Ninh Binh, the land of the millennia-old Hoa Lu ancient capital, has long been an attractive destination for tourists due to its majestic mountains, magical caves, and profound cultural and historical values. Among the countless scenic spots here, Bai Dinh and Trang An stand out as precious gems, captivating visitors with their harmonious combination of spiritual beauty and unique natural landscapes. A Bai Dinh Trang An tour is not just a journey of discovery, but also a pilgrimage to find your roots, immerse yourself in a peaceful space, and admire the masterpieces bestowed by creation.
Bai Dinh Pagoda: The Largest Pagoda in Southeast Asia
Bai Dinh Pagoda, nestled amidst the rolling mountains of Ninh Binh, is a magnificent and majestic Buddhist architectural complex, known as the largest pagoda in Southeast Asia. With a history dating back thousands of years, Bai Dinh Pagoda is not only a sacred place, attracting many Buddhists and pilgrims, but also a unique architectural work, harmoniously combining traditional and modern beauty.
The ancient Bai Dinh Pagoda, hidden in the mountains, bears deep historical and cultural imprints. This place was once a solid base in the resistance war against the Mongol invaders in the 13th century. In the 18th century, the pagoda was rebuilt more spaciously and became an important Buddhist center of the region.
Today, the new Bai Dinh Pagoda is built on a larger area of over 80 hectares, including many impressive architectural works such as: Tam The Palace, Phap Chu Palace, Bao Thap (Stupa), Arhat Corridor, and many other structures. Each work has its own beauty, contributing to the majesty and magnificence of the Bai Dinh Pagoda complex.
Tam The Palace and Phap Chu Palace are the two central structures of Bai Dinh Pagoda, with an area of thousands of square meters. Inside the palaces, golden bronze Buddha statues are majestic and magnificent, expressing the respect and devotion of the people to Buddhism. In particular, the Buddha Shakyamuni statue in Phap Chu Palace is cast in solid bronze, weighing 100 tons, one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in Southeast Asia.
Golden Buddha statues in Tam The Palace, Bai Dinh Pagoda
The Arhat Corridor of Bai Dinh Pagoda is a unique highlight, attracting visitors by the meticulousness and sophistication in each statue. With more than 500 Arhat statues made of solid blue stone, each with a different face and posture, the Arhat Corridor is not only an architectural work, but also a unique work of art, showing the talent of Vietnamese artisans.
500 Arhat statues made of solid blue stone, over 2m high and weighing about 4 tons in Bai Dinh Pagoda
In addition, Bai Dinh Pagoda is also famous for the two largest bells in Southeast Asia, Bodhi trees grafted from Indian Bodhi trees, and many other records. Coming to Bai Dinh Pagoda, visitors not only admire the unique architectural beauty, but also immerse themselves in a peaceful spiritual space, dispelling the worries of everyday life.
Trang An: A Natural Masterpiece Recognized by UNESCO
Trang An, a famous eco-tourism area of Ninh Binh, is likened to “Ha Long Bay on land” because of its charming landscape of mountains and rivers, overlapping limestone ranges, winding rivers, and a system of magical caves. In 2014, Trang An was honored to be recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage, affirming the global value of the natural landscape and historical culture here.
Exploring Trang An by boat is an unmissable experience when visiting Ninh Binh. Sitting on a small boat, weaving through the blue rivers, visitors will admire the majestic beauty of the mountains, the magical caves, and feel the peace and tranquility of nature.
Trang An has a diverse and rich cave system, each cave has its own beauty, associated with fascinating stories and legends. Ba Giot Cave is famous for the strange colors of stalactites and a touching love story. Toi Cave (Dark Cave) offers a mysterious dark exploration experience. Nau Ruou Cave (Wine Brewing Cave) hides a sacred well and legends about the ancient people’s wine-making profession.
Nau Ruou Cave nestled among the mountains and rivers of Trang An
Besides caves, Trang An also has many important historical and cultural relics such as Den Trinh Temple, Den Tran Temple, and Phu Khong Temple. Each relic is associated with historical stories and legends about the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, bringing visitors profound cultural experiences.
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Trang An is not only an attractive tourist destination, but also a place to preserve the precious cultural and natural values of Vietnam. Coming to Trang An, visitors will immerse themselves in beautiful nature, explore the wonders of creation, and feel peace and relaxation in their souls.
Bai Dinh Trang An Travel Tips
To have a complete and meaningful Bai Dinh Trang An tour, visitors should note some of the following experiences:
Ideal time to visit: Spring (January-March of the lunar calendar) and autumn (August-October of the lunar calendar) are the best times to visit Bai Dinh Trang An. In spring, the weather is cool and pleasant, suitable for sightseeing and festivals. In autumn, Ninh Binh puts on a romantic beauty with golden ripe rice fields, creating a poetic scene.
Transportation: Ninh Binh is about 90km from Hanoi, visitors can travel by many means such as passenger car, train or motorbike. If traveling from Hanoi, passenger car is the most popular and convenient means, with many trips departing daily.
Clothing: When visiting Bai Dinh Pagoda and temples in Trang An, visitors should choose polite, discreet clothing, suitable for spiritual spaces. You should bring comfortable shoes for easy movement and mountain climbing.
Dining: Ninh Binh is famous for many specialties such as cơm cháy (burnt rice), thịt dê núi (mountain goat meat), gỏi cá nhệch (Nhệch fish salad), miến lươn (glass noodles with eel). Visitors can enjoy these dishes at local restaurants and eateries in the tourist area or Ninh Binh city.
Com chay – Crispy burnt rice, a Ninh Binh specialty
Thit De Nui – Mountain goat meat, a Ninh Binh specialty
Accommodation: Ninh Binh has many accommodation options from luxury hotels to budget-friendly guesthouses. Visitors can choose a place to stay that suits their needs and budget. If you want to experience closeness to nature, visitors can choose homestays or eco-resorts in the Trang An area.
Suggested Itinerary: For a one-day Bai Dinh Trang An tour, visitors can refer to the following itinerary:
- Morning: Visit Bai Dinh Pagoda (both ancient and new pagodas), pay respects to Buddha and admire the unique architecture of the pagoda.
- Afternoon: Explore Trang An eco-tourism area by boat, visit caves and historical sites.
- Evening: Enjoy Ninh Binh cuisine and rest.
Conclusion
A Bai Dinh Trang An tour is a meaningful journey, bringing visitors wonderful experiences of culture, spirituality and nature. Coming to Ninh Binh, visitors will not only admire the majestic beauty of the mountains, the magical caves, but also immerse themselves in the peaceful space of Bai Dinh Pagoda and discover profound historical and cultural values. Come and feel the unique beauty of Bai Dinh Trang An, you will surely have unforgettable memories of the ancient capital of Ninh Binh.