If visitors visiting Bai Dinh pagoda during the day are overwhelmed by the massive architecture, when they see the pagoda at night, they are conquered by a magnificent beauty and secularity.
95km southwest of Hanoi capital, Bai Dinh pagoda is located on a sacred strip between rivers and mountains in Gia Vien district, Ninh Binh province.
Bai Dinh is a temple with massive, monumental architecture but bold traditional cultural identity, becoming a famous spiritual tourist destination in the North.
Bai Dinh at night is engulfed in silence and peace. When the sun sets, the whole space here is lit up brightly, making the Buddhist complex holding many Vietnamese records appear with majestic, sparkling and magical beauty.
After dinner, visitors go to Tam The Temple, located on a hill 76m above sea level. The main hall stands three Buddha statues representing past, present and future with a height of 7.2m and weighing 50 tonnes.
Finally, we come to the tallest Bao Thien Tower in Vietnam. The highest floor of the tower is the place to keep the sarira (relics) of Shakyamuni Buddha, which was brought from India in 2008. From here, visitors will be able to admire the whole population of Bai Dinh pagoda at night in the light.
Leaving the tower, visitors will go to Wind ChimePavilion to enjoy tea, listen to zen singing, exchange and share about life to relax and enjoy a sense of peace.
Ms Tran Thanh Diep, a Buddhist in Hanoi, said she has come to Bai Dinh for many times, but this is the first time she has stayed here for one night and visited the pagoda in the evening.
"It seems that the architectural space of the pagoda mingled with the immense, calm nature that makes everyone feel their mind calms down, escape from greed and ignorance, living towards truth-goodness-beauty," she said.
Mr Ha Van Sieu, vice chairman of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said: “In a quiet space, we can take advantage of the light, Buddhist philosophy, lecture on the history of Buddhism and Bai Dinh pagoda to bring a new experience to visitors."
