Three 600-year-old ancient temples on the cliff

Bich Dong Pagoda complex is located deep in a limestone valley in Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district.

Built in 1428, it was originally just a small temple on top of a high mountain and namedWhite jade bronze painting -A beautiful and pure white stone temple in a remote mountain valley.

The pagoda was expanded in 1705 by two monks named Tri Kien and Tri The, from Nam Dinh, under the reign of King Le Du Tong. When they arrived at Bich Dong, the two devout monks saw that the terrain was beautiful and there was already a pagoda, so they decided to stop and donate money to renovate the old pagoda as a place to practice.

The pagoda is separated from the asphalt road through Ninh Hai commune by a large lake surrounding the foot of the mountain. To get inside, visitors must cross a small ancient stone bridge without railings.

According to Buddhist nun Thich Dam Tho, abbot of Bich Dong Pagoda, the pagoda complex was built in the shape of the letter Tam with three separate pagodas located in different locations around Thai Vien Mountain.

In the picture is Ha Pagoda located at the foot of the mountain, designed with 5 compartments with the main materials being ironwood and limestone. The stone pillars in Ha Pagoda are all monolithic, 3-4 m high.

The temple roof is curved like a knife blade, with yin and yang tiles. Around the Lower Temple are many ancient trees hundreds of years old, providing shade all year round, making the building look more ancient and mossy.

From Ha Pagoda, go about 100 more stone steps along the S-shaped path halfway up the mountain to reach Trung Pagoda.

This is a unique pagoda in the ancient capital of Hoa Lu because only part of the roof and door are exposed, the remaining architecture is hidden deep in a mountain cave.

On the roof of Trung Pagoda there are ten Chinese characters painted in yellow, the content is:The Great Hero of the Temple of the Southern Heavenly Ancestor- meaning that all the patriarchs in the South departed from Bich Dong pagoda.

There are two roofs above the temple.Bich Dongin Chinese,Legend has it that it was carved by order of Lord Trinh Sam. Historical records kept at Bich Dong Pagoda say that in the year of Giap Ngo 1774, Lord Trinh Sam visited and saw the panoramic view of mountains, rivers, and green fields, so he named the pagoda Bich Dong.

Most of the items in Trung Pagoda are hidden in mountain caves.

The 300-year-old bell at Bich Dong Pagoda.

In 1707, two monks Tri Kien and Tri The cast a large bell, which is still hanging in the Dark Cave behind Trung Pagoda. On the bell is engraved a line of Chinese characters, roughly translated: "Once climbed that mountain/With good fortune and fate/Opened the mountain, chiseled the stone/The pure energy circulated".

After admiring Trung Pagoda, visitors will pass through a large cave, about 50 meters long, with many beautifully shaped stalactites on the ceiling.

From Dark Cave, go up about 40 more stone steps along the mountainside to reach Thuong Pagoda, also known as Dong Pagoda.

The oldest pagoda in Bich Dong, located at the highest position, near the top of the mountain. From the pagoda, looking out into the distance, there are five mountains standing independently facing Bich Dong, looking like five lotus petals, commonly known as Ngu Nhac Son.

Inside the Upper Pagoda, Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara is worshiped. Next to the pagoda, there are two small temples, the one on the right worships the local god, the one on the left worships the mountain god.

Around Bich Dong Pagoda there are dozens of ancient tombs which are the burial places of abbots and monks who practiced here for nearly 600 years.

Every day, thousands of tourists from all over the world flock to Bich Dong to worship and visit the place known asThe Second Cave of the South -The second most beautiful cave in the South after Huong Tich cave.

Bich Dong Pagoda was ranked as a special national monument in 2012, and two years later was recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site along with Tam Coc - Trang An.