Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces celebrated the 2,558th birthday of Buddha on May 13, with traditional rituals attracting tens of thousands of Buddhists.

At a ceremony, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Hua Ngoc Thuan extended his greetings to all local Buddhist dignitaries and followers, saying that he believes the municipal chapter of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha will sustainably achieve more progress.

In An Giang, Chairman of the provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front chapter Huynh Cong Muoc praised local Buddhists for their contributions to the locality in the past.

Many local pagodas presented gifts to the poor and the disabled in response to Buddha’s birthday.

While in Ninh Thuan, Buddhist dignitaries offered incense to war heroes who laid down their lives for national liberation.

A series of music performances and a vegetarian feast captivated visitors coming to the province. As many as 860 local residents living in poverty enjoyed the celebrations thanks to the help of philanthropists all over the country.

In Binh Phuoc, delegations visited Thanh Long and Quang Minh pagodas on the occasion.

The latter joined with the Binh Phuoc Association for Orphans, the Poor and the Disabled and the Dong Xoai Red Society Committee to donate 500 gifts to underprivileged families in Dong Xoai township.-VNA