Vietnam Day 4 — Ninh Binh: Exploring the Hidden Gems of Northern Vietnam
On the fourth day, we went on a tour to Ninh Binh, a beautiful spot in northern Vietnam. Our tour included visiting Bai Dinh Pagoda, taking a boat trip via the Trang An route to see Lam Cave, Vang Cave, and Dai Cave, and hiking at Mua Cave (a hill top). Plus, we enjoyed a buffet lunch. Among all the places we visited in Vietnam, Bai Dinh Pagoda was definitely one of the best.
Trip
Today, our trip bus picked us near where we were staying, just like yesterday. The guide was a bit rude (He got mad at us for being a couple of minutes late at one stop), but he knew a lot about the places we went to. He kept talking about Vietnam’s economy and how giving a tip can be useful. However the entire bus journey was scenic.
Bai Dinh Pagoda
Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh Province is one of the most reputable religious destinations in Vietnam. Located close to Trang An Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is undeniably a must-see for culture lovers.
It consists of several temples and over 500 intricately carved Arhat statues, and mainly some giant Buddha statues as well. There are two main pagodas of the same name, the old one is located on the slopes of Dinh Mountain which we did not get to visit. The New Bai Dinh Pagoda (extended part) is about 800 meters away, seen in most photos, covers a total area of 7 million square meters.
Bai Dinh Pagoda is renowned as one of the biggest temples in Southeast Asia. It is the holder of many national and regional records. The pagoda holds nine records, including:
- The largest gilded bronze Buddha in Asia
- The largest bronze Maitreya Buddha statue in Southeast Asia (we did not visit this one, as it was up in the mountains and there was limited time)
- The largest bronze bell in Vietnam
- The tallest stupa in Asia
- The largest pagoda complex in Vietnam
- The longest Arhat corridor in Asia
- The largest number of Arhat statues in Vietnam : An Arhat has fully developed the seven factors of awakening, which are mindfulness, investigation of phenomena, energy, joy, tranquility, concentration, and equanimity. The difference between an Arhat and a Buddha is that the Buddha attains enlightenment by himself, whereas the Arhat does it by following the teachings of another.
- The largest Pearl Well in Vietnam (we didn’t get to see this too)
- The largest number of Bodhi trees in Vietnam
Buffet Lunch
We were hungry and the guide took us to this buffet place. So many options were there, although the quality of food was average.
Trang An boat trip
The Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in northern Vietnam is a beautiful place with tall rocky mountains, caves, and pretty rivers. It’s like a land version of Halong Bay, known for its stunning views.
You can take a relaxing boat ride through the caves and visit ancient temples. It’s a great spot if you enjoy exploring ancient landscapes!
Mua Cave
We finally made it to the last stop. After climbing 500 steps made of stone to the top of Ngoa Long Mountain, we saw an amazing view. We could see Ngo Dong River and the fields below. As we climbed, we passed some places of worship.
Halfway up, we had to choose which way to go. The left path led to a statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, while the right path led to a small pagoda. We went right and reached the first viewpoint. From there, we could see all the way down to Ngo Dong River. We kept going up and reached the second viewpoint. Locals call this spot the “dragon mountain” because there’s a cool dragon statue there.
And finally we came back to Hanoi city. I loved the experience.
We went to an Indian restaurant because I was really craving Indian food. We ordered rice, roti, alu matar, chicken pakoda, dal, and more. The food was tasty and there was plenty of it, so we packed up what we couldn’t finish. Afterwards, we stopped at a street stall for a bowl of Che Thai, filled with fruits.
Feeling full, we took a short walk around Hoan Kiem lake before heading back to our Airbnb. I snapped a quick picture of the Turtle Temple in the middle of the lake.
As per legend, Le Loi (king of Le dynasty) was boating through the still waters when the enormous golden turtle emerged to reclaim the sword. Le Loi returned the sword to the turtle, then renamed the lake “Ho Hoan Kiem” or “Ho Guom”, which means “lake of the returned sword”. Due to this legend, the Hoan Kiem Lake turtle is revered here.
We came back to the Airbnb and packed up for the flight next day to Danang, located in Central Vietnam.