From Vesak to EXPO: Vietnam's cultural imprint on the journey of integration

Vesak 2025 is a forum for global cultural and religious dialogue and exchange in Vietnam. EXPO 2025 is a space for creative connection and international exchange, where Vietnam stands out through technology and identity. Two spaces, one time, with the same message and foreign vision: Spreading the image of a peaceful, humane Vietnamese culture and proactively integrating through culture.

Two events - one foreign cultural vision

Hosting the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025 and participating in the World Expo 2025 are vivid manifestations of a profound, humane, proactive and courageous integration mindset. Through these events, Vietnam has clearly demonstrated its foreign policy vision based on culture, contributing to affirming the country's position in the international arena.

Lantern festival praying for world peace at Vesak 2025.

In the first week of May, while in Ho Chi Minh City, thousands of international delegations and Buddhist scholars were listening to the message of compassion, wisdom and peace at the United Nations Vesak Day, in Osaka (Japan), tens of thousands of international visitors stopped at the Vietnam Exhibition House within the framework of EXPO 2025, to interact with the digital cultural space, exploring national identity through modern technology.

Taking place over 3 days, from May 6 to 8, the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak held in Ho Chi Minh City attracted nearly 3,000 delegates, including about 1,300 international guests from more than 85 countries and territories.

With the theme “Solidarity and Tolerance for Human Dignity: Buddhist Wisdom for World Peace and Sustainable Development”, this year’s Vesak is not only a religious activity but also an international exchange forum contributing to promoting dialogue between cultures in the context of the world in need of a spirit of reconciliation, tolerance and compassion.

Held for the first time in the country's largest economic center, Vesak 2025 shows that Vietnam is a destination for peace, religion and human civilization exchange.

This is also a vivid demonstration of Vietnam's efforts in making culture and beliefs an effective foundation for connecting with friends around the world, and a bridge to spread the message of peace, compassion and wisdom of Buddhism to the whole world.

Vietnam attends the EXPO 2025 Osaka World Exhibition in Japan.

At almost the same time, in Osaka city (Japan), the Vietnam Exhibition House operated by the Department of International Cooperation (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) within the framework of EXPO 2025 recorded nearly 25,000 visitors during Japan's Golden Week (April 30 to May 6).

Not only welcoming guests at home, Vietnam also brings culture to the world through a prominent presence at EXPO 2025 - a major global event in the field of exhibition, innovation and cultural exchange.

Lasting for 6 months, from October 13 to 13, EXPO 2025 brings together more than 150 countries and international organizations with the theme "Designing the future society for our lives". In that common space, Vietnam has chosen a unique and creative approach with the theme "Inclusive society with people at the center".

Vietnam Exhibition House has brought a rich cultural and technological ecosystem including virtual reality, interactive models, digital projection of Ao Dai, conical hats, water puppets, Central Highlands gongs, etc.

This is a fresh approach to telling the integration story of a nation with a strong identity, full of aspirations, proactive integration and responsible contributions.

Not only stopping at displaying heritage but also creating new, attractive and in-depth experiences, making culture an effective channel of cooperation in the fields of culture, education, tourism, technology and environment.

With the goals of welcoming 6 million visitors, organizing at least 6 investment and trade promotion events; 6 tourism promotion events; 20 educational and interactive art activities; 400 art performances... Vietnam Exhibition House at EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai will contribute to promoting the national image, thereby enhancing the country's position, enhancing international understanding and cooperation with Vietnam, attracting investment and tourism.

Foreign culture : Spread, integrate and develop

From Vesak to EXPO, it is clear that Vietnam has a consistent vision in implementing its foreign cultural policy: People-centered, culture-based and cooperation-driven. The two events of Vesak and EXPO, which took place almost simultaneously in May, have become vivid evidence of Vietnam's proactive, comprehensive and deeply integrated cultural foreign policy thinking.

International conference within the framework of Vesak 2025.

Not simply “bringing culture to the world” or “inviting the world to Vietnamese culture”, the activities within the framework of Vesak 2025 and EXPO 2025 demonstrate Vietnam’s organizational, connecting and creative capacity, while also demonstrating its ability to shape discourse, proactively choose messages and ways to express cultural identity in a diverse international space.

Vesak 2025 helps the world perceive a tolerant, humane and friendly Vietnam. EXPO 2025 introduces a modern, creative and potential-rich Vietnam.

Domestically, Vietnam plays the role of host, welcoming the world with hospitality, meticulous preparation and a spirit of religious harmony. Abroad, Vietnam confidently brings its identity to the international arena, affirming its capacity for integration and initiative.

Promoting Vietnamese cultural values ​​at EXPO 2025.

Although taking place in two different geographical spaces, they converge to reflect Vietnam's profound foreign policy thinking and comprehensive integration vision: Affirming the country's position through culture, while promoting Vietnamese values, spreading the message of peace, promoting cooperation and sustainable development.

With careful preparation and a modern approach, the two events demonstrated the ability to organize, participate in and shape major international events with cultural resources.

The World Expo is one of the three largest global events in the world, along with the World Cup and the Olympic Summer Games.

From domestically with Vesak, to internationally through EXPO, the image of a unique, creative Vietnam ready to accompany the common interests of humanity is increasingly strengthened and spread.

Culture has become an effective bridge, helping the world understand Vietnam better and helping Vietnam connect, cooperate and develop together with international friends.

Looking at the two events of Vesak 2025 and EXPO 2025, we can clearly see the strong imprint of Vietnam's foreign cultural strategy in the new era - humane, proactive, courageous and full of aspirations, thereby strongly affirming a Vietnam rich in identity, proactively integrating and ready to contribute to a world of peace and sustainable development.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/tu-vesak-den-expo-dau-an-van-hoa-doi-ngoai-viet-nam-tren-hanh-trinh-hoi-nhap-post878167.html