Bai Dinh Pagoda

About

The Bai Dinh Pagoda is not, one, but two adjacent temple complexes with the same name. The first is the so-called ‘old temple’, located on the slopes of Dinh Mountain. This quiet forest shrine is located in a series of small caves, where the faithful come to both Buddha and mountain spirits like Saint Nguyen and Genie Cao Son. Just under a kilometer away is the ‘New Temple’, a 700 hectare complex of traditional-style buildings built using materials sourced from local villages. Within the many shrines, temples, and pagodas, are over 500 intricately carved Buddha statues are housed, including a 10-meter-tall behemoth. The temple hosts various activities throughout the year, the largest being on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year when there are ritual processions, blessing ceremonies, traditional music, dancing performances, and folk games. If you’d like to stretch your legs a bit more, add time to explore the nearby limestone grottoes and Ba Chua Thuong Ngan forest.