Bai Dinh Pagoda is a popular spiritual destination for travelers interested in learning about Ninh Binh’s and Vietnam’s culture and history, thanks to its spectacular architecture and stunning natural landscape.

Overview of Bai Dinh Pagoda

Bai Dinh Pagoda is a pagoda complex located in the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital relic area and is part of the Trang An Scenic Complex.

Bai Dinh Pagoda panorama. — Bai Dinh Pagoda.

The Bai Dinh Pagoda complex spans over 600 hectares, including 27 hectares dedicated to the ancient pagoda and 80 hectares for the new pagoda. This is not only the biggest pagoda in Southeast Asia, but it also holds other remarkable records:

The largest gold-plated bronze Buddha statue in Asia.
The largest bronze Maitreya Buddha statue in Southeast Asia.
The largest bronze bell in Vietnam.
The tallest stupa in Asia.
The largest pagoda area in Vietnam.
The pagoda area has the longest Arhat corridor in Asia.
The pagoda area has the most Arhat statues in Vietnam.
The pagoda area has the largest jade well in Vietnam.
The pagoda area has the most Bodhi trees in Vietnam.

On June 23, 2014, the World Heritage Committee designated the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex (containing Bai Dinh Pagoda) as Vietnam’s first combined World Heritage Site for both culture and nature.

Budha statue on the mountain in Bai Dinh Pagoda. — Budha statue on the mountain.

With its sacred space and spectacular scenery, Bai Dinh Pagoda is a wonderful site for tourists seeking peace and tranquillity while admiring the beauty of Vietnamese Buddhism.

History of Bai Dinh Pagoda

More than 1000 years ago, the Dinh, Tien Le, and Ly dynasties established their capital in Ninh Binh. Because these dynasties all valued Buddhism, countless pagodas and temples were built here, including Bai Dinh Pagoda.

The ancient Bai Dinh Pagoda was built on the Trang An mountain range, in an ideal location with its back resting against the mountain and overlooking the gorgeous forest and river. In the old days, Bai Dinh Pagoda was chosen by monarchs for performing rituals such as praying for rain or flag-raising ceremonies to inspire warriors.

Overview of Bai Dinh Pagoda complex. — Overview of the Bai Dinh Pagoda complex.

Despite the ups and downs of the country’s history, Bai Dinh Pagoda preserves the majority of the Ly Dynasty-era architecture and antiquities. Since 2003, the pagoda area has been extended and rebuilt on the basis of the historic pagoda, featuring several notable architectures such as Tam Quan Gate, Bell Tower, Quan The Am Palace, and La Han Corridor.

Bai Dinh Pagoda was designated as a national historical, cultural, and revolutionary relic in 1997, and it has since become a spiritual hub for Buddhist devotion across Vietnam.

Location & How to get to Bai Dinh Pagoda

Bai Dinh Pagoda is located in Gia Sinh commune, Gia Vien district, approximately 18 kilometers from Ninh Binh’s city center and 100 kilometers from Hanoi.

Getting to the Bai Dinh Pagoda

Personal vehicle

Visitors who want to get to Bai Dinh Pagoda on a budget and without restrictions can do it by motorcycle or automobile. To get to the Bai Dinh Pagoda complex from Hanoi, use Giai Phong Road – National Highway 1A – National Highway 12B and follow the signage for approximately 90km. Travelers should ask locals or use a navigation app to be sure.

Public transport

In addition to going by themselves, visitors can choose public transport to get to Bai Dinh Pagoda.

Bus: Take a bus from Giap Bat or My Dinh bus station, ticket prices range from US $3.2 – $3.6 one way.
Train: The train departs from Hanoi station to Ninh Binh station, ticket prices range from US $2.8 – $4.8 per seat.

After arriving in Ninh Binh, visitors can take a bus or taxi to Bai Dinh Pagoda.

Moving inside Bai Dinh Pagoda

With a large area containing different areas, visitors should use electric cars when moving around Bai Dinh Pagoda to save time and energy.

The car will pick up visitors from the waiting area and drive them down the 3.5-kilometer road to the Tam Quan Gate area of Bai Dinh Pagoda.

Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh. — Bai Dinh Pagoda.

Note that, while electric cars are there to help, there are numerous places where visitors must walk, with the complete route potentially totaling thousands of steps, thus, visitors must eat and drink enough to maintain physical strength.

Best time to visit Bai Dinh Pagoda

Early spring is usually a nice time to visit a temple to worship and pray for good luck, and Bai Dinh Pagoda is an excellent option. Visitors may appreciate the beauty of nature in full bloom, as well as the lively, thrilling environment created by people who have come to attend the Bai Dinh Spring Festival.

See more: Best Bai Dinh Pagoda, Ninh Binh tours 2025.

Bai Dinh Pagoda spring festival. — Spring festival in Bai Dinh Pagoda.

If you want to avoid crowds, visit the pagoda in the fall, between May and September, when the weather is pleasant and dry. Bai Dinh Pagoda appears solemn yet peaceful and tranquil, making it ideal for sightseeing or taking pictures!

Infomation

The historic Bai Dinh Pagoda is located about 800 meters south of the Tam The Temple in the new pagoda complex.

This pagoda region is placed near the top of a mountain, creating a sense of calm and tranquility reminiscent of a fairy pagoda. The ancient Bai Dinh Pagoda is made up of a main hall in the center and temples for Saint Nguyen, Sang Cave, Toi Cave, and Cao Son Temple on the left and right sides.

Saint Nguyen Temple

This is where Zen Master Nguyen Minh Khong, the historic Bai Dinh Pagoda’s creator, is worshipped. The monarch nominated him as a national teacher, and the people referred to him as Duc Thanh Nguyen (Saint Nguyen). Not only that, he was also a famous doctor who cured many people.

Sang Cave, Toi Cave

The old Bai Dinh Pagoda is notable for its Buddhist shrines, which are located in calm mountain caves such as Sang Cave and Toi Cave.

When tourists enter the cave, they will see the solemnly arranged worship area with bronze Buddha sculptures. Furthermore, the limestone ceiling and cave walls shine with unique curves, as if carved by nature, all enhancing the experience.

Ngoc Well

Ngoc Well, located at the foot of Bai Dinh Pagoda, is a big lake with a roughly 30-meter diameter, surrounded by lush trees. The well water has a wonderful natural jade hue and has never dried out. Legend has it that Zen master Nguyen Minh Khong (Saint Nguyen) used to take water from this well to make medicine to cure the king and everyone.

The new Bai Dinh Pagoda, located on the side of Trang An Mountain and leaning to the west of Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, spans 80 hectares, approximately three times the area of the original pagoda.

Panorama of Bai Dinh Pagoda. — Bai Dinh Pagoda.

The pagoda’s major architecture includes Tam The and Quan Am temples, the Bao Thap area, the Bell Tower, the Maitreya Buddha statue, and a variety of additional infrastructure and auxiliary works completed in phases beginning in 2003.

Tam Quan Gate

This is the first gateway that tourists must pass through when visiting Bai Dinh Pagoda. Tam Quan (three gates) refers to three enormous gates with elaborate carvings: Khong Quan represents the gate of suffering, Trung Quan represents impermanence, and Gia Quan represents the gate of non-self (Anatta) in Buddhism.

Dharma Lord Temple

The Dharma Lord Temple is one of the most significant architectural structures in the Bai Dinh Pagoda complex. The temple’s distinctive style, with two curving roofs, is both magnificent and imposing.

The temple’s interior features intricately carved wood and stone motifs. This region is particularly notable for a 100-ton, 9.5-meter-high, gold-plated bronze statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, which is Vietnam’s largest bronze Buddha statue.

Buddha Shakyamuni Statue. — Shakyamuni Buddha statue.

Tam The Temple

This is the biggest temple in the Bai Dinh pagoda complex, including three massive gold-plated bronze sculptures of Tam The Phat that represent the past, present, and future.

Bai Dinh Pagoda worship area. — Worship area in Tam The Temple.

Tam The Temple’s spectacular building draws many tourists from near and far to study, particularly those who enjoy history and art!

Guanyin Buddha Temple

This temple is made of wood, and in the center stands a 10-meter-high, 80-ton gold-plated figure of Guanyin Buddha, giving the entire structure an ancient and magnificent appearance.

Budha Statue inside Bai Dinh Pagoda. — Guanyin Buddha statue.

La Han Corridor

This is Asia’s longest La Han corridor and a centerpiece of Bai Dinh Pagoda, popular among travelers for sightseeing and photography. Along the roughly 3-kilometer-long road are 500 La Han figures carved from immaculate green stone, each with a delicate and vivid appearance and expression.

Bell Tower

The bell tower of Bai Dinh Pagoda is an amazing photo location, with an octagonal base and three high curving roofs that resemble an intriguing lotus in the heart of the tranquil pagoda setting.

People visiting Bai Dinh pagoda among the trees. — Visitors to Bai Dinh Bell Tower.

The focal point here is the bronze bell created by Hue craftsmen, which weighs up to 36 tons and is Vietnam’s largest bronze bell.

Bai Dinh Pagoda Stupa

The stupa, located to the west of Tam The Temple, is one of the most distinctive works of Bai Dinh Pagoda. The stupa has a hexagonal foundation, 13 storeys, and is 99 meters tall. It is fully coated with Bat Trang baked bricks with warm red earth tones and elaborate ornamental designs.

The stupa of Bai Dinh Pagoda. — Bai Dinh Pagoda Stupa.

Around the stupa, tourists may discover little stone statues of Buddha seated on green stone pedestals with exquisite carvings. The stupa’s unique architecture, along with the peaceful surroundings, amazes and inspires tourists.

This is a must-see place when visiting Bai Dinh Pagoda!

In addition to the two major pagodas, the Bai Dinh pagoda complex includes auxiliary sites such as the cultural park and Buddhist academy, the welcome area and landscape park, traffic lanes and parking lots, and the Dam Thi lake area, among others.

Visitors who want to stay longer at the pagoda could choose the Bai Dinh guesthouse. The guesthouse is located right in the pagoda grounds, with magnificent architecture and a calm natural setting, making it perfect for tourists to unwind.

Inside the pagoda complex, there is also the Cat Tuong restaurant, which has architecture that combines ancient Asian and modern European designs, as well as an open space where you can observe the Bai Dinh mountains and forests while eating wonderful vegetarian food or local delicacies.

Eating area of Bai Dinh Pagoda. — Cat Tuong Restaurant.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much is the ticket price to Bai Dinh Pagoda?

Coming to Bai Dinh Pagoda, visitors can freely worship and explore the pagoda without buying a ticket. However, the pagoda also provides other services as follows:

Motorbike parking fee: US $0.6 per trip.
Car parking fee: US $1.6 VND per trip.
Bai Dinh Pagoda electric car ticket price: US $1.2 per person for one-way.
Ticket to visit Bai Dinh Stupa: US $2 per person, free for children under 1 meter high.
Hiring a tour guide: from US $12 – $20 per tour.
Toilet fee: 2,000 VND per trip.

With Fola Travel’s Bai Dinh Pagoda tours, the tour costs will be included in the tour price, so visitors just need to visit freely!

2. What should you prepare/ know when visiting Bai Dinh Pagoda?

Bai Dinh Pagoda is a spiritual location, thus, visitors should dress appropriately. Choose polite, modest clothing, such as long-sleeved tops and pants/skirts that go below the knee.
When worshiping Buddha, avoid burning too much incense. If you wish to donate, bring small change.
Please do not litter and avoid putting money on Buddha statues; instead, place it in the donation box.
The stupa at Bai Dinh Pagoda is 99 meters high, but there is an elevator within that allows tourists can easily traverse between levels, so you may rest assured.
Visiting the pagoda needs a lot of walking and ascending many stone stairs, so bring a bottle of water in case you feel thirsty, and wear comfortable shoes for easy mobility.
Visitors who wish to understand more about the temple’s history, architecture, and tales can hire a private guide or schedule a tour.

Q&A content

Overview of Bai Dinh Pagoda

History of Bai Dinh Pagoda