The music festival showcased Vietnam’s culture and Buddhist faith with famous singers My Linh, Trong Tan and Khanh Linh performing alongside Buddhist artists and musicians.

The performances included a ballet by choreographer Tan Hien, a drum performance by Xuan Son group and a song written by singer Anh Quan.

Artistic programmes celebrating Vesak Day will continue until May 16 with a Cai luong play entitled “Cuoc doi Duc Phat” (The Life of Buddha) and seven-movement symphony “Khai giac” (Enlightenment) composed by Vietnamese-French maestro Nguyen Thien Dao.

*** The Thua Thien-Hue Buddhist Sangha’s Executive Board on May 14 inaugurated the Lieu Quan Buddhist Cultural Centre in the former imperial city of Hue.

The centre displays many Buddhist books, sutras and photos apart from paintings by Buddhist followers Pham Dang Tri, Phan Xuan Sanh, Vinh Phoi and Nguyen Tu Trung.

*** An exhibition of 40 panorama photos capturing landscapes, people and outstanding pagodas across Vietnam by photographers Nguyen Thinh and Ngo Thuy Hong opened in the city’s Nguyen Dinh Chieu pedestrian street the same day.

Visitors to the show have a chance to contemplate the images of well-known Tay Phuong, Vinh Nghiem, Mot Cot, Thien Mu, Tu Dam Pagodas and the photos of U Minh Ha forest, Ba Be Lake and Trang Tien bridge.

The exhibition will run until May 19.