The event also introduced the album “Những ngày yên – Tịnh tâm cùng Kinh Phật”, which presents Buddhist sutras in Vietnamese in a calm and accessible style.

According to the organisers, the contest follows the success of a similar creative campaign held in 2025. It seeks to encourage musicians, artists and art lovers to create works reflecting the compassion, wisdom and ethical values found in Buddhist teachings, contributing to the promotion of positive lifestyles in modern society.

Venerable Thich Minh Thuan, Chief Secretary of the Central Cultural Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, said the contest includes several categories such as literary scripts, music, architecture and festival visual arts related to Vietnamese Buddhism.

Selected works from the contest are expected to be performed at Buddhist cultural programmes and other cultural events in the future. The organisers hope the contest will help highlight the close connection between Buddhism and Vietnam’s cultural life.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Dr Le Hong Ly, President of the Vietnam Folklore Arts Association, said Buddhism has long been an important component of Vietnamese cultural life. Buddhist festivals, he noted, often serve as spaces where various art forms, rituals and traditional cultural practices come together.

He added that many Buddhist festivals today attract large numbers of participants, including international visitors, thus contributing to the promotion of Vietnamese culture.

Prof. Dr Le Hong Ly also emphasized that artistic works related to Buddhism should show the unique cultural characteristics of different regions and temples, each of which carries its own historical stories and legends.

Meanwhile, the newly introduced album aims to bring Buddhist scriptures closer to modern audiences. According to the production team, many sutras are traditionally chanted in Sino-Vietnamese, which can make them difficult for some listeners to fully understand. The album therefore presents the scriptures entirely in Vietnamese with a calm, slow chanting style intended to make the teachings more accessible.

Organisers said listening to Buddhist scriptures in a quiet setting can help people relax, pause amid busy daily life and reflect on inner balance.

Int’l Buddhist art exchange marks Vesak 2025

An international Buddhist music and art exchange programme took place in Thu Duc city of Ho Chi Minh City on May 7, featuring performances by Buddhist art troupes from various countries including India, China, the Republic of Korea, Cambodia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.