The Ninh Binh tourism complex, recognized by UNESCO as a cultural and natural heritage site, encompasses the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, Tam Coc - Bich Dong, Bai Dinh Pagoda, and the ancient capital of Hoa Lu. Among these, Trang An is a scenic landscape with mountains and caves, while Bai Dinh boasts the largest pagoda in Southeast Asia. Together, Bai Dinh and Trang An form a unique mountainous temple complex, a one-of-a-kind national scenic spot that seamlessly combines natural beauty with spiritual tourism.

Bai Dinh in Ninh Binh

Bai Dinh Pagoda is an acclaimed pagoda complex that has set numerous records in Vietnam and Asia. It holds the record for the largest bronze gilded Buddha statue in Asia and the longest corridor of Arhat statues in Asia, with a total of 500 statues. It also houses the largest bronze statue of Maitreya Buddha in Southeast Asia.

Beyond its beauty and popularity as a tourist attraction, Bai Dinh Pagoda holds significant importance for the Vietnamese Buddhist community. It hosted the Grand Ceremony welcoming Buddhist relics from India to Vietnam for the first time in 2010. These relics (xá lợi) are crystalline beads found in the cremated ashes of Buddhist spiritual masters. While many temples in Vietnam were allowed to receive xá lợi from Indian monks, Bai Dinh was the first to formally welcome them in a grand ceremony. These relics are now stored inside the 13-storey tower called Bao Thap. In 2014, the pagoda also organized the United Nations Day of Vesak, a significant event in the Buddhist calendar. For many Vietnamese people, Bai Dinh pagoda isn’t just a tourist spot, but also a sacred place to express wishes for peace for themselves and their families.

There are actually two pagoda areas in the complex: an old one and a new one. The old Bai Dinh complex, located on a mountain, includes the Sang Cave (light cave), dedicated to Buddha, and the Toi Cave (dark cave), dedicated to the Mother Goddess and deities. There are also shrines for Saint Nguyen, the Cao Son deity, and the Jade Well. The new Bai Dinh complex covers an area of 700 hectars, including structures such as the Tam Quan temple, Arhat corridors, the bell tower, the Bao Thap, etc., all setting new records.

People often think that you could go to any temple or pagoda for your wishes, but it's not necessarily true. Certain temples or pagodas out there are considered more effective than others. For example, those seeking love in Hanoi might want to choose the Ha Temple, those seeking prosperity the Tay Ho Temple, and those pursuing academic success the Temple of Literature. For those planning to visit Bai Dinh, you might wanna consider these specific prayers:

- Prayers for health and peace for loved ones

- Prayers for romantic relationships

- Prayers for academic success and favorable careers

Trang An in Ninh Binh

Almost all Bai Dinh Trang An tours are typically arranged to spend half a day in Trang An and the other half in Bai Dinh. The only way to explore Trang An is on a boat tour, where you’ll float along the waters and explore multiple beautiful caves. The Lunar New Year is a popular time to visit Trang An, but not necessarily the best weather-wise because it can get quite cold. Consider visiting after Tet when the weather is cooler, or in the summer to escape the scorching heat of the cities.

There are 3 routes you can take, combining walking and boat rides as you explore caves, gaze at the ethereal reed fields, and visit temples and shrines. You can ask your tour guide for the best option.

When entering caves like Trong Cave, Boi Cave, Nau Ruou Cave, Com Cave, etc., you can ask the boatwomen to know more about the historical sites in the area. Some may even offer tips on how to take beautiful photos on the boat.

Similar to Bai Dinh, there are also temples and shrines in the Trang An scenic landscape complex. These include Trinh Temple, Tran Temple, Tu Tru Temple, Vu Lam Palace, and Cao Son Temple. Boatwomen may ask if you want to enter the temples for prayer, and it's recommended to explore these areas anyway even if you’re not religious, just to marvel at the architecture and learn about the rich history.

Entrance fees

The Bai Dinh Pagoda complex is free to visit. If you’re going to Bai Dinh Pagoda by motorbike, you will need to park it at a parking lot quite far from the pagoda, about 2 km away. Most people get a ride on the electric golf cart to get to and from the pagoda complex, which costs 60.000 VND/person/round trip. The parking fee is 10,000 VND. The entrance fee to visit the Tower (Bao Thap) is 50,000 VND/person. They also offer rides around the complex for 200.000 VND/person. You can discover everything on foot, but the whole thing is gonna take you a whole day at least.

A Trang An boat tour takes around 3 hours, with usually 4-5 people per boat. The ticket price is 250,000 VND per person. Be aware of pickpockets at the ticket counter and the dock, as there are going to be a lot of visitors, especially during high season.

When to visit Bai Dinh and Trang An

Bai Dinh - Trang An, possessing natural wonders sculpted by the hands of Mother Nature, is blessed with an overall cool and pleasant weather throughout the year.

In the spring, when hundreds of flowers bloom across the hills, you can visit Bai Dinh - Trang An to admire the scenery, seek blessings for the new year, and participate in the unique and fascinating Trang An Festival.

However, the spring tends to attract a large number of visitors to Bai Dinh and Trang An. If you prefer a little bit more peace, opt for other times of the year. In the summer, you’ll get to admire the blooming lotus flowers and ripening rice fields.

How to get to Bai Dinh Trang An

Ninh Binh is approximately 110km from Hanoi. If you start from Hanoi, you can catch a bus to Ninh Binh from Giap Bat or My Dinh bus stations. The ticket price is around 70,000 – 80,000 VND per person.

Upon arriving at Ninh Binh bus station, you can continue by taking a bus, taxi, or motorbike taxi (xe ôm) which costs around 130,000 VND for a one-way trip to Bai Dinh Pagoda. Along the way, you will pass through Trang An. The distance from Ninh Binh city to Trang An is 7km, and from Trang An to Bai Dinh is also 7km.

If you want to save money and want to travel at your own pace, you can choose to ride a motorbike to Ninh Binh via National Highway 1A, since it’s not that far away. Follow the route through Van Dien - Thuong Tin and then take National Highway 1A towards Ninh Binh. It’s pretty easy to navigate and will take you only 2 - 3 hours to reach Ninh Binh. If you do decide to travel by motorbike, just be cautious of slippery and potentially muddy roads, especially during rainy weather.

Tips for visiting Bai Dinh - Trang An

Don’t forget to bring umbrellas if you’re visiting Bai Dinh and Trang An in the spring, there might be drizzles occasionally. When traveling in the summer, don't forget to bring sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat to avoid sunburn.

Regarding clothing for a Bai Dinh trip, choose something comfortable but respectful as you’re going to visit temples and sacred places. You should also opt for comfortable shoes.

Bring some snacks, fruits, and drinks. Conquering Bai Dinh and Trang An may take some effort, but it’s all going to be worth it in the end, I promise you !

Conclusion

Bai Dinh and Trang An are the perfect destinations for a day tour, because they are right near Hanoi. If you want to get in touch with nature, embark on boat tours through Trang An's waterways, letting the limestone karsts guide your journey, and lose yourself in Bai Dinh's spiritual tranquility. For more things to see and do in Ninh Binh - an inland Ha Long Bay, check out some of our other articles :

=> Trang An Bai Dinh 1 Day