Vietnam is ready to host the United Nations Vesak Festival 2025

(NLDO)- The 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival will take place from May 6 to 8 in Ho Chi Minh City, marking the fourth time Vietnam has hosted this event.

On the afternoon of March 24, the second conference of the Inter-sectoral Working Group to guide and assist the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in hosting the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak in Vietnam took place.

At the meeting, Mr. Duong Ngoc Hai, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, emphasized that relevant departments and branches need to strengthen close coordination to best prepare for the Vesak Festival. The goal is to organize a successful event, not only ensuring scale but also improving quality.

Vesak 2025 will last 3 days in Ho Chi Minh City, from May 6 to 8.

Mr. Duong Ngoc Hai, Permanent Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee; Photo: CHI NGUYEN

Many important activities took place at the grand ceremony such as: Buddhist cultural events and the enshrinement of Buddha's relics from India and the heart relics of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc at Thanh Tam Pagoda (Lang Le Cultural Park, Binh Chanh District).

In addition, Sala Theater in Thu Duc City and Sun World Ba Den Mountain Cultural Tourism Area in Tay Ninh Province will be the venues for international art exchange and sightseeing nights.

About 3,500 delegates are expected to attend the 2025 Vesak Festival, including 1,200 international delegates from 85 countries and territories.

Delegates include: United Nations officials, heads of state, scholars, Buddhist researchers, as well as Buddhist kings, patriarchs and leaders of major Buddhist organizations in the world.

Speaking at the meeting, Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien, Vice President and General Secretary of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, said that the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha will consider and accept opinions on reducing the number of domestic delegates attending the Vesak Festival.

With a large number of delegates and diverse activities within the framework of the event, in addition to ensuring the organization meets its purpose, ensuring security and safety for delegates and participants is also a top priority.

The main theme of the 2025 Vesak Celebration is “Solidarity and Tolerance for Human Dignity: Buddhist Insights for World Peace and Sustainable Development”, emphasizing the role of Buddhism in building a peaceful and prosperous world.

The entire budget for organizing Vesak 2025 will be mobilized by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha through socialization.

About 5,000 volunteers are expected to support the festival activities, including students, monks and nuns, and Buddhists. Volunteers will participate in logistics, guiding delegates, ensuring security, and organizing important events.

Major international Buddhist event

The United Nations Day of Vesak is an international cultural and religious event recognized by the United Nations since 2000, to honor three important events in the life of the Buddha: Birth, Enlightenment and Nirvana. The event is held in rotation in many countries, including Thailand, India, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

Previously, Vietnam successfully organized three Vesak celebrations in 2008 (Hanoi), 2014 (Ninh Binh) and 2019 (Ha Nam).

Continuing to host Vesak 2025 demonstrates Vietnam's active role in the world Buddhist community and is an opportunity to promote the image of the country and people of Vietnam in the international arena.

In 2025, the event takes place in a special context when Vietnam celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South, National Reunification and the 80th anniversary of National Day.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/viet-nam-san-sang-to-chuc-dai-le-vesak-lien-hop-quoc-2025-196250324203105149.htm