Bai Dinh pagoda is a big pagoda complex that has been granted with many records by Asia and Vietnam Record Book such as the largest pagoda of Vietnam, the biggest gold – plated copper of Asia and the longest lobby in Asia… Bai Dinh pagoda used to host the ceremony to welcome the relics of the Buddha from India to Vietnam in 2010. For those reasons, it attracts a lot of Vietnamese and foreign visitors every year.
The pagoda is named after an ancient pagoda situated in a cave of Bai Dinh mountain. This place not only worships Great Buddha Sakyamuni and Chua Thuong Ngan (The goddess of forests) but also attached with an important historical event when king Quang Trung went to Thang Long to fight against Great Qing Empire.
Bai Dinh pagoda is located at the western of the ancient capital Hoa Lu, belonging to Gia Sinh commune, Ninh Binh, 15 km from Ninh Binh city and 95 km from Hanoi. Due to perfect situation, beautiful scenery and fresh atmostphere, Bai Dinh becomes a popular destination of tourists and Buddhism lovers. It is said to be the biggest pagoda complex in Southeast Asia. In spite of being under construction, thousands of visitors flock to here to visit and pray every year.
The 6th of first lunar month is the opening day of festival. The festival was only one week, but due to the investment of the state, this pagoda area is expanded to the national centre of religious, therefore the festival is lengthening for the whole spring. During the festival days , almost all caves and pagodas are covered with incense-smoke; the festive atmosphere seems to overwhelm this peaceful rural area.