Bac Ninh Province
- Area: 807.6 sq. km.
- Population: 998,400 habitants (2005)
- Capital: Bac Ninh City
- Districts: Que Vo, Yen Phong, Tien Du, Tu Son, Thuan Thanh, Gia Binh, Luong Tai.
- Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Tay, Nung, Muong…
Bac Ninh is located in the Red River Delta region. Bac Ninh is 30km from Hanoi, 110km from Haiphong, 20km from Bac Giang, 45km from Noi Bai International Airport. The annual average temperature is 24ºC. Bac Ninh used to be an ancient town, a trade centre of Vietnam from 2sd to 10th century. Bac Ninh has tangible, intangible culture heritage and tradition handicraft villages. 
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Attractions |
But Thap Pagoda
Situated on the dike of the Duong River, Dinh To Commune, Thuan Thanh District, Bac Ninh Province.The pagoda was built in the 17th century, during the late Le Dynasty. Its founder was Chinese Buddhist Priest Zhus Zhus, who died in 1644. Queen Mother Trinh Thi Ngoc Truc requested that Lord Trinh Trang enlarge the pagoda in 1646.
The pagoda was built according to “Noi Cong Ngoai Quoc” architectural style, and includes 10 buildings spread over 100m, from the three-entrance gate to the bell-tower and back house. Two towers, 10m high Ton Duc and 13m high Bao Nghiem, are made of white rock, making the pagoda seem higher, more majestic and peaceful. Some remains of the 17th century are kept here such as statues, valuable donations, Nine-Story Lotus Tower, Tuyet Son Statue, Bao Nghiem Tower, and Statue of Kwan Yin with 1,000 arms and 1,000 eyes. The last renovations of the structure were carried out in 1992.
Dau Pagoda
Situated in Dau Village, Thanh Khuong Commune, Thuan Thanh District, Bac Ninh Province.
Built in the 3rd century, Dau Pagoda is the oldest pagoda in Vietnam. In the beginning, the pagoda was a Buddhist center well known throughout the country and abroad. At the end of the 4th century, Ch’an Master Vinitaruci gave lectures and the first Vietnamese Buddhist doctrine was produced there. In the pagoda’s yard, there is a three – storey tower called Hoa Phong. In the tower, there is a large bell produced in 1793, a big bronze gong produced during the 18th year of the reign of Minh Mang (1817) and statues of Phap Van, Kim Dong, and Ngoc Nu, followers of the Goddess of Mercy according to Buddhist legends.
Dai Bai Bronze village
Dai Bai village is situated by Bai river’s bank in Gia Luong district, Bac Ninh province. Its pseudonym is Buoi village. Dai Bai is famous for long aged handicraft village. This point itself creates distinctiveness for this village. Fist of all, Dai Bai is the well known village of forging brass. According to nomination and majestic, genealogy of the village, the founder of this vocation is Nguyen Cong Truyen (989 – 1069).
Dinh Bang Communal House
Situated in Dinh Bang Village, Tu Son District, Bac Ninh Province, 15km from Hanoi.
Dinh Bang together with Dong Khang and Diem Communal Houses were the most beautiful ones in Vietnam. Dinh Bang Communal House was built in the early 18th century and construction was completed in 1736.
The pavilion floor was made of hard timber, and its pillars are as big as two men’s hand embraces. Each carving at Dinh Bang Communal House is like a masterpiece and is reputed for its uniqueness, which impresses any visitor. The carving is eight horses happily playing on a meadow; awaiting lion couple, each in its own posture: dragons in festivals; five dragons fighting for a gem; etc. The topic for these carving comes from traditional legends, and the images are of the four sacred animals (dragon, lion, tortoise and phoenix), or four valuable plants (pine, apricot, chrysanthemum, and little bamboo).
Three genies are worshipped at Dinh Bang Communal House, including Earth, Water and Cultivation.
Memorial statues of six family patron saints, who made great contributions to re-building it after a big fire took place in the 15th century, include the Nguyen, Tran, Le, Ngo, Do and Dang erected at the back of the palace.
