Solemn opening of the United Nations Vesak 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City

Also attending were: Politburo member, Head of the Central Propaganda and Education Commission Nguyen Trong Nghia; Politburo member, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen; leaders and former leaders of the Party, State, Vietnam Fatherland Front; central departments, ministries and branches; leaders of Ho Chi Minh City and provinces and cities...

On the international side, there were the participation of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake; representatives of Governments of various countries; international organizations; Embassies and Consulates General of various countries in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City; delegates from 85 countries and territories...

President Luong Cuong speaks at the ceremony.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, President Luong Cuong said that Vietnam is a country with a long-standing Buddhist tradition, deeply associated with the history of national construction and defense.

Over the past 2000 years, Buddhism has become an inseparable part of the cultural and spiritual life of the Vietnamese people. Through many ups and downs of history, Vietnamese Buddhism has always upheld the spirit of "protecting the country and bringing peace to the people", and the Dharma has always accompanied the nation. Values such as patriotism, tolerance, and goodwill of Buddhism have permeated the Vietnamese soul and contributed to fostering the cultural identity of the Vietnamese nation.

Today, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha is continuing that tradition, actively participating in the work of building and defending the Fatherland. Tens of thousands of monks, nuns, and Buddhists across the country not only practice, but also take the lead in many activities that benefit the country and the people, through charity work, social security, hunger eradication and poverty reduction, disaster relief, environmental protection, community health care, etc. Thereby, making an important contribution to the implementation of the millennium goals and sustainable development of Vietnam.

“The Party and State of Vietnam always appreciate 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 President emphasized.

The President believes that, as the host country, Vietnam will successfully organize the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak. At the same time, through Buddhist wisdom, we will build a more peaceful, humane and sustainably developed world in the future.

“I suggest that we need to put compassion into policy, bring wisdom into development orientation, and promote the spirit of selflessness and altruism, which means doing everything not for oneself but always thinking of the interests of the masses,” the President said.

Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon read the opening speech of the 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival.

Earlier, in his welcoming speech, President of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Chairman of the National Organizing Committee for the 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival, Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon said that the Vesak Festival is a major international religious event, of great significance to Buddhists and people sympathetic to Buddhism around the world, including the Buddhist Sangha, the country and people of Vietnam.

The 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak is very meaningful as it is held on the occasion of Vietnam celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South, National Reunification and towards the 80th anniversary of National Day.

With the theme "Solidarity and Tolerance for Human Dignity: Buddhist Wisdom for World Peace and Sustainable Development", the ceremony demonstrates the United Nations' strong determination to carry out activities that bring broad social awareness, for a world of peace, friendship, cooperation and development; promoting the spirit of tolerance, harmony, humanity and compassion that the Buddha has transmitted, to build together a world of "peace and happiness". This is a solid foundation to reach stability in society, to find peace in nature and the living environment.

Venerable Thich Thien Nhon added that currently, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha is a member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; representing monks, nuns, and Buddhists nationwide, and has performed well its role in guiding followers to practice, live a "good life, good religion", contribute to the development of the country and expand international cooperation.

“The fact that the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha will host the United Nations Vesak Festival in 2025 shows that Vietnamese Buddhism is not only attached to the nation, but is also actively contributing to international Buddhist activities,” said Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon.

The President of Sri Lanka was one of the delegates who shared a live message at the Vesak 2025 celebration.

At the opening ceremony, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayaka shared a message, expressing Sri Lanka's appreciation for this great celebration.

President Anura Kumara Disanayaka said that in traditionally Buddhist countries like Sri Lanka, one of the first countries to adopt Buddhism outside of India, where Buddhism originated, the day is celebrated to honor the three most important events in the life of the Buddha: his birth, enlightenment and passing away.

For the past two and a half millennia, this day has always been considered the most important and sacred day in the Buddhist calendar of countries.

“I understand that this year, the United Nations Day of Vesak is being held in Vietnam for the fourth time, hosted by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. As a representative of one of the world’s leading Theravada Buddhist countries, I am truly happy to join Buddhists around the world, especially Vietnamese Buddhists, in attending this important and meaningful religious event,” said the President of Sri Lanka.

Delegates listened to messages from many countries and organizations around the world about the festival.

Along with the President of Sri Lanka, many international delegates from countries such as India, Cambodia, the Republic of Buryatia, the United Kingdom, the United States, etc. and organizations such as UNESCO, the United Nations, etc. also respectfully sent messages to the ceremony at the opening ceremony.

Some pictures this morning: