As the most prominent Buddhist building in Southeast Asia, the Bai Dinh pagoda is a must-visit attraction in Ninh Binh. Let's find out detailed information about the pagoda with Handspan Travel Indochina!

General information about Bai Dinh Pagoda

• Opening hours: 06.00 a.m. - 07.00 p.m.
• Entrance fee: free
• Electric car for sightseeing: VND 80,000

Bai Dinh Pagoda has several temples and more than 500 complicatedly sculptured statues of Buddha. One of them is from bronze with an impressive height of about 10 meters. Located in Gia Sinh Commune, this pagoda has attracted many tourists and devotees to pray and make their offerings and fortunes. 

Bai Dinh Pagoda 

With an area of 539 hectares, including 27 hectares of the old and 80 hectares of the new-built pagoda, it welcomes thousands of visitors each year. Going through a 300-step stairway, this pagoda has a prayer hall with natural grottos. Locals and tourists come here to pray to Buddha and the mountain god, such as Saint Nguyen and Genie Cao Son. 

A corner inside Bai Dinh Pagoda

Over 1000 years ago, there were three dynasties in Ninh Binh regarding Dinh, Tien Le, and  Ly. They used Buddhism as the statue religion of our country. Therefore, there are many ancient pagodas and spiritual buildings in Ninh Binh nowadays. 

Bai Dinh Pagoda Highlights 

With a-800 meter drive from the first Bai Dinh pagoda, the second one covers a total area of 7 million m2. Constructed in 2003, it’s made of various materials, mainly from local handicraft villages in Ninh Binh. Some of them are Bai Trang ceramic village, Y Y bronze casts, and needleworks from Ninh Hai Village. 

Not only does this pagoda offer spectacular views of marvelous mountains, but you can enjoy spiritual events during your stay. Between February and March, the pagoda organizes many festive activities. These events can be ritual offerings, blessing ceremonies, traditional music, and dances. Travelers may watch or even participate in amazing folk games regarding the tug of war, human chess, and wrestling. Besides, they can also enjoy local snacks or specialties sold at food stalls during the festival. 

Must-see places within Bai Dinh Pagoda

Bell Tower 

Within the space of Bai Dinh pagoda, you should visit Bell Tower. This Tower features the appearance of a lotus with a height of 22 meters and 17 meters in width. It’s made of concrete and has the ancient architecture of an octagonal shape. Its three layers of a curved roof are covered by thousands of dark brown tiles from Bat Trang Ceramic Village. There is a 36-ton bronze bell that holds the record as Vietnam’s largest bell. There's a bronze drum that emulates Dong Son Bronze’s design. 

Bell Tower in Bai Dinh Pagoda

Corridor with Arhat Statues 

This corridor is in wood. Along both sides of the corridor, there are 500 Arhat statues made of stone by many talented craftsmen in Ninh Van craft village (Hoa Lu). Each of them is from 2 to 2.5 meters in height and 2 to 2.5 tons in weight. 

Corridor with Arhat Statues

Moreover, each statue has a special and unique facial expression and posture. That presents Taoist philosophical theories with anger, love, pleasure, and hate of people in their daily life. It’s the longest corridor of its type in Asian countries. 

Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara Hall 

This hall consists of 7 compartments which are made of ironwood. It’s pretty large, with 40 meters in length, 15 meters in height, and about 17 meters in width. In the hall center of  Bai Dinh pagoda, there is a 80 tons gold-coated bronze statue of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. The impressive statue features many eyes and hands surrounding him. Besides, it’s recognized as Vietnam’s largest bronze statue of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. 

Releasing Lake 

The lake is about 63 meters in width and 77 meters in length. In the middle of the lake, there’s a huge lotus planted, the symbol of the Buddha and Nirvana. The Releasing Lake is Yin, and the Bai Dinh pagoda is Yang. Both of them create Yin-Yang balance meaning a beautiful “waterfront, leaning on the mountain range” scenery. 

Releasing Lake in Bai Dinh Pagoda

Phap Chu Hall 

Another must-visit place in Bai Dinh Pagoda is Phap Chu Hall. This hall comprises five compartments. The compartment in the middle has a bronze Buddha statue of 10 meters in height and 100 tons in weight. Phap Chu Hall is the largest bronze statue of Buddha in Vietnam. Moreover, it also has three panels and Vietnam’s three biggest hammocks inside. 

Tam The Hall 

This hall lies on a hill 76 meters above sea level, 60 meters in length and 40 meters in width. It has three bronze statues of Tam The Buddha regarding the past, present, and future. Furthermore, these three statues are recognized as Vietnam’s largest bronze Tam The statues. 

Tam The Hall in Bai Dinh Pagoda

Bao Thap Tower 

Bao Thap Tower is a 100-meter tall building with 13 floors and 72 steps of staircases. This tower holds sacred Buddha historical items from Burma and India.

Bao Thap Tower in Bai Dinh Pagoda

The ceiling has mystical Indian architecture. All surrounding walls of the tower have many images related to Buddhism. There are hundreds of small statues around. Visitors can have a chance to contemplate a panoramic view of Bai Dinh Pagoda and surrounding areas. 

Maitreya Statue

This statue lies on the highest hill of Bai Dinh Pagoda, which is roughly 100 meters in height above sea level. It’s made of bronze with about 10 meters high and is 80 tons in weight. 

Maitreya Statue

The impressive statue demonstrates the Maitreya in the appearance of a monk. It’s recorded as Southeast Asia’s largest outdoor bronze Maitreya Statue. 

Additionally, there are also significant places in the new Bai Dinh pagoda, such as Stone House and Bodhi Tree Garden. Stone House includes 55 compartments, each of which has a stone put on a stone turtle with 2.95 meters in length, 1.7 meters in width, and 0.97 meters in thickness. Besides, Bodhi Tree Garden has about 100 Bodhi trees from India, so it’s recognized as Vietnam’s largest number of Bodhi trees.  

Ancient Bai Dinh Pagoda 

The old pagoda is located on Bai Dinh mountain, nearly 200 meters above sea level. It includes the front temple, a cave for worshiping the Buddha, a temple to worship the Mountain God, and another to honor Saint Nguyen. 

Ancient Bai Dinh Pagoda

Sang - Toi Cave inside the ancient Bai Dinh Pagoda

Dress code when visiting Bai Dinh Pagoda

Coming to Bai Dinh Pagoda, you should avoid wearing shorts, leggings, and shirts. Furthermore, you should wear running shoes and sneakers instead of a pair of high heels since you’ll go and climb a lot. 

With its impressive architecture and spiritual values, the Bai Dinh Pagoda is one of the most famous destinations in Ninh Binh. If you have a chance to travel to Ninh Binh, don’t forget to visit Bai Dinh Pagoda.