Do Temple
Located in Dinh Bang Village, Tu Son District, Bac Ninh Province, 15km from Hanoi. Do Temple worship the eight Kings of Ly Dynasty and is famous for its unique architecture. Do Temple was built during the Le Dynasty and has been altered several times since. The major reconstruction took place under the reign of Le Trung Hung, in the 17th century. In front of the Temple lies a semi-circular lake, with clear and full water all the year round. The lake is connected with two ponds at both ends of the village, with the Tieu Tuong River in front of the village. In the center of the lake stands a square house reserved for water puppetry performances with two beautiful tiered roofs. To the south of the lake, there is a huge pavilion to preserve stone slabs inscribed with the merits of the eight kings of Ly Dynasty, and to the north of the lake, a 5-compartment floating house for visitors to take a rest. The Temple’s gate includes five doors made of hard wooden plates assembled together and carved on top images of dragons waiting upon the moon. When the door opens, its two leaves are wide apart, and the two dragons on top of the doors seem to be soaring. On day, the dragons’ eyes when catching the light shine like gemstones. Along the three-step staircase, are carved two stone dragons with clouds around, on a green stone floor, symbolizing the Thang Long (Soaring Dragon) Capital. Passing the gate and a large yard, a green stone paved road leads visitors to a square house, with eight tiered roofs and three compartments, 70m² in area. Then there is a 7-compartment front worship house, 220m² in area, whose front walls are hung with two big posters displaying capital letters: “Eight Kings together brightening” and “Co Phap Commune – a foundation of the Ly Dynasty”.
Dong Ky Wood village
Dong Ky Village is far from Hanoi 25km, famous for producing beautiful traditional furniture inlaid with mother-of-pearl. If you wish, you can have handicrafted furniture custom-made here and exported directly to your address abroad.
Dong Ho Painting village
Dong Ho, which lies beside the Duong River some 40km northeast of Hanoi, has long been famous for its rustic prints. Using etched wooden blocks, generations of artisans have produced these distinctive prints, once essential decorations during the Tet Lunar New Year festival. These traditional prints often feature common barnyard animals like roosters, buffaloes, goats, cats, and pigs. Come New Year, people would adorn their homes with cheerful prints that portrayed scenes and animals associated with good luck, family, fertility, happiness and prosperity.
Phu Lang Pottery village
Among the dozens of craft villages in the Song Cau area, the cradle of the Song Hong (Red River) civilization, Phu Lang is well known among many ceramic artisans. Since the Patron Saint of ceramics making, Luu Phong Tu, brought the craft from China to Phu Lang and taught his children and co-villagers to make ceramic articles, dozens of generations of craftsmen have settled in Phu Lang and earned their living by practicing this occupation.
In Phu Lang, visitors can see the ceramic kilns built one after another along the dykes or on the low hills near Luc Dau Giang, facing the Cau river which runs all the year round. For years, Phu Lang ceramic ware has been on sale together with those ceramic articles made in Bat Trang, Tho Ha, Huong Canh, Phan Thiet, Dong Nai and Mong Cai, other well-known ceramic making areas. However, the products of Phu Lang are the most appreciated by customers throughout the country due to their durability and unique style.
Situated on the dike of the Duong River, Dinh To Commune, Thuan Thanh District, Bac Ninh Province.The pagoda was built in the 17th century, during the late Le Dynasty. Its founder was Chinese Buddhist Priest Zhus Zhus, who died in 1644. Queen Mother Trinh Thi Ngoc Truc requested that Lord Trinh Trang enlarge the pagoda in 1646.The pagoda was built according to “Noi Cong Ngoai Quoc” architectural style, and includes 10 buildings spread over 100m, from the three-entrance gate to the bell-tower and back house. Two towers, 10m high Ton Duc and 13m high Bao Nghiem, are made of white rock, making the pagoda seem higher, more majestic and peaceful. Some remains of the 17th century are kept here such as statues, valuable donations, Nine-Story Lotus Tower, Tuyet Son Statue, Bao Nghiem Tower, and Statue of Kwan Yin with 1,000 arms and 1,000 eyes. The last renovations of the structure were carried out in 1992.
Dau Pagoda
Situated in Dau Village, Thanh Khuong Commune, Thuan Thanh District, Bac Ninh Province.Built in the 3rd century, Dau Pagoda is the oldest pagoda in Vietnam. In the beginning, the pagoda was a Buddhist center well known throughout the country and abroad. At the end of the 4th century, Ch’an Master Vinitaruci gave lectures and the first Vietnamese Buddhist doctrine was produced there. In the pagoda’s yard, there is a three – storey tower called Hoa Phong. In the tower, there is a large bell produced in 1793, a big bronze gong produced during the 18th year of the reign of Minh Mang (1817) and statues of Phap Van, Kim Dong, and Ngoc Nu, followers of the Goddess of Mercy according to Buddhist legends.
