Ho Chi Minh City will hold a procession to bring the jade statue of the newborn Buddha to mark the beginning of Buddha's Birthday 2026.

Ho Chi Minh City is escorting the jade statue of the newborn Buddha from An Quang Pagoda to Vietnam National Pagoda, inaugurating the series of activities for the Great Buddha's Birthday Celebration, Buddhist Calendar 2570.

Báo Sài Gòn Giải phóng•25/05/2026

On the evening of May 24th (the 8th day of the 4th lunar month), the Vietnam Buddhist Association of Ho Chi Minh City held a ceremony to escort the statue of the newborn Buddha from An Quang Ancestral Temple to Vietnam National Pagoda - the headquarters and administrative, cultural, and spiritual center of the Vietnam Buddhist Association of Ho Chi Minh City.

Đại lễ Phật đản (18).jpg — A large number of people attended the ceremony. Photo: HAI NHI

In the solemn atmosphere of the Buddha's birthday celebration in the year 2570 of the Buddhist calendar, Ho Chi Minh City for the first time organized a procession of the jade Buddha statue depicting the newborn Buddha from An Quang Pagoda to Vietnam National Pagoda for monks, nuns, Buddhists, and citizens to venerate.

This also marks the first time this statue has been brought in for the Buddha procession celebrating the Great Buddha's Birthday in 2026.

Đại lễ Phật đản (14).jpg — Buddhist monks and followers participate in a procession carrying the statue of the newborn Buddha through the streets of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: HAI NHI

Buddha's Birthday Celebration (16).jpg — Buddhist monks and followers participate in a procession carrying the statue of the newborn Buddha through the streets of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: HAI NHI

The jade Buddha statue, 60 cm tall and weighing 32 kg, is crafted from a single block of rare Hetian jade originating from Kazakhstan. It belongs to the renowned Yangzhi white jade lineage, famous for its exceptional purity and near-flawlessness.

After being acquired by a Vietnamese person, the precious jade block was vowed to be crafted into a statue of the infant Buddha Shakyamuni.

The statue depicts the Buddha with one hand pointing to the sky and the other to the earth, his face innocent and pure, evoking the miraculous nature of a newly formed life.

Đại lễ Phật đản (17).jpg — For the first time, Ho Chi Minh City is bringing a jade statue of the newborn Buddha from An Quang Pagoda to Vietnam National Pagoda for veneration. Photo: HAI NHI

From 6:30 PM, Venerable Thich Le Trang, Vice Chairman of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Head of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Ho Chi Minh City, along with Venerable Thich Thanh Phong, Vice Chairman of the Executive Council, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Ho Chi Minh City, performed the ritual of offering incense to the Buddha and respectfully inviting the newborn Buddha to descend.

Đại lễ Phật đản (19).jpg — Venerable Thich Le Trang begins the Buddha bathing ceremony at Vietnam National Pagoda. Photo: HAI NHI

Next, the ritual of ringing the Bát Nhã bells and drums was conducted in a solemn and serene atmosphere. The ceremonial procession and flower palanquins from the specialized committees under the Executive Board, the Giác Ngộ Newspaper, and various Buddhist sects of Ho Chi Minh City participated in the procession; this year, 16 flower palanquins with various themes registered for the parade.

Đại lễ Phật đản (12).jpg — Scenes from the procession of the statue of the newborn Buddha from An Quang Ancestral Temple to Vietnam National Temple. Photo: HAI NHI

The procession started from the Ấn Quang Ancestral Temple, moving along the route through Sư Vạn Hạnh - Ngô Gia Tự - Lê Hồng Phong extended - 3 Tháng 2 streets, and then proceeded to the main gate of Việt Nam Quốc Tự.

At approximately 8 PM on the same day, the jade statue of the newborn Buddha was enshrined at the main altar of Vietnam National Pagoda.

Đại lễ Phật đản (10).jpg — People's Artist Kim Chi participated in the procession, joining Buddhist followers in respectfully carrying the statue of the newborn Buddha. Photo: HAI NHI

Here, venerable monks, nuns, and a large number of Buddhists performed the traditional Buddhist ritual of bathing the Buddha, officially opening the Buddha's Birthday week in Ho Chi Minh City.

Following the procession, the jade statue of the newborn Buddha was enshrined in the main hall of Vietnam National Pagoda for a week, until the full moon of the fourth month of the year of the Horse (Bính Ngọ), for Buddhist followers and people from all over to come and worship during the Buddha's birthday season.

Buddha's Birthday Celebration (5).jpg — Young women in traditional attire participate in the procession at the Buddha's Birthday celebration in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: HAI NHI

This year, along with the changes in administrative boundaries, for the first time, Ho Chi Minh City Buddhism organized a parade of flower floats for the Buddha's Birthday celebration at three main ceremonial sites at three different times.

Besides the main ceremonial platform at Vietnam National Pagoda, the flower float parade at the triangle area of Bai Truoc - Traditional House No. 1 Ba Cu (Vung Tau ward) will take place on the 12th day of the 4th lunar month; while the parade at Hoi An Pagoda (Binh Duong ward) will be held on the 13th day of the 4th lunar month.

Buddha's Birthday is the commemoration of the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, and is one of the most important festivals in Buddhism.

Đại lễ Phật đản (4).jpg — People captured the moment the Buddha procession passed by during the Buddha's Birthday celebration in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: HAI NHI

This is not only an occasion for monks, nuns, and Buddhists to commemorate the Buddha's birth, but also to spread the spirit of compassion, love, and understanding, guiding people to live more virtuous lives.

In Vietnam, the Buddha's Birthday celebration usually takes place from the 8th to the 15th of the 4th lunar month, with many rituals such as bathing the Buddha statue, flower float parades, lighting lanterns, and chanting prayers for national peace and prosperity.

Source: https://ttbc-hcm.gov.vn/tp-hcm-cung-ruoc-tuong-phat-ngoc-so-sanh-mo-dau-phat-dan-2026-1021405.html