Tam Chuc complex with nearly 1,000 ha of lake surface and 3,000 ha of natural forest and mountain (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - As beautiful as a giant water-colour painting with natural and elegant lines created by nature, Tam Chuc is covered by green trees and reflected on the lake. Amidst the charming beauty, Tam Chuc pagoda appears majestically and superficially.
It can be said that the complex of Tam Chuc Pagoda (covering about 5,100ha) is the perfect harmony between the ancient beauty and the majestic beauty of immense mountain. It promises to be a new spiritual destination that attracts millions of tourists and Buddhists from all over the world. It is planned and built to become one of the largest pagoda in the world.
Specifically, the 2019 UN Day of Vesak will take place at the Tam Chuc Buddhist Culture Centre (Ba Sao, Kim Bang, Ha Nam) from May 12-14, attracting 112 countries and territories with over 570 international delegations and individuals. There will be 1,650 international delegates to attend the event.
The beauty of Tam Chuc pagoda (Photo:VNA)
Free tours for international delegates
In order to support Buddhist followers and tourists to participate in these activities, the organizing board said that during the celebration, there will be about 40,000 free lunch boxes and drinks daily.
In particular, there will be three tours free of charge for international delegates to attend the event to promote the image of Vietnamese country and people as well as the potential of tourism development in Vietnam, namely: Trang An-Bai Dinh, Yen Tu and Fansipan-Sapa. In addition, there are paid tours at the request of international delegates to Hanoi and Ha Long.
Also on this occasion, many travel companies have started pilgrimage tours to Tam Chuc and neighboring provinces for Buddhists and visitors. In particular, Vietravel was entrusted by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha to provide logistics for the event for the third time ((2008-2014-2019).
Accordingly, Vietravel will run all promotional activities, coordinate transportation, accommodation, air ticket services ... and organize a sideline tour for Vesak 2019 to contribute to promoting the image of Vietnam.
Tam The Shrine (Photo: VNA)
“It is expected that there will be 15,000 - 20,000 people to attend the event. Therefore, taking a tour of a prestigious organization will help visitors and Buddhists feel secure about the services and programs during the peak days,” a Vietravel representative said.
The representative of this travel agency said that the spiritual cultural tour for Buddhists and Vietnamese tourists will depart from both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Visitors to the Capital can flexibly choose a 2 or 3-day tour to Tam Chuc, or Tam Chuc-Trang An-Bai Dinh from 1.65 million VND. From Ho Chi Minh City, the program lasts 4 or 5 days along the Hanoi-Tam Chuc-Ha Nam-Ninh Binh-Trang An-Bai Dinh-Ha Long-West Yen Tu-Bac Giang tour, the price is from 7.49 million.
In addition, up to this point, all plans for ensuring safety and security, traffic flow for the ceremony, medical work for delegates and Buddhists have been completed.
Statute of Guan Yi inlaid with black bronze at Tam The shrine (Photo: VNA)
Visiting the heart of 2019 Vesak
Themed “Buddhist approach to global leadership and shared responsibilities for sustainable cities,” the Vesak 2019 celebration will comprise of five workshops which will bring up issues like responsible leadership for sustainable peace, Buddhist approaches to family issues, healthcare, education, morality, responsible consumption and the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Buddhism.
Along with workshops and forums, the festival will feature Buddhist rituals, a floral lantern release, and an exhibition, among others.
Three 200-tonne statues inland with black bronze at the centre of the shrine (Photo:VNA)
Hosting the 16th UN Day of Vesak 2019 once again confirmed Vietnam’s focus and respect for cultural, ethics values of religions, including Buddhism, while showing its policy on international cooperation and integration,
This is the third time Vietnam has hosted the UN Vesak celebrations, helping to improve Vietnamese Buddhism’s role in international integration and affirm Vietnam's position and responsibility for UN activities in all fields./.
