Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh and Head of the Party Central Committee's Organisation Commission Pham Minh Chinh attended the opening ceremony.

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh beats the drum to open the festival.

Deputy PM Binh and Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s Executive Council, jointly beat the drum to open the festival, and joined the incense offering to pray for peace for the nation and happiness for the people.

The festival restores the story 1000 years ago on a pilgrimage route connecting the heritage sites of Golden Temple - Trang An - Hoa Lu Ancient Capital - Bai Dinh Pagoda - Van Long Pagoda (Ninh Binh) - Dong Tam Pagoda (Hoa Binh) - Tam Chuc Pagoda (Ha Nam) - Huong Son Pagoda - and Thang Long Citadel (Hanoi).

The Tam Chuc Pagoda sits on a site of nearly 5,000ha, surrounded by lakes, mountains, forests and valleys. Excavated objects reveal that the pagoda is around 1,000 years old.

The pagoda, which has been entirely damaged with time, is being rebuilt with the first phase expected to be completed in May 2019 when the pagoda hosts the UN Day of Vesak (Buddha's Birthday, Enlightenment and Passing Away).

The new pagoda has been built using giant blocks from Kim Lan ceramic village in Hanoi. As many as 12,000 murals depicting legends of Buddha craved into volcano rock by Indonesian artisans will decorate the area.

A garden of 99 stone pillars, each 13.5m high and 200 tonnes in weight, carved with Buddhist teachings, will also be installed at the site.

The Tam Chuc complex was recognized by the Prime Minister as a national tourism site in 2013.

The festival is part of activities to celebrate the UN Day of Vesak which will be held at the Tam Chuc Pagoda from May 12-14.

PM inspects preparations for UN Day of Vesak 2019 in Ha Nam

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has inspected the preparations for the United Nations (UN) Day of Vesak 2019 at the Tam Chuc Buddhist Cultural Centre in Ba Sao commune, Kim Bang district of the northern Ha Nam province, the host of the event.

 

Vietnam to host United Nations Day of Vesak Celebrations

Vietnam will host the United Nations Day of Vesak Celebrations in 2019 and an international Buddhism conference in the northern province of Ha Nam from May 12-14 next year.

 

Tran Quoc pagoda - Hanoi tourist attraction

Known as one of the icons of Hanoi, Tran Quoc Pagoda attracts crowds of Buddhists followers and domestic and international tourists throughout the year.

 

Sri Lanka’s Bodhi tree planted at Tam Chuc Pagoda

The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha held a ceremony at Tam Chuc Pagoda in Kim Bang district, the northern province of Ha Nam, on July 22 to plant a Bodhi tree presented by Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament Karu Jayasuriya. 

 

First Vietnamese pagoda recognised in Hungary

Dai Bi pagoda was inaugurated in Simontornya city, Hungary on September 19, becoming the first Vietnamese pagoda recognized by the Hungarian government.

 

Huong Pagoda – Special National Relic Site

 

 

Source: VNA