Bich Dong Pagoda - The temple is known as "the second most beautiful cave in Viet Nam

Update: 15/11/2023

Bich Dong Pagoda is one of the famous landscapes of Ninh Binh province, this place is known as "Nam Thien De Nhi Dong" (meaning the second most beautiful cave in Viet Nam). Bich Dong Pagoda is one of the sacred places that tourists always look for every time they have the opportunity to visit Ninh Binh.

Bich Dong Pagoda is located in Dam Khe village, Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province. This is a cultural and historical relic that has been ranked as a special national monument and is located in the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

Originally constructed in 1428 during the reign of Emperor Ly Thai To, Bich Dong Pagoda used to be a small pagoda nestled in Ngu Nhac Mountain.

In 1705, two Buddhist monks named Tri Kien and Tri The discovered this pagoda and re-constructed it into three levels: Lower Pagoda (Ha Pagoda), Middle Pagoda (Trung Pagoda), and Upper Pagoda (Thuong Pagoda).

In 1774, Lord Trinh Sam of Dang Ngoai (Outer Land) visited the pagoda and was impressed by the breathtaking panoramic view of nature there. The pagoda caught his attention, and he named it Bich Dong (Green Pearl Cave) Pagoda.

Bich Dong Pagoda, located on a mountain, consists of three levels: Ha Pagoda, Trung Pagoda, and Thuong Pagoda. Each of the three pagodas has a roof with four upwardly curved corners, resembling the feathers of a phoenix’s tail.

Just a few steps beyond Trung Pagoda lies Dark Cave, which can be reached by climbing about 21 steps. The cave features a large bronze bell cast by the two monks, Tri Kien and Tri The, in 1707. As you approach the entrance of the cave, you will see numerous Buddha statues that add to the cave's mystical ambiance. Moving forward, you will be amazed by the stun
ning paintings with embossed images that decorate the cave's walls.