Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh extended congratulations to Buddhists nationwide while attending the Vesak Day, or the 2,568th Lord Buddha’s birthday anniversary, at Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi on Wednesday. 

At the pagoda, the headquarters of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), PM Chinh met and congratulated leaders of VBS and joined the celebrations along with Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns, and followers. 

The Vesak Day, or Lord Buddha's birthday, is held on the full-moon day of the fourth lunar month of every year, which falls on May 22 this year.

The government leader was accompanied by Pham Tat Thang, member of the Party Central Committee, standing deputy head of the Central Mass Mobilization Committee, Hoang Cong Thuy, deputy chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and other officials.  

Among the VBS leaders were Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, deputy patriarch of the VBS Patronage Council and chairman of the VBS Executive Council, and Most Venerable Thich Thanh Dung, deputy patriarch and general secretary of the VBS Patronage Council, among others. 

At the ceremony, PM Chinh extended the greetings of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns, and followers nationwide on the 2024 Vesak Day.

“Vietnam is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic country, with 54 ethnic groups and many religions living together in communities,” Chinh cited General Secretary Trong as saying. 

“Vietnam’s 2013 Constitution stipulates that everyone has the right to freedom of belief and religion, and has the right to follow any religion or to follow no religion."

The PM also repeated the Party chief's words: “There is no religious or ethnic conflict in Vietnam, where everyone lives together in harmony for the goal of peace, cooperation, and development.”

On behalf of the Party and state leaders and with his personal feelings, the PM respectfully sent his best regards to all leaders of the VBS, monks and nuns and Buddhists at home and abroad, and wished the Buddha’s birthday to progress successfully.

Highlighting that Buddhism was established to promote human well-being and foster happiness and peace for humanity, PM Chinh affirmed the Party and state's unwavering commitment to upholding the principle of freedom of belief and religion for all citizens.

He asked the VBS to promote great national unity under the leadership of the Party, and bring into play the spirit of religious solidarity, solidarity among people, and domestic and international solidarity.

The VBS should work to instill patriotism and a love for humanity among Buddhists and throughout society, while also encouraging a lifestyle that embraces being both good citizens and good Buddhists, the government chief said.

On behalf of the VBS, Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon thanked the leaders of the Party and state for their congratulations on Lord Buddha's birthday.

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