Situated at the grandiose Ngu Nhac Son mountain of Ninh Binh province, there is Bich Dong pagoda – one of Vietnam’s most historic pagodas.
The pagoda is divided to three levels: Ha (lower pagoda), Trung (middle pagoda), Thuong (upper pagoda). In 1773, Nguyen Nghiem (the father of the great writer Nguyen Du) visited this cave and gave it a beautiful name of “Bich Dong”, literally means “Green Pearl Grotto”, as he was deeply impressed by the magnificent landscape.
Standing on the mountain peak, there is a statue of a Mandarin scholar looking at the horizon with the hope of observing the whole spectacular landscape of Hoa Lu.
From the Ha pagoda up to 120 steps is the impressive Trung pagoda with a half of it was carved into mountain including three compartments. Up to more 40 steps is the Thuong pagoda located on the highest point nearby the top of The Bich Dong mountain. From here you can have the wonderful perspective view of the Bich Dong pagoda in Ninh Binh of Vietnam.
Bich Dong means “Green Grotto” or “Pearl Grotto”, which reveals its magnificient natural beauties. Colors, shapes, and sounds of the shining stalactites converges in such a captivating miracle that no one could refuse to touch, knock and contemplate them in deed. Honorably, amongst the most fascinating caves in Vietnam, “Fairy Grotto”, part of Bich Dong, is regarded as an “Elysium on Earth”.
Just a short ride from Tam Coc and Thung Nang, Bich Dong is worth stopping by its rich past as well as an otherworldly atmosphere inside the pagodas.
The zone is featured with a tropical climate, with 2 seasons. The cold and rainy season lasts from May to October, and the dry and hot season from November to April. Its annual average temperature is 23.5oC. As situated at the base side of the Red River Delta Triangle, it is a half-mountain half-plain area, with a coastline of 18 kilometers.