Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh, Vietnam

Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh is one of the most famous pagodas in Vietnam. The pagoda is located on Highway 38B, Gia Sinh Commune, Gia Vien District, Ninh Binh Province. More than 1000 years ago, in Ninh Binh there were three successive king dynasties born: Dinh Dynasty, Tien Le Dynasty and Ly Dynasty. These feudal dynasties were very interested in Buddhism and considered Buddhism as the national religion. Therefore, Ninh Binh has many ancient pagodas including Bai Dinh Pagoda, on Trang An mountain range.

The Bai Dinh pagoda consists of an ancient pagoda and a new pagoda built in 2003. The pagoda is located on the mountainside, between the vast valleys of lakes and mountains, at the western gateway to the ancient capital of Hoa Lu. The new architecture is monumental, monumental but bold traditional identity. The new  Pagoda was honored as the largest pagoda complex in Southeast Asia by the press. Even when building, the Pagoda attracted many visitors to visit.

The ancient Bai Dinh pagoda

The ancient Bai Dinh pagoda is located about 800m south of the new pagoda. This pagoda is facing the west, located near the top of a rather quiet mountainous area. Going into the area of the pagoda, tourists see a front house (Vietnamese: tiền đường) in the middle. The right is the light cave for worshiping Buddha. Next is Cao Son Temple near the end of the back door of the cave. The left is the shrine of St. Nguyen. Next is the dark cave for worshiping Mother and fairy. According to the Eastern opinion, the pagoda is in the region gathering many talents. Although the pagoda has a history dating in the Dinh Dynasty, Bai Dinh ancient pagoda has many architectural details and antiques bearing boldly imprint of the Ly Dynasty. In 1997, the temple was recognized as a national historical-cultural-revolutionary relic.

Bai Dinh Pagoda

Bai Dinh Ancient Pagoda

Inside Bai Dinh Ancient Pagoda

Bai Dinh Pagoda

Inside Bai Dinh Ancient Pagoda

The new Bai Dinh pagoda

The new Dinh Pagoda covers an area of 80 hectares located on the other side of the mountain compared to the ancient pagoda and in the western capital of Hoa Lu. This is a large project with many items, main architectures such as Tam The, Phap Chinh power, Quan Am, Bao Thap, Bell tower, Maitreya Buddha statues and other infrastructures such as schools, reception area … are built in many different stages.

The architecture of the new pagoda is characterized by large, monumental blocks bearing the imprint of Vietnamese architecture such as the using of local materials (Ninh Binh green stone, ivory wood, brown Bat Trang glaze tile). The most distinctive feature of the pagoda architecture is that it appears in a dark brown arch with a curved tail of a phoenix, which is not the same as that of the Chinese temples. The decorated details of the pagoda also bear the stamp of famous traditional villages in Vietnam. Bai Dinh new pagoda is built by 500 artisans coming from well-known villages, such as Phuc Loc woodcarving, Ninh Van stone carving, Y Yen bronze casting, Van Lam embroidery, Lac Dang lacquer, Dong Xam silver station. These artists used local materials such as ironwood, Ninh Binh green stone, Bat Trang glaze tile … to create pure Vietnamese in the architecture of Bai Dinh Pagoda.

Especially, the construction site of the Pagoda is the space where it is always open. Right the time building, with the statue of the Buddha placed outside, the work attracted crowds of pilgrims coming to worship. Visitors can go anywhere to observe the parts of the work forming. This Pagoda is one of the most famous pagodas in Vietnam. Coming Ninh Binh Province, it is a pity that you do not visit here.

Bai Dinh Pagoda

Bai Dinh Pagoda

Twinkle Bai Dinh at night

Bai Dinh Pagoda

Hundreds of lighting lotus at night on the stairs

Pearl Well (Giếng Ngọc)

Maitreya Buddha Statue (Tượng Di Lạc)

Bai Dinh Pagoda

Stupa (Tháp Báo Thiên)

Bell Tower (Tháp Chuông)

Arhat Statue Corridor (Hành Lang La Hán)

Bai Dinh Pagoda

The Tree Internal Gates (Cổng Tam Quan)

Buddha Dharma Lord Temple (Điện Giáo Chủ)

Bai Dinh Pagoda

Buddha Dharma Lord Temple (Điện Giáo Chủ)

Buddha Dharma Lord Temple (Điện Giáo Chủ)

Bai Dinh Pagoda

The Kuan Yin Hall (Điện Quan Âm)

The Kuan Yin Hall (Điện Quan Âm)

The Tree Periods Temple (Điện Tam Thế)

     The Tree Periods Temple (Điện Tam Thế)

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