National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan visited Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue at Hanoi’s Vien Minh pagoda on May 15 on the occasion of Lord Buddha’s 2,563rd birthday.

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (L) visits Supreme Patriarch
of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue on May 15

Wishing the 103-year-old dignitary as well as Buddhist monks, nuns and followers good health and contentment, the NA leader said in its nearly 2000 years of existence in Vietnam, Buddhism has become a popular religion.

She added that the recent 16th UN Day of Vesak festival hosted by the VBS in Ha Nam’s Tam Chuc pagoda was among the most successful editions of the event, attracting over 1,600 delegates from 112 countries and territories worldwide alongside thousands of Buddhist followers in Vietnam.

Ngan noted the success has contributed to promoting Vietnam’s friendly image, affirming the role and position of the Vietnamese Buddhism as well as the active engagement of the Vietnamese Buddhism and Government in realising the UN’s common goals for a world of peace, friendship and development. 

For his part, Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue lauded the Party and State’s attention towards the growth of Buddhism in Vietnam in recent years.

He said via the successful organisation of the UN Day of Vesak 2019, the spirit of the Vietnamese Buddhism has been spread worldwide.

He stated the VBS will continue standing side by side with Buddhist organisations across the globe to make contributions to the building of a peaceful world.