Bich Dong in Ninh Binh - The Second Most Beautiful Cave in the South

Bich Dong is a limestone cave located on Thung Nham mountain, known as “Nam Thien De Nhi Dong” (The second most beautiful cave in the South). This place is famous not only for the beauty of the cave’s morphology but also for a very rare combination of the spiritual architectural complex located inside the cave.

Introducing Bich Dong Vietnam

Bich Dong is located on the Truong Yen limestone mountain range in Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province. This is a tourist area belonging to the Trang An World Cultural and Natural Heritage Complex, about 12 km southeast of Ninh Binh city center.

Ticket price to visit Tam Coc Bich Dong Currently, new regulations apply from November 1, 2023, specifically as follows:

• Adults (From 1.3m): 250,000 VND/person.
• Elderly: 120,000 VND/person.
• Children from 1m – 1.3m: 120,000 VND/person.
• Children under 1m: Free of charge

Ticket price includes:

• Tickets to visit Bich Dong Pagoda.
• Boat ticket (the boat can carry a maximum of 4 people).

How to travel to Bich Dong in Ninh Binh most conveniently?

You can easily visit Bich Dong from Hanoi, Ha Long, Cat Ba, Sapa or anywhere in Vietnam by means of transportation such as motorbike, car, bus, train depending on your preferences and needs. and specific address.

Explore more:

• How to travel Tam Coc – Bich Dong from Hanoi
• How to travel from Hanoi to Trang An, Ninh Binh

In addition, to save costs and be able to fully enjoy your Bich Dong trip without having to worry, you can also choose full-day Bich Dong tours or multi-destination tours. including Bich Dong such as:

1 day tour

• Tam Coc – Bich Dong Tour: This is the most popular tour for tourists who want to explore Bich Dong. This tour usually includes activities such as: visiting Tam Coc caves by boat, climbing mountains and visiting Bich Dong pagoda.
• Hoa Lu – Tam Coc – Bich Dong Tour: This tour combines visiting Bich Dong with other historical sites in Ninh Binh such as Hoa Lu ancient capital and Tam Coc tourist area.
• Trang An – Bich Dong Tour: This tour is for tourists who want to explore the world heritage site of Trang An and Bich Dong Pagoda.
• Tour Hoa Lu – Tam Coc – Mua Cave: combining 3 tourist areas in one combo helps you have a diverse travel experience, however because the time is only 1 day, you may not be able to stop and visit for too long at 1 spot.

2 days 1 night tour

• Ninh Binh tour 2 days and 1 night: This tour includes activities to visit famous tourist destinations in Ninh Binh such as: Tam Coc, Bich Dong, Trang An, Hang Mua,…
• Hoa Lu – Tam Coc – Bich Dong Tour 2 days and 1 night: This tour combines visiting Bich Dong with other historical sites in Ninh Binh such as Hoa Lu ancient capital and Tam Coc tourist area.
• Trang An – Bich Dong – Dancing Cave Tour 2 days and 1 night: This tour is for tourists who want to explore the most famous tourist destinations in Ninh Binh such as: Trang An, Bich Dong and Hang Mua.

3 days 2 nights tour

• Ninh Binh tour 3 days and 2 nights: This tour includes activities to visit famous tourist destinations in Ninh Binh such as: Tam Coc, Bich Dong, Trang An, Hang Mua, Hoa Lu ancient capital,… Tourists will have more time to explore Explore and experience the culture and history of Ninh Binh.
• Hoa Lu – Tam Coc – Bich Dong – Dancing Cave – Trang An tour 3 days 2 nights: This tour combines visiting Bich Dong with the most famous historical sites and scenic spots in Ninh Binh. Visitors will have a complete and meaningful tour.
• Ninh Binh – Hanoi Tour 3 days 2 nights: This tour combines visiting Bich Dong with the capital Hanoi. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore both of these famous tourist destinations in one trip.

4 days 3 nights tour

• Ninh Binh – Sapa Tour 4 days 3 nights: This tour combines visiting Bich Dong with the beautiful town of Sapa. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the majestic beauty of the Northwest mountains and forests and experience the unique culture of ethnic minorities.
• Ninh Binh – Ha Long tour 4 days 3 nights: This tour combines visiting Bich Dong with Ha Long Bay – a World Natural Heritage. Visitors will have the opportunity to see majestic limestone islands and mysterious caves in HaLong Bay.

5 days 4 nights tour

• Ninh Binh – Moc Chau tour 5 days 4 nights: This tour combines visiting Bich Dong with the romantic Moc Chau plateau. Visitors will have the opportunity to see lush green tea hills, rustic villages and enjoy local specialties.
• Ninh Binh – Hanoi – Sapa – HaLong tour 5 days 4 nights: This tour combines visiting Bich Dong with Hanoi capital, Sapa town and Ha Long Bay. Visitors will have a complete and meaningful tour, exploring the most famous tourist destinations in Vietnam.

