The 2026 Buddha's Birthday celebration in Da Lat will feature calligraphy by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh - Photo: Lang Mai.
According to information from the Central Culture Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Association, the Vesak (Buddha's Birthday) celebration, Buddhist calendar 2570 - Gregorian calendar 2026, will take place in Xuan Huong ward, Da Lat from May 23 to 25, with a series of extended activities until June 1.
The grand ceremony was organized by the Central Culture Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Association in coordination with the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Association of Lam Dong province.
Write about letting go at the Buddha's Birthday celebration.
The 2026 Vesak celebration will span five iconic spaces in Da Lat, combining the highland natural landscape with landmarks familiar to locals and tourists.
This layout allows attendees to easily move between activities and take advantage of Da Lat's cool climate in late May for outdoor programs.
In the pine forest of Da Lat, the organizers are displaying 30 canvas paintings titled "The Path to Enlightenment," recreating the journey of the Buddha from his birth to his enlightenment.
Lam Vien Square was transformed into a vegetarian food and community cultural area, open free of charge throughout the three days of the grand celebration.
The shores of Xuan Huong Lake are where the ritual of "Writing Down What You're Letting Go" takes place, using biodegradable paper that dissolves completely in water.
The Thuy Ta area – a waterfront stage in the heart of the city – will be used for the main ceremonies and evening art performances. The central streets will host two parades of decorated floats with dozens of LED-lit vehicles on the evenings of May 30th and 31st.
There will be an exhibition of paintings depicting the path to enlightenment and the life of the Buddha at the Buddha's Birthday celebration.
Buddhist scriptures - the teachings of the Patriarchs and calligraphy of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh
Among the cultural highlights of Vesak 2026 is the Buddhist calligraphy exhibition with the theme "Buddhist Scriptures - Teachings of the Patriarchs".
The exhibition, set in a spacious enclosed area of 200m² right at the fountain in Lam Vien Square, showcases over 100 works of Vietnamese calligraphy depicting Buddhist scriptures and the teachings of the Patriarchs. It is open from 8:00 AM to 9:30 PM daily from May 23rd to 25th.
In particular, the program features works by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, Venerable Gioi Duc, and more than 30 prominent figures in contemporary Vietnamese calligraphy. Additionally, there are selected works from the Vietnamese Calligraphy Selection Program held to celebrate the grand occasion.
In the " Writing to Let Go " program by Xuan Huong Lake, participants will write down things they want to let go of on paper and then release it into the lake. The paper dissolves completely in the water, causing no pollution. A total of 2,570 sheets of paper will be distributed over the three days of the event, a number corresponding to the Buddhist calendar year 2570.
On the evening of May 23rd, the "Lighting Ceremony of Seven Lotus Flowers" will feature seven giant lotus flowers, each 2-2.5 meters tall, being simultaneously illuminated in Lam Vien Square, accompanied by a choral performance.
On the evening of May 24th, a music program celebrating the 2026 Buddha's Birthday was held at the Thuy Ta water stage, featuring artists such as singer Ho Quynh Huong, and Meritorious Artists Hong Lien, Khanh Hoa, Nguyen Quang Hung, and others.
On the evenings of May 30th and 31st, two parades of decorated floats, each featuring approximately 50 vehicles adorned with LED lights, will travel through the central streets, bringing the festive atmosphere closer to the people throughout the city.
The organizers have issued a few notes for attendees:
Most activities are free and do not require registration. Some activities have limited capacity (morning meditation, calligraphy seminars, drawing and calligraphy competitions) and require prior registration through the official website.
People are advised to travel by public transport or walk between the experience points, many of which are relatively close together around the city center.
In addition to the main ceremonies, the organizers implemented a series of social welfare, community cultural, and green tourism activities to bring the event closer to the people and tourists.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dai-le-phat-dan-den-da-lat-20260519074352032.htm
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