Exhibition traces 45-year journey of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha
VOV.VN -An exhibition featuring 450 archival photos and documents recounts the 45-year development of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, marking key milestones in its formation and growth alongside the country’s history.
The exhibition opened on April 1 at Viet Nam Quoc Tu Pagoda, organized by the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Ho Chi Minh City and the organizing board of the city’s Buddhist congress.
Titled “45 years of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha: Development alongside the nation – entering a new era,” the event is among activities marking the 45th anniversary of the Sangha’s establishment (November 7, 1981 -November 7, 2026).
The history of the Sangha is presented through texts, commentary, figures and 450 selected images.
Venerable Thich Tam Hai, Editor-in-Chief of Giac Ngo Newspaper and head of the exhibition subcommittee, said the narrative begins with the view that the nation’s early development was closely linked with Buddhism, as reflected in a historic statement by late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong.
The exhibition also illustrates the organizational characteristics of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha through proposals by its first Supreme Patriarch, the late Most Venerable Thich Duc Nhuan, and statements by the first Chairman of its Executive Council, the late Most Venerable Thich Tri Thu, along with their successors.
It is structured into 17 thematic sections, including portraits of senior leaders of the Sangha, the unification conference that led to the establishment of the organization, meetings between senior monks and Party and State leaders, milestones from nine national congresses, and developments in key areas such as monastic affairs, propagation, culture, guidance for followers, rituals, education, social charity and the Vietnamese Buddhist canon.
The exhibition also highlights Buddhism in Ho Chi Minh City, from the establishment of the city’s Buddhist executive board in June 1982 to the present.
According to Venerable Thich Tam Hai, the exhibition focuses on meaningful content, vivid materials and refined presentation. Preparation took just three weeks from the time it was assigned by the congress organizing committee, which he described as “a remarkable effort.”
HCM City's Vietnam Buddhist Sangha spends VND748 billion on charity activities
The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) of Ho Chi Minh City carried out charitable and social activities with total funds of over VND748 billion (US$30.3 million) last year.
