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Private tailor-made journeys of a life time
Jun 28, 2023
By Ms Minh Thu
If you’re planning to visit Ninh Binh for your upcoming Vietnam tours, you shouldn’t miss this destination: the Bich Dong pagoda. Located in the Truong Yen range, three kilometers to the east of Tam Coc, Bich Dong pagoda, also known as the pagoda of Emerald Cave, is a place of outstanding natural beauty in the Northern provinces of Vietnam, ranking as the country's second-most gorgeous grotto. This pagoda was first built in 1428 in the Ly Dynasty, the time when Buddhism flourished most brilliantly. Its distinctive feature is the exquisite fusion of historic pagodas with cross-covered roofs, natural caves, beautiful mountains, and so on, all concealed in the lushness of tropical forests. The only way to access the pagoda is by stepping into the inclining stone, but what you find inside is absolutely worth seeing. Let’s discover this unique pagoda with Vietnam Escape Tours!
Bich Dong Pagoda
Tam Coc and Bich Dong are just approximately 110 kilometers from the heart of Hanoi, thus tourists can travel there by rail, bus, private vehicle, or even motorcycle.
Train: You can either purchase the ticket online or in person at the train station. You can do some sightseeing while traveling on the train.
Coach: From Giap Bat bus station in Hanoi, you can take a coach to Ninh Binh. Since coaches to Ninh Binh run often, you won't have to worry about missing one.
Motorbike: From Hanoi, ride a motorcycle in the direction of Ninh Binh Road and the 1A Highway, then continue on Highway 30/6 until this intersection, where you will turn right to reach Tam Coc.
By Private car: A private automobile can be pricey but is quite pleasant and gives you your own privacy.
Bich Dong Pagada
The best vehicle if you are staying in Tam Coc is to ride a bike to the Bich Dong Pagoda. In the Tam Coc Bich Dong region, there are numerous shops that provide this service. Additionally, you might inquire at a few hotels or restaurants.
If you wish to venture a little further. For roughly 150,000 VND per day, you can rent a motorbike. Nothing is better than stopping occasionally along the breathtaking route from Tam Coc to Bich Dong pagoda to take in the breathtaking scenes of the vast mountains and rice paddies.
You can also take a taxi to the Bich Dong pagoda. In Ninh Binh or Tam Coc, it is simple to hail one. Your departure location and the type of taxi you take will decide the cost. However, the going rate is about 15,000 VND/km.
To tour the Bich Dong pagoda if you are not familiar with Vietnamese roads, it is advised that you can sign up for a guided Ninh Binh tour, including a tour car and a tour guide (optional). These tours will benefit you with flexibility and privacy.
The three levels of the Bich Dong Pagoda, which is situated on a mountain, are the Ha Pagoda, Trung Pagoda, and Thuong Pagoda. The three pagodas have roofs with four upwardly curving corners that resemble a phoenix's tail feathers.
Lower Pagoda (Ha Pagoda)
Ha Pagoda is a two-story building with 10 roofs and 5 chambers that is situated at the foot of the mountain. It is constructed with cross beams, spars, and an ironwood framework. A noteworthy 4-meter-tall monolithic stone pillar is also present. There is an altar with statues of Buddha inside the pagoda. A holy aura is created by the burning incense that surrounds the statues.
Visitors can observe the exquisitely built Trung Pagoda halfway up Ngu Nhac Mountain after ascending about 120 steps from the foot of Ha Pagoda. This special Vietnamese pagoda has Chinese lettering painted on the walls and a conventional tiled roof.
Trung Pagoda, which is divided into two sections—one at the front and the other inside a mysterious cave—is decorated with statues of Buddha, flying dragons, fairies, and young boys. A huge bronze bell with elaborate carvings is also hanging there.
Visitors can access the spectacular Thuong Pagoda, the highest pagoda on the mountain, by ascending 40 arduous stone steps from the deep blue caves of Trung Pagoda. The Thuong Pagoda consists of two chambers, a forecourt, and an exterior room with a stone altar. There is a Bodhisattva shrine in the interior space. There is a pond here named Cam Lo that is close to Thuong Pagoda and is thought to have all-curing powers.
Dark Cave is just a few feet away from Trung Pagoda and is approached by ascending roughly 21 stairs. The two monks Tri Kien and Tri The sculpted a huge bronze bell in the cave in 1707. Many Buddha statues that add to the cave's mysterious atmosphere may be seen as you get closer to the entrance. As you continue, the beautiful paintings and embossed pictures that adorn the cave's walls will wow you.
A remarkable and distinctive semicircular cave, Xuyen Thuy Cave spans roughly 350 meters from east to west along the Bich Dong massif. The cave is 6 meters wide on average, and 15 meters wide at its widest point. By taking the Hydrodynamic River entry at the back of the mountain, which is on the other side of the road leading to the pagoda, visitors can access the cave and Bich Dong Pagoda.
During the two significant New Year celebrations, Vietnamese New Year (Lunar January) and Western New Year (at the end of December), locals and tourists from all over the world frequently visit Bich Dong pagoda. Bich Dong celebrates certain occasions with a variety of activities and festivities.
When the Western new year is celebrated at the end of December, Bich Dong is exquisitely decorated, particularly in the evening when visitors will be astounded at the amazing nighttime celebration with innumerable illuminated flower garlands and coloured lanterns being launched over the lake.
In addition, the Vietnamese New Year, a private celebration for the Vietnamese people, occurs in February. Locals frequently flock to the Bich Dong pagoda during the Vietnamese New Year to offer prayers for themselves and their families.
Visiting the Bich Dong pagoda at this time is probably a good idea. You have a wonderful opportunity to fully experience the joyful and profound ambiance of the Vietnamese New Year thanks to this.
The best time to visit Tam Coc and Bich Dong is between the end of May and the beginning of June, when the rice season is at its peak.
There is golden sunlight at this moment. Pictures of scarlet, scented lotus ponds and green and yellow rice fields are weaved together to form a lovely rural scene.
Bich Dong Pagoda is more mystifying than ever on foggy days when the surroundings can be seen through the hazy environment. The gorgeous scenery at Bich Dong pagoda is made even more picturesque by the tranquil river tucked away in the mountains.
• It is advised to prepare all necessary goods in advance for a hassle-free excursion because there aren't many stores around the pagoda.
• It is important to dress appropriately and respectfully when visiting the temple. The dress code is simply wearing modest clothing.
• Due to the Bich Dong Pagoda's elevation, plan on doing a good bit of walking, so you might want to wear some comfortable shoes.
• On the Lunar New Year and some other special days, the pagoda is very crowded. So you shouldn’t bring with you many valuables to avoid dropping them.
In the midst of Ngu Nhac Mountain's magnificent peaks and tranquil caverns, Bich Dong Pagoda is a captivating haven of balance. Any person who enjoys visiting pagodas in early springs should not miss it because of the wonderful fusion of spiritual atmosphere and natural grandeur it creates. It is understandable why going to this ethereal retreat is consistently ranked as one of the most thrilling things in Ninh Binh.
