Bai Dinh pagoda holds the title of largest Buddhist complex in all of Vietnam — and one of the largest in Southeast Asia. If a visit is in your plans, we can assure you it has enough to keep you busy for a good while.
Across this complex of temples you’ll find close to 500 different Buddha statues and one of the tallest pagodas you’ll ever get to admire on your travels — no fewer than thirteen stories high.
As you can imagine, it’s one of the main attractions in Ninh Binh, for locals and travelers alike.
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The old Bai Dinh pagoda
The Bai Dinh complex actually holds two distinct areas: the new pagoda and the old pagoda, an original temple set in a cave at the foot of the mountain. The latter receives far fewer visitors — which makes it all the more special if you’re after a quieter experience.
You can reach the old pagoda from the new one via a staircase of about 300 steps — so if, after seeing the new complex, you still have legs left for the old one, it’s an easy add-on.
The Bai Dinh pagoda complex
The new pagoda was built in 2003, mostly with materials sourced from local craft villages across Ninh Binh province.
It’s one of those places that genuinely impresses — both for its sheer size and for the dedication poured into its pavilions, courtyards and statues.
Set aside a whole morning or afternoon, because this complex is enormous — even using the buggies that carry you to the entrance, you’ll end up walking several kilometers.
Visiting the new Bai Dinh pagoda, you’ll pass ceremonial halls, long covered galleries connecting the buildings, a multitude of large Buddha statues and open courtyards — all designed to convey the monumental scale of the place.
The best way to experience it is to wander the whole complex and let intuition guide your route.
During the Lunar New Year (usually around February), the temple hosts a festival that draws thousands of people every year.
How to visit Bai Dinh pagoda
Located about 18 km from Ninh Binh city and about 100 km from Hanoi, Bai Dinh pagoda is easy to reach as long as you have a vehicle — so you’ll need to rent a motorbike or arrange a private car.
Many of the tours covering Ninh Binh, both from Hanoi and from Tam Coc, include it on their route — here’s our favorite.
If you go on your own, once at the parking lot you can walk the roughly 2 km to the pagoda, or buy the ticket that includes the electric carts that drop you at the entrance.
Bai Dinh pagoda: opening hours and prices
- Bai Dinh pagoda opens daily from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.
- Entrance costs 60,000 VND (~US$2.30). A ticket including the round-trip electric cart (recommended unless you fancy the 2 km walk from the parking lot) costs 100,000 VND per person.
- At the entrance, plenty of guides will offer their services — the price is negotiable, normally 300,000–500,000 VND per tour.
- If you come by motorbike, parking costs 15,000 VND.
- A relaxed visit to the complex takes at least 3–4 hours.
- It pairs perfectly with Trang An on the same day.
✔️ Information reviewed and last updated on January 17, 2026
