of Maitreya Buddha. Interestingly, most of the construction materials for Bai Dinh Pagoda are sourced locally, including wood from the surrounding forests and natural green stone...
The Bai Dinh - Trang An heritage site is located 95km from Hanoi. Bai Dinh Pagoda sits on sacred land amidst picturesque landscapes in Sinh Duoc hamlet, Gia Sinh commune, Gia Vien district, Ninh Binh province. It is a renowned spiritual and tourist destination, attracting numerous visitors annually.
How Many Buddhas and Arhat Statues Are There at Bai Dinh Pagoda?
According to Klook, the Arhat Corridor at Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh is the longest Arhat Corridor in Southeast Asia, spanning 1,700 meters and comprising two rows extending from the Inner Tam Quan Gate straight to the Tả Vu (Left Pavilion) and Hữu Vu (Right Pavilion) with a total of 500 Arhat statues carved from natural green stone by renowned artisans from the stone carving village of Ninh Van, Hoa Lu. Each statue stands at an average height of 2.5 meters and weighs from 2 to 4 tons, intricately carved with exquisite detail and graceful lines. The front base of each of the 500 Arhat statues is inscribed with the name of each Arhat in both Vietnamese and Chinese, along with sequential numbering for easy identification and information retrieval...
What to Prepare When Visiting Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh?
Many tourists wonder what they should prepare when visiting Bai Dinh Pagoda. Whether visiting Bai Dinh Pagoda or any other temple, it's essential to prepare necessary items. Depending on the location and time of your visit, you may need different items. Here are some suggestions on what to bring when visiting Bai Dinh Pagoda:
1. Hiking Shoes
For a smooth and trouble-free visit to Bai Dinh - Trang An, prepare comfortable sports shoes for hiking instead of high heels or ballet flats to protect your feet from swelling and facilitate easy movement.
2. Appropriate Attire
Bai Dinh Pagoda is a spiritual worship place, so dress formally and modestly. Avoid tight-fitting or sweat-absorbing clothes. Additionally, as the location is on a high mountain, temperatures are lower and winds stronger than in the plains. Therefore, bring a thin jacket to avoid catching a cold when the weather changes.
3. Money and Personal Documents
When traveling anywhere, always remember to bring money and personal documents as they are essential. Moreover, when visiting a temple, prepare loose change for offerings and charity. Temples usually have donation boxes, so avoid leaving money on Buddha statues, as it detracts from their beauty and grace!
4. Other Essential Items
In addition to the important items mentioned above, when traveling to Bai Dinh Pagoda, you need to bring your phone, power bank to avoid running out of battery while sightseeing, light snacks and drinks to keep yourself energized throughout the journey to explore the beautiful world heritage sites when traveling to Ninh Binh. Nowadays, smartphones all come with map applications, but don't forget to subscribe to 4G network to use it or be more careful, prepare a map for easy navigation. And don't forget to carry a small umbrella in your bag if you visit during the beginning of the new year to shield yourself from rain or sun.
Tips for Visiting Bai Dinh Pagoda During Festivals
When you step into the sacred space of the temple, your heart is filled with hopes for luck and prosperity. Preparing offerings to offer to the Buddha becomes extremely important. However, offerings not only reflect sincere intentions but also need to adhere to certain regulations:
- Offer only vegetarian offerings: Incense, fruits, sticky rice are common offerings. Absolutely do not offer salty offerings.
- Fresh Flowers: Can be lilies, lotus flowers, marigolds, roses, chrysanthemums,... Do not use mixed flowers, wild flowers, or flowers with inappropriate meanings.
- Do not offer gold horses and black money: When offering at the Buddha's altar, you absolutely should not offer gold horses and black money.
- Donate real money to the temple's merit box: Real money should be donated to the temple's merit box, not placed on the Triple Gem altar or stuffed into the Buddha's statue.
What to Pray for When Visiting Bai Dinh Pagoda?
Apart from preparing necessary items and offerings when visiting Bai Dinh Pagoda, praying for what to pray for when visiting Bai Dinh Pagoda is also an important concern for everyone. It's because of its famous sacredness and being the largest Buddhist center in Vietnam today. Therefore, as the new year begins, besides coming here to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the homeland, almost all tourists come here to pray - wishing for a new year full of wealth, peace, luck, and health for their families. To make your prayers come true, it's best to sincerely pray and offer incense to the Buddha.
Impressive Records of Bai Dinh Pagoda Ninh Binh
Let's explore Bai Dinh Pagoda - an icon of Vietnamese culture and belief, where many records are set not only in Vietnam but also in the world.
Bai Dinh Pagoda, dubbed as 'Halong on land', is not only the largest temple complex in Southeast Asia but also the place where many 'firsts' of Vietnam are recorded. This is the temple with the most records in Vietnam and has been recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site.
Let's Klook Vietnam review the 'firsts' of Bai Dinh Pagoda Ninh Binh:
- Largest bronze-gilded Buddha statue in Asia: A 100-ton bronze Buddha statue is housed in the Great Hall.
- Largest bronze Laughing Buddha statue in Southeast Asia: A 100-ton Laughing Buddha statue is located outdoors.
- Largest bronze bell in Vietnam: Dai Hong Chung bell weighs 36 tons in the Bell Tower.
- Tallest stupa in Asia: Bai Dinh Pagoda's Stupa has 13 floors, standing 100m tall.
- Largest temple complex in Vietnam: totaling 539 hectares (ancient temple area 27 hectares, new temple area 80 hectares)
- Longest La Han corridor in Asia: The La Han corridor is nearly 3 km long.
- Most La Han statues in Vietnam: 500 stone statues, about 2m tall.
- Largest jade well in Vietnam.
- Most Bodhi trees in Vietnam: 100 Bodhi trees are grafted from Indian Bodhi trees.
Join Klook Vietnam to explore and experience the sacredness and unique architectural beauty of Bai Dinh Pagoda!
Do you feel extremely proud when Vietnam has such majestic natural heritage like Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh? Hopefully, the useful information that #teamKlook just shared above will help you gain more useful knowledge, so you won't feel lost when visiting the scenic heritage of Bai Dinh - Trang An in Ninh Binh.
And if you want to know what to do in Ninh Binh? What to eat when traveling to Ninh Binh? Then refer to the Klook Blog, this is definitely a wonderful travel guide to help you plan for great and meaningful trips!
What are you waiting for? Don't hesitate to invite your 'crew' and family to wander around Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh right away!
