Ho Chi Minh City Declaration recognizes the practice of religious freedom in Vietnam

On the morning of May 8, the United Nations Day of Vesak closed at the hall of the Vietnam Buddhist Academy (Binh Chanh District, Ho Chi Minh City). The closing ceremony was attended by Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh , Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen, Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh and Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religions Dao Ngoc Dung.

The delegates adopted the Ho Chi Minh City Declaration to act together. This Declaration is the commitment of the Vesak delegates to human dignity, ethics, social justice and sustainable peace.

The spirit of commitment and engagement of Vietnamese Buddhism

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Most Venerable Phra Brahmapundit, Chairman of the International Committee for the United Nations Day of Vesak (ICDV), expressed his deep gratitude for the presence of delegates to make the 2025 Vesak Festival a success. He also affirmed that the 20th Vesak Festival in 2025 was a great success in Ho Chi Minh City.

"This year's ceremony also marks a significant milestone for the host country Vietnam, as you celebrate the 50th anniversary of national reunification and the 80th anniversary of National Day. We express our deep gratitude to the Vietnamese Government , the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and especially the organizing committee for successfully organizing this event," said Venerable Phra Brahmapundit.

Most Venerable Prof. Dr. Phra Brahmapundit, President of the International Committee for the United Nations Day of Vesak (ICDV) (Photo: Organizing Committee).

Venerable Phra Brahmapundit considers Vietnam a dynamic center of engaged Buddhism. The "engaged" nature of Vietnamese Buddhism is vividly expressed through the image of the lotus flower.

"The Buddha once said 'the lotus grows from the mud but is not contaminated by the mud'. The Buddha lived in the world but was not entangled in worldly dust. Likewise, Buddhists do not turn their backs on social life. Like a lotus, we actively engage, share suffering, pain and spread spirit and wisdom in every specific action," the Chairman of ICDV shared.

Most Venerable Phra Brahmapundit called on the public to bring the spirit of Vesak 2025 into life, realizing the principles set forth in the Ho Chi Minh City Declaration. He hoped that the United Nations Vesak 2025 would forever be a mark of new hope and common determination of the Buddhist community.

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh attended the closing ceremony of Vesak 2025 (Photo: Organizing Committee).

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh affirmed that the successful hosting of the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak demonstrates the increasingly enhanced role of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in the international Buddhist community.

"In religious life, Vietnam always affirms a consistent policy of respecting and protecting people's freedom of belief and religion; ensuring equality and non-discrimination on the basis of belief and religion," Mr. Nguyen Hoa Binh affirmed.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the great success of this year's Vesak Festival also affirms the Vietnamese people's cultural tradition of peace, compassion, kindness, and love of peace, affirms the Party's correct policy of freedom of belief and religion, and its effective implementation in practice.

Recognizing the practice of religious freedom in Vietnam

At the closing ceremony, Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien, General Secretary of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, and Most Venerable Dhammaratana, Vice President of ICDV, represented all delegates to read the Vietnamese and English versions of the Ho Chi Minh City Declaration.

"After discussing together in a spirit of compassion, wisdom and harmony at the conference sessions, we, the delegates, unanimously approved and promulgated the Ho Chi Minh City Declaration, presenting Buddhism's response to the world's urgent challenges, based on the principles of non-violence, tolerance and human dignity," Venerable Dhammaratana read.

Closing ceremony of the 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival (Photo: Organizing Committee).

In the preamble, the Ho Chi Minh City Declaration acknowledged the strong transformation of Vietnam, especially witnessing the great achievements in all aspects of life, economic, cultural and social development... in which Ho Chi Minh City stands out after 50 years of national reunification. Vietnam's international position has been increasingly enhanced and plays an important role in the region and the world.

"The 4th UN Vesak Celebration held in Vietnam allows us to see more clearly the rich, diverse, and free religious life in Vietnam. We clearly see the strong commitments and practical implementation of the Party and State of Vietnam in respecting and ensuring the freedom of belief and religion of all people," the opening of the Ho Chi Minh City Declaration stated.

The statement also affirmed the respect for the relics of Buddha Shakyamuni - the national treasure of India - and the heart relics of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc of Vietnam as sacred heritages of humanity for world peace, to be honored within the framework of the 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival in Ho Chi Minh City.

The full text of the Ho Chi Minh City Declaration is 6 pages long with 6 agreed points, including: (1) Solidarity and tolerance for human dignity; (2) Nurturing inner peace for world peace; (3) Forgiveness, healing through mindfulness and reconciliation; (4) Buddhist compassion in action: Shared responsibility for human development; (5): Mindfulness in education for a humane and sustainable future; (6) Promoting solidarity, cooperative efforts for global harmony.

In conclusion, the International Organizing Committee of the United Nations Day of Vesak announced its approval and support for the Buddhist Association of China to host the 21st United Nations Day of Vesak in China in 2026.

The statement was signed by Most Venerable Brahmapundit, Chairman of the International Committee for the Day of Vesak (ICDV), and Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

Dantri.com.vn

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/xa-hoi/tuyen-bo-tphcm-ghi-nhan-thuc-tien-tu-do-ton-giao-tai-viet-nam-20250508104754890.htm