Why should you choose to visit Bich Dong?

Bich Dong also known as Green Cave is a cultural and historical relic belonging to Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex that has been ranked as a special national monument and recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. Bich Dong Pagoda is a Buddhist architectural complex built based on the mountain position, taking advantage of Bich Dong’s limestone caves to create worship spaces.

Pagodawas built during the Le Dynasty and has undergone many restorations and repairs such as:

First stage (1428):

• The pagoda was built on the top of the mountain, initially it was just a small, simple temple.
• The person who was instrumental in building the pagoda during this period was Zen master Thanh Kha.

Second phase (1705):

• Two monks Tri Kien and Tri The came here to practice and decided to restore and expand the pagoda.
• Two monks donated their merits to build Ha Pagoda and Trung Pagoda, forming the Bich Dong Pagoda complex as it is today.

Third phase (1740):

• Under King Le Hien Tong, the pagoda was expanded and renamed Bach Ngoc Thach Son Dong.

Fourth period (1774):

• Lord Trinh Sam visited the pagoda and changed its name to Bich Dong pagoda as it is today.
• The name change reflects Lord Trinh Sam’s impression of the pagoda’s beauty, especially the green color of the surrounding trees.

Afterward,Bich Dong Pagoda continued to be restored and repaired many times through feudal dynasties and gradually became an important spiritual destination for local people and tourists from all over.

Architecture of Bich Dong Pagoda

Bich Dong Pagoda Built in a “three-level” style, including 3 main temples: Lower Palace, Middle Palace and Upper Palace, arranged in a triangle along the mountainside.

Ha Dien Pagoda:

• Located in the lowest position, built of stone bricks and curved tile roofs.
• Consists of 5 rooms, worshiping Shakyamuni Buddha.
• In front of the temple door are two majestic statues of Dharma Protectors.

Trung Dien Pagoda:

• Located in a central location, built in the heart of a cave.
• Consists of 3 rooms, worshiping Tam The Buddha.
• This place is famous for the statue of Avalokiteshvara made of jade green gemstone, about 1 meter high, sitting on a stone lotus.

Thuong Dien Pagoda:

• Located at the highest position, built inside the cave.
• Consists of 1 room, worshiping Maitreya Buddha.
• In front of the temple door is a statue of Guan Yin Buddha standing on a stone lotus flower

In addition to the three main pagodas, Bich Dong also has other caves such as:

• Buddha Gate Cave: Where there is a stone statue of Da Bao Buddha.
• Dark Cave: Where there is a stone statue of Amitabha Buddha.
• Cloud Cave: Where there is a stone statue of Guan Yin Buddha.

The architecture of Bich Dong Pagoda is a masterpieceHarmonious combination of Buddhist architecture and natural landscape with structures made from Natural materials such as stone, wood,… are usedExquisite sculpture, bearing the mark of Vietnamese Buddhist culture.

Which season is best to travel to Bich Dong?

The atmosphere inside Bich Dong is usually stable all year round, so when choosing a time to visit Bich Dong, visitors will usually decide based on the changing scenery of the entire surrounding tourist area.

1. Spring (from February to April):

• Weather: The climate is cool, pleasant, with little rain.
• View: Trees sprout and flowers bloom, creating a beautiful natural scene.
• Work: Visitors can visit Bich Dong Pagoda, climb mountains, row boats,…

Summer (from May to July):

• Weather: Hot, lots of rain.
• View: Golden ripe rice sprouts in the rice fields surrounding Bich Dong Pagoda.
• Work: Visitors can participate in the ripe rice festival, kayaking,…

Fall (from August to October):

• Weather: The climate is cool, pleasant, with little rain.
• View: The leaves turn yellow and red, creating a romantic scene.
• Work: Visitors can visit Bich Dong Pagoda, climb mountains, take photos,…

Winter (from November to January):

• Weather: Dry, cold.
• View: The trees have bare leaves, creating a peaceful scene.
• Work: Visitors can visit Bich Dong Pagoda, pray, release lanterns,…

In general, you should travel to Bich Dong in the spring or fall to enjoy the cool, pleasant climate and the most beautiful natural landscapes, but if you want a quiet and comfortable space, If you are more comfortable, you can choose to visit in the summer or winter because these are the low seasons for tourists.In addition, you should also note a few things when traveling to Bich Dong:

• Bring weather-appropriate clothing.
• Prepare sunscreen, hats, caps, etc. if going in the summer.
• Bring comfortable shoes for climbing.
• Keep the environment clean.

Wishing you a happy and meaningful trip to Bich Dong!