In 1773, Mr. Nguyen Nghiem (the father of the great writer Nguyen Du) visited this cave. After viewing the whole scenery of the mountains, waterways, fields, and sky covered in green mist.
He gave the cave a very beautiful and romantic name, Bich Dong (which literally means “green pearl grotto”). Bich means ‘green pearl’ and Dong means ‘grotto’ has been said that the second most beautiful cave in Vietnam.
Bich Dong pagoda is on the short drive to the south of Tam Coc, it was built on the Truong Yen limestone mountains range, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province. Bich Dong pagoda includes three palaces on three levels: lower, middle and upper pagoda. The lower pagoda has five compartments built on the ground under the knife of mountain.
From the low pagoda up to 120 steps is the impressive middle pagoda with a half of it was carved into mountain including three compartments. Up to 40 steps is the high 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.