Bai Dinh Pagoda

Bai Dinh Pagoda is a vast Buddhist temple complex in Gia Sinh Commune, Gia Vien District, Ninh Binh Province, about 15 km northwest of Ninh Binh city. It consists of the ancient Bai Dinh Pagoda dating to the Ly Dynasty and a large new complex completed in 2010. It is notable for its scale as the largest pagoda complex in Vietnam, holding several national records including the largest bronze Buddha statue and longest Arhat corridor, set against limestone karst hills near Trang An.

Visitors can expect a sprawling Buddhist complex covering 539 hectares with courtyards, ornate gates, temples, and corridors set against limestone mountains. Areas to explore include Tam Quan Gate, the 500 Arhat Corridor with stone statues, Phap Chu Temple with a 10m bronze Buddha, Tam The Temple, Bell Tower with a 36-ton bronze bell, and Bao Thap stupa for panoramic views. The site involves considerable walking between halls, with electric cars available, and combines active worship areas with landscaped gardens and lake views.

The ancient Bai Dinh Pagoda was originally founded in 1136 during the Ly Dynasty by Zen master Nguyen Minh Khong and associated with King Dinh Tien Hoang. The ancient pagoda includes cave temples and shrines on Dinh Mountain. A new large-scale complex was constructed from 2003 to 2010 to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of Hanoi, expanding the site into the largest Buddhist complex in Vietnam.

Bai Dinh is the largest Buddhist pagoda complex in Vietnam and a major pilgrimage center for Vietnamese Buddhists. It holds multiple Vietnamese and Asian records for Buddhist statues and structures and hosts the annual Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival from the 6th day of the first lunar month to the end of the third lunar month, attracting large numbers of pilgrims. It is part of the Trang An Landscape Complex UNESCO World Heritage buffer area.