The Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee are urgently conducting inspections and multi-sector meetings to ensure the best preparations for the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025, scheduled to take place from May 6 to 8 in Ho Chi Minh City. Preparations are expected to be completed by April 15.

On the morning of March 25, Nguyen Van Nen, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, presided over a meeting at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Binh Chanh District to discuss coordination and support for the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in hosting the event.

The Secretary personally directed relevant agencies to resolve difficulties and obstacles encountered during the preparation process. He also visited and inspected key areas where the event will take place, including the main auditorium, seminar rooms, cultural and lantern exhibition areas, as well as logistics and sanitation zones.

Coordination and progress

On March 24, the second meeting of the Interdisciplinary Task Force to support the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in organizing the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025 was held at the headquarters of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.

Deputy Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Nguyen Hai Trung and Standing Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Duong Ngoc Hai co-chaired the meeting.

Deputy Minister Trung emphasized that the event is an opportunity for all parties, including government agencies and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, to thoroughly review the preparations to ensure that Vesak 2025 takes place as planned, with the highest level of safety and effectiveness.

As part of the organizational adjustments, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hai Trung has been appointed as the head of the Interdisciplinary Task Force, replacing Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang.

Thich Duc Thien, Vice President and General Secretary of the Organizing Committee of the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025, reported that various specialized committees have been established to expedite the construction of infrastructure, develop plans for welcoming and enshrining Buddha’s relics from India, and display the heart relic of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc.

Standing Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Duong Ngoc Hai pledged full support from the city government to ensure the success of the event.

On the same day, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hai Trung inspected key venues, including Minh Chau Auditorium (the main hall for the opening ceremony), Lang Le Park (cultural event site), and Thanh Tam Pagoda (the site for enshrining the Buddha's relics).

Thich Thanh Phong, Vice President of the Executive Council and Standing Vice President of the Organizing Committee, affirmed that preparations for Vesak 2025 are on schedule and expected to be completed by April 15, 2025.

On March 19, Vu Hoai Bac, Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, also met with leaders of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and the Organizing Committee to discuss organizational tasks at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City.

The United Nations Day of Vesak 2025 is expected to welcome 1,200 international delegates from 85 countries and territories, along with 2,300 domestic delegates.

Binh Minh