Dai Bai Bronze village
Dai Bai village is situated by Bai river’s bank in Gia Luong district, Bac Ninh province. Its pseudonym is Buoi village. Dai Bai is famous for long aged handicraft village. This point itself creates distinctiveness for this village. Fist of all, Dai Bai is the well known village of forging brass. According to nomination and majestic, genealogy of the village, the founder of this vocation is Nguyen Cong Truyen (989 – 1069).
Dinh Bang Communal House
Situated in Dinh Bang Village, Tu Son District, Bac Ninh Province, 15km from Hanoi.Dinh Bang together with Dong Khang and Diem Communal Houses were the most beautiful ones in Vietnam. Dinh Bang Communal House was built in the early 18th century and construction was completed in 1736.
The pavilion floor was made of hard timber, and its pillars are as big as two men’s hand embraces. Each carving at Dinh Bang Communal House is like a masterpiece and is reputed for its uniqueness, which impresses any visitor. The carving is eight horses happily playing on a meadow; awaiting lion couple, each in its own posture: dragons in festivals; five dragons fighting for a gem; etc. The topic for these carving comes from traditional legends, and the images are of the four sacred animals (dragon, lion, tortoise and phoenix), or four valuable plants (pine, apricot, chrysanthemum, and little bamboo).
Three genies are worshipped at Dinh Bang Communal House, including Earth, Water and Cultivation.
Memorial statues of six family patron saints, who made great contributions to re-building it after a big fire took place in the 15th century, include the Nguyen, Tran, Le, Ngo, Do and Dang erected at the back of the palace.
Do Temple
Located in Dinh Bang Village, Tu Son District, Bac Ninh Province, 15km from Hanoi. Do Temple worship the eight Kings of Ly Dynasty and is famous for its unique architecture. Do Temple was built during the Le Dynasty and has been altered several times since. The major reconstruction took place under the reign of Le Trung Hung, in the 17th century. In front of the Temple lies a semi-circular lake, with clear and full water all the year round. The lake is connected with two ponds at both ends of the village, with the Tieu Tuong River in front of the village. In the center of the lake stands a square house reserved for water puppetry performances with two beautiful tiered roofs. To the south of the lake, there is a huge pavilion to preserve stone slabs inscribed with the merits of the eight kings of Ly Dynasty, and to the north of the lake, a 5-compartment floating house for visitors to take a rest. The Temple’s gate includes five doors made of hard wooden plates assembled together and carved on top images of dragons waiting upon the moon. When the door opens, its two leaves are wide apart, and the two dragons on top of the doors seem to be soaring. On day, the dragons’ eyes when catching the light shine like gemstones. Along the three-step staircase, are carved two stone dragons with clouds around, on a green stone floor, symbolizing the Thang Long (Soaring Dragon) Capital. Passing the gate and a large yard, a green stone paved road leads visitors to a square house, with eight tiered roofs and three compartments, 70m² in area. Then there is a 7-compartment front worship house, 220m² in area, whose front walls are hung with two big posters displaying capital letters: “Eight Kings together brightening” and “Co Phap Commune – a foundation of the Ly Dynasty”.Dong Ky Wood village
Dong Ky Village is far from Hanoi 25km, famous for producing beautiful traditional furniture inlaid with mother-of-pearl. If you wish, you can have handicrafted furniture custom-made here and exported directly to your address abroad.
Dong Ho Painting village
Dong Ho, which lies beside the Duong River some 40km northeast of Hanoi, has long been famous for its rustic prints. Using etched wooden blocks, generations of artisans have produced these distinctive prints, once essential decorations during the Tet Lunar New Year festival. These traditional prints often feature common barnyard animals like roosters, buffaloes, goats, cats, and pigs. Come New Year, people would adorn their homes with cheerful prints that portrayed scenes and animals associated with good luck, family, fertility, happiness and prosperity.Phu Lang Pottery village
Among the dozens of craft villages in the Song Cau area, the cradle of the Song Hong (Red River) civilization, Phu Lang is well known among many ceramic artisans. Since the Patron Saint of ceramics making, Luu Phong Tu, brought the craft from China to Phu Lang and taught his children and co-villagers to make ceramic articles, dozens of generations of craftsmen have settled in Phu Lang and earned their living by practicing this occupation.In Phu Lang, visitors can see the ceramic kilns built one after another along the dykes or on the low hills near Luc Dau Giang, facing the Cau river which runs all the year round. For years, Phu Lang ceramic ware has been on sale together with those ceramic articles made in Bat Trang, Tho Ha, Huong Canh, Phan Thiet, Dong Nai and Mong Cai, other well-known ceramic making areas. However, the products of Phu Lang are the most appreciated by customers throughout the country due to their durability and unique style.
