Bai Dinh Pagoda – The Majestic Beauty of A Pure Place

Bai Dinh Pagoda is the largest pagoda complex and owns the most records in Vietnam. The name Bai Dinh Pagoda refers to Mount Dinh, a location in Vietnamese history where heroic events occurred. With a history of more than a thousand years and unique architecture, the Pagoda is the regarded as the center of Buddhism, where many major cultural and political events take place. This location has grown in popularity over the years, attracting both Buddhists and visitors.

1. Position

Locating at the western entrance to Hoa Lu’s ancient capital, 15 kilometers from Ninh Binh province and 95 kilometers from Hanoi, the complex of Bai Dinh Pagoda situates on the mountainside in the middle of the vast lake valley and rocky mountains.

2. Architecture

The pagoda has both monumental architecture and bold traditional identity, hailed as the largest pagoda complex in Southeast Asia. It consists of an old temple and a new pagoda built in 2003.

The pagoda was built in the popular architectural style in Ninh Binh, with the curved roofs of the temple, the great pillars, or magnificent palaces. All the “Buddhist” and “Mau” worship boards of the pagoda are placed in the heart of the cave, adding to the sacred and mysterious atmosphere to the door of meditation. The cave ceilings have become solid temple roofs, shielding the sacred place of “Buddha” and “Mau” for centuries. And the pagoda is not only a place for people to show their piety but also a beautiful landscape.

The new Bai Dinh Pagoda is a large project, covering an area of 80 hectares in the west of the ancient capital, Hoa Lu. Some main attractions are “Tam The” Palace, “Phap Chu” Temple, “Quan Am” Palace, Stupa, Bell Tower; and other infrastructure and auxiliary works such as the Buddhist academy and reception area. The enormous new temple stands out among the majestic mountains like a fairy-tale place. It has splendid statues carved with its back leaning against the dark blue ridge. That will take visitors to the boundary of the sacred and mundane realms. The temple complex resembles a sparkling, colourful gem, converging a thousand years of legendary spirit.

3. Records

Today, Bai Dinh Pagoda is considered the most attractive spiritual tourist destination in Vietnam with the following records: the largest pagoda in Vietnam, the pagoda with the longest La Han corridor in Asia, the pagoda area has the most Arhat Statues in Vietnam, the pagoda area with the largest pearl well in Vietnam, the pagoda area with the most Bodhi trees in Vietnam, the pagoda has the biggest gold – plated Buddha statue in Asia, the biggest bronze Buddha statue Southeast Asia, and the largest copper bell in Vietnam.

It is recommended that tourists pay a visit to Bai Dinh and walk down the stone steps with a gentle slope, gradually increasing in height to enjoy the fresh and cool air. Visitors will find their hearts at ease in a sacred place, immense heaven, and earth, the sound of bells ringing, which helps release all the worries of daily life.