Watching the treasure car taking Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc to the place of self-immolation

THÍCH QUẢNG ĐỨC - Ảnh 2. — The Austin A95 Westminster car carrying Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc in 1963 - Photo: NHAT LINH

In the first days of May of the 2025 United Nations Vesak Day, Buddhists turned to the event of inviting and enshrining the heart relic of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc in Ho Chi Minh City, while in Hue , many people went to Thien Mu Pagoda to learn about the special event related to this Bodhisattva.

The car took Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc to the place where he burned himself.

Thien Mu Pagoda - an ancient temple over 400 years old - is one of the symbols of Hue, nestled beside the poetic Huong River.

In addition to the two national treasures on display right in front of the temple gate, the Great Bell and the "Royal View of Thien Mu Temple" stone stele, behind the main hall of the temple is also a treasure related to the 1963 persecution.

It was the blue car of Austin (UK) that carried Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc to the place where he burned himself in the heart of Saigon in 1963.

The old, pale blue Austin A95 Westminster sits inside a tiled-roof house.

Outside the garage are hung information and photos related to the life of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc and his self-immolation to protest the policy of Buddhist repression in 1963.

Accordingly, on June 11, 1963, Venerable Thich Quang Duc sat in this car from An Quang Pagoda to the intersection of Phan Dinh Phung - Le Van Duyet, Saigon.

Ngắm chiếc xe bảo vật đưa Bồ tát Thích Quảng Đức đến điểm vị pháp thiêu thân - Ảnh 3. — The photo captures the moment Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc burned himself to death, behind him is an Austin car with its hood up, shocking the world - Photo: Browne

As soon as he got out of the car, he meditated in the middle of the road, doused himself in gasoline, and set himself on fire to protest the discriminatory policy against Buddhism at that time. The image of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc meditating in the blazing fire, with an Austin car with its hood up behind him, shocked the world.

After his death, Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc's body was cremated, but his heart remained intact and was considered the relic of the Bodhisattva who burned himself to death.

These days, the area where the car is parked at Thien Mu Pagoda seems to welcome more groups of tourists than usual.

A group of tourists from France couldn't help but exclaim in admiration when the tour guide told the story of Thich Quang Duc in front of the blue Austin car.

THÍCH QUẢNG ĐỨC - Ảnh 4. — The place where the car carrying Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc is displayed at Thien Mu Pagoda - Photo: NHAT LINH

Mr. Phan Van Thanh - a tourist visiting Thien Mu Pagoda - said that through information on the internet about the immortal heart of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc, he accidentally learned more about the car that took him to the place where he burned himself, which is located at Thien Mu Pagoda, so he came here to learn more.

"I didn't expect this car to be in Hue with such an interesting historical story. This car is truly a treasure in life," Mr. Thanh said emotionally.

Who is the owner of the car?

According to Buddhist historian Tran Dinh Son, the owner of the car carrying Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc was a monk named Tran Quang Thuan (from Quang Tri ). Mr. Thuan was a disciple of Venerable Thich Don Hau - abbot of Thien Mu Pagoda.

This is also the temple where Mr. Thuan practiced during his lifetime with the dharma name Thich Tri Khong.

Later, Mr. Thuan studied abroad in England and returned to secular life, then returned to Saigon to work in the early 1960s. The blue Austin car was ordered by Mr. Thuan from England to Vietnam at the same time.

In 1963, after learning about the wish of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc to self-immolate to protest against the Ngo government, Mr. Thuan brought this car to take the Bodhisattva to the Phan Dinh Phung - Le Van Duyet intersection to self-immolate.

THÍCH QUẢNG ĐỨC - Ảnh 6. — A group of tourists were amazed and showed respect after listening to the tour guide tell the story of the self-immolation of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc - Photo: NHAT LINH

The car was later kept by Saigon government police as evidence of the self-immolation for a long time.

After the Ngo government was overthrown, Mr. Thuan took back the car and donated it to Thien Mu Pagoda - where his master, Venerable Thich Don Hau, was the abbot. The car was moved from Saigon to Hue around 1965 and has remained at the pagoda ever since.

According to a monk at Thien Mu Pagoda, this blue Austin car is currently considered a treasure by the pagoda and is strictly preserved as a testament to the steadfast will to fight against the 1963 persecution.