Explore Bai Dinh Pagoda In Ninh Binh, Vietnam

Bai Dinh Pagoda is one of the most famous spiritual landmarks in Ninh Binh, Vietnam. This impressive pagoda complex offers a wonderful opportunity to understand the Vietnamese expression of Buddhism. 

In this article, I’d like to share a brief introduction to this famous Ninh Binh landmark, including the following sections:

• The location
• Transportation guide
• Ticket prices
• Things to see
• Festivals
• My travel tips

Where is Bai Dinh Pagoda?

Bai Dinh pagoda is located on Bai Dinh mountain in Gia Sinh commune, Gia Vien district, Ninh Binh province.

It’s about 5km from Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, 15km from Ninh Binh city, and 100 km from Hanoi.

This area has a long history of formation and development associated with three major dynasties of Vietnam: Dinh, Tien Le, and Ly.

How to get to Bai Dinh pagoda

To visit Bai Dinh, you firstly need to get to Ninh Binh.

You can travel from Hanoi to Ninh Binh easily by bus or train. The journey takes about 1.5 hours (by bus) or 2.5 hours (by train). Read my travel guide here.

After arriving at Ninh Binh, you can take a taxi or rent a bike and explore the area. It takes about 30 minutes to travel from the city to the temple. 

Bai Dinh temple’s Ticket prices

Bai Dinh entrance fee is free. However, if you need to, there’s a fee to use other services such as an electric car or entrance to Bao Thap.

• Electric car ticket: 30,000 VND / person / way.
• Tickets to Bao Thap: 50,000 VND / person.

Also, the tour guide service for the new Bai Dinh pagoda is 300,000 VND / person, or both the new pagoda and the old pagoda are 500,000 VND / person.

Things to see at Bai Dinh pagoda

Bai Dinh complex has two main areas: the ancient pagoda with ancient relics and the new pagoda.

The ancient pagoda

The ancient pagoda was built over 1000 years ago by Zen master Nguyen Minh Khong.

It’s located on a mountain high 187 m, about 800m from the new pagoda to the Southeast.

After climbing 300 flat stone steps, you can reach the gate of the ancient Bai Dinh. It’s definitely worth your time and effort to climb up the mountain and visit this part of the pagoda.

Before entering the temple, you can buy incense and wishing-envelop to pray.

The integration of the ancient pagoda into the cave and mountain is stunning. Some important places to see here are Patriarch Cave, Buddha Cave, and Cao Son Altar. 

The new pagoda

After visiting the ancient pagoda, you can follow a small path leading to the new pagoda complex.

The newly built pagoda is an 80-hectare site including different highlights such as Jade well, Belltower, the main temple, and the hallway with 500 statues of Arhat.

Arhat corridor

With a length of 1,700m, The Arhat corridor at Bai Dinh pagoda is the longest one in Southeast Asia. It includes two lines starting from Tam Quan Noi gate to the Ta Vu and Huu Vu house.

Here you can find 500 statues of Arhat in monolithic blue stone carved by famous artisans in the stone craft village of Ninh Van, Hoa Lu. Each sculpture is 2.5 m high on average, weighs from 2 to 4 tons, and is engraved elaborately. 

The front pedestals of 500 Arhat statues have engravings with the names of each Arhat, in both Vietnamese and Chinese below. Each sign has a number so visitors can easily identify and find information.

Festivals at Bai Dinh pagoda

Like many other prominent temples, Bai Dinh also has a festival every year.

The spring festival starts from the 6th day of the Lunar new year and lasts until the third lunar month. It has two main parts: 

• The ceremony includes the incense offering rites to worship Buddha and St. Cao Son.
• The festival part includes folk games, Cheo singing, and Xam singing.

Tips for visiting Bai Dinh temple

Although it’s free to visit Bai Dinh pagoda, you should take an electric car from the gate to the pagoda as the distance is quite far away. The car ticket costs 30 000 VND. (~$1.5)

I love the view from the pagoda. On my trip there, I visited the ancient pagoda first and then the new one. However, if you don’t have much time, you can choose one and take an electric car directly there.