Bich Dong Pagoda

The strong standing structure of the three ascending ordered Pagodas is gated by an arched concrete bridge that stretches over the surrounding vistas of beautiful water lilies and continues its trail towards a magnificent temple entrance of an ancient stone built Vietnamese gateway. One can sight the shrines and the colossal deep green view surrounding it.

The three Pagodas of Bich Dong are named after their position on the mountain. The lower Pagoda is the foremost one named Ha Pagoda, representing a Buddha shrine along with other statues of the Buddhist community. Followed by a few stairs trek, is the middle (second) Pagoda named Trung Pagoda. And finally the upper most pagoda named Thuong Pagoda, nested on the top of the mountain with a stunning view of the Mountain valley complementarily featured along with it. All the rooftop of the three pagodas have a four upwardly curved corners as the tails of phoenix bird.

Ha Pagoda
The Ha Pagoda constructed at the base of the mountain, consists of a two storied structure with 5 rooms with 10 roofs. The truss, crossbeam and spars are made of ironwood along with 4 meter high monolithic stone pillar without any linkages. The altar of the Ha Pagoda showcases the statues of the past, present and future Buddha’s looming from the haze of burning incense around it creating a sacred atmosphere of divinity.

Trang Pagoda
After climbing about 120 S- shaped steps from the foot of Ha Pagoda, one can witness the gorgeously built middle Pagoda – the Trang Pagoda- set afoot half-way of the Ngu-Nhac Mountain. It’s an unusual pagoda with one half of it open at front and the other half inside the cave. The structure is made of a two-tier roof like the Ha Pagoda, with a three room upper temple and a courtyard which leans to the west.  

The unique feature of the Trang Pagoda lies in the traditional Vietnamese architecture with tiled roofs and walls containing Chinese characters describing the departure of all the ancestor of Buddha from this place to the Southern country for preaching Buddhism. The cave has a mysterious vibe about it. The other half of the Trang Pagoda inside the cave has images of fairies, little boys, flying dragons, turtles and Buddha. A huge bronze bell hangs in the cave with elaborate engravings hangs in the dark cave of the Trung Pagoda.

Thuong Pagoda
From the dark blue caves of the Trang Pagoda, followed by 40 steep stone steps to the Upper most pagoda- The Thuong Pagoda. The journey to the third pagoda is breathtakingly beautiful complemented by a view of impressive limestone ridges and a cool ambience. The Thuong Pagodas consists of two rooms in form a vertical house-style with a forecourt and a stone altar in the outer room and a shrine of Bodhisattva in the inner room. Beside the Thuong Pagoda is a water pool called “Cam Lo water pool” which is considered of curing ailments of all kind. Outside of the Thuong Pagoda offers a spectacular countryside view of the rich limestone mountains and river flowing through their base, making it a mystical feast for eyes.