President Luong Cuong and Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, join the opening ceremony of the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025. (Photo: Vinh Phong/VOV5)

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. The Tuesday opening ceremony was attended by 1,300 international delegates from 85 countries and territories, who are heads of state, leaders of international Buddhist organizations, scholars, and researchers.

Among them were President of Sri Lanka Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Indian Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Buryatia Zuraev Igor Ivanovich, and Chairman of the International Organizing Committee of the United Nations Day of Vesak Venerable Brahamapundit.

President Luong Cuong speaks at the opening ceremony of the United Nations Day of Vesak. (Photo: Vinh Phong/VOV5)

Addressing the opening ceremony, Vietnam’s President Luong Cuong said Vesak 2025 affirms the role and position of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in the world Buddhist community and the reality of religious freedom in Vietnam.

The celebration held in Ho Chi Minh City becomes even more profound, right after Vietnam solemnly celebrated the 50th anniversary of national reunification, the President said, calling it a vivid symbol of the aspiration for peace, harmony, and the journey of the Vietnamese people overcoming division, putting the past aside to move towards a united, harmonious, beautiful and prosperous future.

“Vietnam is a country with a long-standing Buddhist tradition, deeply attached to the history of national construction and defense. The Party and State of Vietnam value and create favorable conditions for religions, including Buddhism, to operate within the legal framework, consistently implementing the policy of respecting and protecting the freedom of belief and religion of all people and considering it an important foundation for building great national unity.”

“The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha hosting the United Nations Day of Vesak in 2025 shows that Vietnamese Buddhism is not only closely connected with the nation, but is also actively contributing to international Buddhist activities. The monks, nuns, and Buddhists of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha have been, are, and will continue to join hands with monks, nuns, and Buddhists around the world to serve the Dharma and humanity, for the common goal of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development,” President Cuong said.

The Organizing Committee has received congratulatory messages from international Buddhist leaders from India, China, Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, Buryatia, the United States, Cambodia, Laos, Hungary, among others. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay have sent video messages on Vesak 2025.

In addition to thematic seminars, the Vesak Celebrations will include Buddhist spiritual, cultural and artistic festivals involving domestic and foreign artists. The Ho Chi Minh City Declaration on Vesak 2025 is scheduled to be issued at the closing session on Thursday.