Minh Chau Lecture Hall, the venue for the Opening Ceremony of the UN Day of Vesak 2025. (Photo: Vinh Phong)

With the theme "Solidarity and tolerance for human dignity: Buddhist wisdom for world peace and sustainable development," this year's event marks the fourth time Vietnam has hosted the Vesak celebration and the first time it is being held in Ho Chi Minh City.

2,700 delegates have registered to attend the event, including nearly 1,300 international delegates from 85 countries and territories, who are heads of state, leaders of international Buddhist organizations, renowned scholars, and researchers.

Most Venerable Thich Gia Quang, Vice Chairman of the Executive Council and Head of the Central Information and Communications Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, said: “The UN Day of Vesak is an initiative by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha to implement Vietnam’s people-to-people diplomacy. It enhances understanding, exchanges, and close friendly cooperation between the Vietnamese people and international friends. It also affirms Vietnam's role and responsibility toward the United Nations and the global community. The Ho Chi Minh City Vesak Declaration will be Vietnam's contribution to fulfilling the United Nations’ Millennium Goals for peace and sustainable development.”