Vietnam is preparing to celebrate the United Nations Day of Vesak 2014 (the day of Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death) at Bai Dinh Temple in the northern province of Ninh Binh from May 7-11.

"Preparation for the event has mainly bên completed," said Thich Thanh Nhieu, chairman of the United Nations Day of Vesak International Council, at a press conference in Hanoi on April 28.

The day will be an international event contributing to the role of Vietnamese Buddhism in international integration and promoting the country's culture and people, said Nhieu.

An organising board and 2,000 volunteers are ready to receive about 10,000 participants, including 1,500 guests from 100 countries and 8,500 local Buddhists and visitors.

The event, which is being organised in collaboration with the International Council for the Day of Vesak, will include Buddhist conferences, a film festival and photo exhibitions.

The event will focus activities on Buddhist responses to sustainable development and social change; global warming and environmental protection; healthy living; peace-building and post-conflict recovery; Buddhist education and university level curriculum.

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc inspected the preparations for the event in Ninh Binh province.

This is the second time Vietnam has hosted the event. In 2008, the fifth Vesak celebration was organised in Hanoi with the participation of over 600 Buddhist delegations from around the world.

As part of the celebration of the Vesak Day, an exhibition of paintings and sculptures by 52 well-known artists in Ho Chi Minh City is open to the public.


“Proceeds from the sale of paintings will be donated to the Buddhism Today Charity Fund and for assistance to cancer patients," said artist Nguyen Dam Thuy who helped organise the exhibition which will last until May 9.

On display are 59 works in oil, lacquer and wood, reflecting a wide range of topics, covering daily life, landscapes, people, lotus flowers and still lifes.-VNA