Vietnam: Bai Dinh Temple Complex
Bai Dinh Temple Complex about 3 hours drive south from the capital is the largest temple complex in Vietnam (and the largest in the entire Southeast Asia), occupying over 700 acres in the Ba Rau hills, near the Hoàng Long River. This is a very large complex, you have to move around either by a lot of walking or by special shuttle buses. The complex includes two large temples – the Old Bai Dinh and the New Bai Dinh, plus several bell towers and small pagodas, plus a super massive Bai Ding Pagoda (the latter in the next post). The largest bell tower contains a 36-ton bronze bell. The temples have huge golden buddhas and animalistic statues of cranes and turtles, Vietnamese Buddhist symbols. The temple complex is a popular pilgrimage site for Buddhists and a tourist destination due to its historical and cultural significance, as well as its beautiful natural surroundings in the heart of the limestone karsts of the region. The annual Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival draws thousands of visitors and pilgrims, showcasing traditional performances and religious ceremonies.
