Vietnam Buddhist Sangha presents gifts to disadvantaged people (Photo: qdvn,vn)

Introduced to Vietnam more than 2,000 years ago, Buddhism encompasses the moral, cultural, and religious life of a majority of Vietnamese people. This religion has a strong influence on social life and deepens Vietnamese cultural values and morality, and contributes to people’s happiness and independence.

Vietnamese Buddhism has always been a religion that patriotically supports national construction and defense. In every period, Buddhist dignitaries and followers have stood side by side with the nation. After national reunification, Buddhist followers took the lead in merging Buddhist sects into one organization, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

During the last term, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha made great efforts to realize its set goals and plans. Monks and nuns mobilized Buddhist followers to participate in economic, cultural and social development and themselves participated in social work, mobilizing resources for healthcare, social welfare, charity and other humanitarian activities. These efforts have been applauded by the public.

During the COVID-19 epidemic, thousands of monks, nuns and Buddhist followers worked as volunteers on the front lines ad donated money for medical supplies, gifts, and free meals.

In recent years, Vietnamese Buddhism's foreign activities have been expanded and diversified. Vietnamese Buddhist dignitaries and followers have participated in international organizations and overseas Vietnamese Buddhist associations and have  contributed to people-to-people diplomacy, religious diplomacy, promoting human rights, and defending Vietnam's religious freedom.

During its 8th tenure, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha organized the United Nations Day of Vesak in 2019, which drew praise from around the world.

The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s achievements during the last tenure demonstrated that  Vietnamese Buddhism is a practical religion that integrates with everyday life and supports national development.

Addressing the 9th National Buddhist Congress, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc praised Vietnamese Buddhism’s contribution to national development.

"Vietnamese Buddhism has continued Vietnamese tradition and has steadily grown in all aspects, taking the lead in patriotic emulation movements and religious solidarity, and affirming the inseparable relationship between the dharma and the nation. It has always been a reliable member organization of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, making many major contributions to building the great national unity bloc and developing the nation," said President Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Buddhist monks and nuns study Buddhism (Photo: qdvn.vn)

Supporting Vietnam on the path to prosperity

Upholding national patriotism and national development, Vietnamese Buddhist dignitaries and followers will continue to promote the spirit of solidarity and harmony, said Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien, who is Vice President and Secretary General of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

"Buddhist monks, nuns, and followers at all levels of the Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha uphold solidarity and harmony to build a strong Buddhist Sangha during international integration. They are determined to stay steadfastly on the path of serving Buddhist ideals, national dharma, and socialism, promote patriotism and national unity, participate in movements of patriotic emulation for the benefit of the people, Buddhism, and life, and join hands with other Vietnamese people," said Mr. Thien.

Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien says Vietnamese Buddhism will preserve and promote Buddhist culture and traditions and contribute to building a rich and advanced Vietnamese culture embracing national identity.

The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha will continue to promote international relations in collaboration with cultural diplomacy, people-to-people diplomacy, and religious organizations around the world.  

The Vietnamese Buddhist tradition of patriotism and safeguarding the nation has been upheld in every historical period.