The Vesak celebration is scheduled to take place from May 23 to 25, with a broader series of activities continuing through June 1.

The event is jointly organized by the Central Cultural Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha chapter in Lam Dong Province.

It is expected to become one of the largest cultural and spiritual gatherings in Vietnam’s Central Highlands in 2026.

Organizers have designed the celebration as an “experiential journey” featuring 15 major activities that combine solemn Buddhist rituals with cultural, artistic and social welfare experiences for the public.

The event is expected to attract tens of thousands of monks, nuns, Buddhists, tourists and local residents.

Vesak 2026 activities will be spread across five symbolic spaces, integrating the natural scenery of the Central Highlands with familiar destinations in Da Lat.

The layout is intended to help visitors move conveniently between activities while taking advantage of Da Lat’s cool late-May climate for outdoor programs.

On May 24, the main Vesak celebration will include morning meditation sessions among pine forests, Buddha procession ceremonies and the traditional Moc Duc purification ritual.

At a pine forest venue in Da Lat, organizers will also display 30 canvas artworks titled “The Path to Enlightenment,” depicting the Buddha’s journey from birth to enlightenment.

One of the cultural highlights of Vesak 2026 is a Buddhist calligraphy exhibition themed “Buddhist Scriptures - Teachings of the Patriarchs,” organized under the direction of the Central Cultural Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

Held inside a 200-square-meter enclosed exhibition space, the display will introduce more than 100 Quốc Ngữ calligraphy works featuring Buddhist scriptures and teachings from revered masters.

The exhibition will include works inspired by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, Most Venerable Gioi Duc and more than 30 prominent contemporary Vietnamese calligraphers.

Among the most anticipated activities is the “writing down what you wish to let go of” ritual beside Xuan Huong Lake.

Participants will write on special biodegradable paper made from eco-friendly materials, expressing burdens they wish to release - such as worries, emotional wounds or simply a desire for peace of mind - before placing the papers onto the lake.

The paper dissolves completely in water without causing pollution.

A total of 2,570 sheets will be distributed during the three-day event, symbolizing the Buddhist calendar year 2570 corresponding to 2026.

Organizers said the activity represents a fresh approach that preserves the traditional spiritual meaning of letting go while also promoting environmental awareness.

Three major nighttime visual events are also planned for Vesak 2026.

These include the “Lighting of Seven Lotus Flowers” ceremony featuring seven giant lotus structures measuring between two and 2.5 meters high on the evening of May 23, a musical celebration for Vesak 2026 on May 24, and two illuminated flower vehicle parades involving around 50 vehicles on the evenings of May 30 and 31.

Social welfare activities will also form a major part of the festival.

Programs include scholarship grants for disadvantaged students, the handover of charity houses to underprivileged families and a “zero-dong market” aimed at sharing support with those in need.

Practicing the art of letting go

Vesak is a time for Buddhists to turn toward the Buddha with deep reverence and gratitude for the teachings he left to humanity.

Each Buddhist honors the Enlightened One in their own way during this sacred occasion.

For many, the most meaningful expression of gratitude is to follow the Buddha’s virtuous example and reflect inwardly in an effort to transform suffering within themselves.

Among the most respected virtues embodied by the Buddha is the practice of letting go.

It was through this noble act of renunciation that he attained supreme enlightenment and illuminated a path toward peace and happiness for humanity.

Lien Tri/Giac Ngo Online