A Senate delegation from the U.S. led by Patrick Leahy, vice chairman of appropriations committee senator, on Friday paid a visit to Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh in the central city of Hue.

U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink also joined the Senators in the visit.

“I was honored to meet with Master Thich Nhat Hanh today in Hue along with Senators Leahy, Murkowski, Stabenow, Whitehouse, Udall, Portman, Baldwin, Hirono, and Kaine, as well as their wonderful spouses,” the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi wrote on its Facebook page, quoting the ambassador.

“Master Thich Nhat Hanh continues to be a voice for tolerance and peace. His message of mindfulness and simplicity is a source of comfort and inspiration to us all.”

Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, who had traveled widely across the world, spreading the Buddha’s teachings on compassion and peace, has been staying in Hue since the start of his fifth return to Vietnam in October last year.

In a photo shared on the Facebook of the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, the monk is seen with healthy countenance, sitting on a wheelchair and surrounded by the American guests.

Visiting the influential Buddhist leader was part of the Vietnam trip that began on Thursday of the delegation led by Senator Leahy.

The delegation was scheduled to attend the launch ceremony of a dioxin detoxification project at Bien Hoa Airport in the southern province of Dong Nai on Saturday.

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