Admire 87 versions of Vietnamese Buddhist national treasures at Vesak 2025

Statue of Thousand Hands and Eyes Avalokitesvara at Bao An Pagoda - Photo: HO LAM

The exhibition aims to introduce an overview of Vietnamese Buddhist culture in terms of language, robes, architecture, and heritage, thereby demonstrating the richness and diversity of Vietnamese Buddhist culture.

On this occasion, the organizers hope to bring domestic and international visitors an in-depth look at the richness, longevity and lasting value of Vietnamese Buddhism, not only in the religious field but also throughout the process of forming national cultural identity.

The Pure Land Sutra Collection consists of 25 volumes, compiling more than 120 works of sutras, treatises, commentaries, and copies, as well as academic works by famous practitioners and scholars around the world , along with a specialized Pure Land Dictionary - Photo: HO LAM

Buddhism is the breath of culture

From the first steps into the exhibition area, visitors feel like they are entering a living museum, where 87 versions of national treasures are arranged elaborately, solemnly and aesthetically. Each statue, calligraphy work, and treasure has a story, an echo of a thousand years of Buddhist history, deeply imprinted in the hearts of the Vietnamese people.

Accompanying the typical Buddhist values that have been recognized by the State as National Treasures is a system of images, documents and excerpts introducing their values that are being preserved in museums, monasteries and major relics across the country.

The values of Buddhist treasures are not only sculptures, statues, and reliefs, but also include: worship artifacts, religious instruments, and ancient scriptures bearing the strong imprint of Vietnamese Buddhist culture from the Ly, Tran, Le, and Nguyen dynasties.

Each treasure is associated with a historical period, deeply reflecting the harmony between art, beliefs and Buddhist philosophy.

The exhibition space also displays historical maps of Buddha and the process of creating statues according to national traditions, a space for tea meditation, gold-plated paintings, Vietnamese temple paintings , scriptures, woodblocks, dharma instruments, musical instruments...

According to Venerable T. Dhammaratana, permanent vice president of the International Committee for the United Nations Day of Vesak (ICDV), the exhibition spaces all share the same spirit of preserving tradition, harmonizing diversity and spreading wisdom:

"This year's exhibition is a vivid testament to the spirit of Vietnamese Buddhism, a humane, open, inclusive and creative culture.

From the ground to the sky, from rituals to interactive technology, from calligraphy to painting, everything seems to blend together, conveying a message: Buddhism is the breath of culture, the light that guides peace , the foundation of sustainable development."