Vietnam Buddhist Sangha suggests virtual Vu Lan gatherings

Today Buddhism is the most visible religion in Vietnam

it is estimated that fewer than 10 percent of the Vietnamese actively practice

Buddhism has a great influence on the thinking and behaviour of Vietnamese people. For them it is not only a religion, but also a way of life that emphasizes disconnection to the present

Buddhism was first introduced to Vietnam in the 2nd century, and reached its peak in the Ly dynasty (11th century).

Buddhism was preached broadly among the population and it enjoyed a profound influence on people's daily life. Its influence also left marks in various areas of traditional literature and architecture

Presently, by some estimates, over 70 percent of the population of Vietnam are either Buddhist or follow Buddhist practice

Vietnam’s Buddhism will always stand side by side with the nation to build Vietnam into a wealthy, beautiful, and peaceful country to develop sustainably in international integration.

Vietnam is a multi-religious country, in which Buddhism has time-honored tradition and is closely bound to Vietnamese culture and tradition. Over the years, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has constantly developed and demonstrated its will towards harmony, solidarity, and unity, contributing to national construction

The hosting the Vesak Day 2019 once again shows Vietnam’s respect for cultural and ethical values of religions, including Buddhism, which direct people to truth, goodness, and beauty, in line with Vietnamese culture, ethics, and lifestyle for the sake of goodness

Vietnamese Buddhism’s development will contribute the development of Buddhism in the world

Vietnam is a country which has a rich and wide variety of religions. These include religions based on popular beliefs, religions brought to Vietnam from the outside, and several indigenous religious groups

In regard to the major world religions, Vietnam is a multi-religious state, with more than 20 million believers, and more than 30,000 places of worship. Buddhism is the largest of the major world religions in Vietnam, with about ten million followers.

Buddhism was the earliest foreign religion to be introduced in Vietnam, arriving from India in the second century A.D. in two ways, the Mahayana sect via China, and the Hinayana sect via Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. During the ten-century feudal reign of Vietnam, Buddhism was considered a state religion.

At present, Vietnam has more than 20,000 pagodas dedicated to Buddha, with a large number of other pagodas being built or restored.

Entering a pagoda, people can easily recognize that not only Buddhas but also gods and even human are worshiped there. Perhaps, only in Vietnam, there were legends that a toad dares to sue Heaven or a human being marries a fairy. These are the prominent features of Vietnamese beliefs.

Through different revolutionary periods, the State of Vietnam has always attached great importance to religious affairs.

In the national democratic people’s revolution, the policy of “religious freedom, uniting religious and non-religious people” has greatly contributed to the cause of national unity and the victory of the revolution for national reunification and independence.

Vietnam has achieved many progresses in mobilizing religious people to take part in the patriotic emulation movements, building the great national unity.

Belief and religion are spiritual needs of a segment of the population. Those needs currently exist and will continue to co-exist with the nation during the process of building socialism in Vietnam

the State of Vietnam consistently implements the policy of great national unity, promoting the unity of followers of different religions and unity between believers and non-believers.