A solemn ceremony was held this afternoon at Quan The Am Pagoda in Ngu Hanh Son District, Da Nang, to bid farewell to the sacred Buddha relics as they began their journey back to India via Da Nang International Airport.

Speaking at the ceremony, Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, Standing Member of the Supreme Patriarch Council and Standing Vice President of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), emphasized that the one-month veneration of Buddha's relics across nine provinces and cities was an unprecedented spiritual event in modern Vietnamese Buddhist history.

More than 16 million Buddhists were blessed with the rare opportunity to witness the sacred relics in person, fostering deeper faith, accumulating merit, and spreading compassionate energy across the country.

On behalf of the VBS, the Most Venerable expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Indian government for gifting this national treasure - the Buddha’s relics - to Vietnam, serving as a spiritual and cultural bridge between the two nations. He also extended sincere thanks to the Vietnamese government for its direct support and diplomatic coordination, which enabled an extension of the veneration period by 10 days, allowing millions more to experience this once-in-a-lifetime blessing.

A sacred farewell

After a one-month tour across nine provinces and cities (Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh, Hanoi, Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, Bac Giang, Quang Ninh, Hung Yen, and Da Nang), the relics were officially escorted back to India.

The farewell convoy followed a ceremonial route from Quan The Am Pagoda along Su Van Hanh Street, Le Van Hien Street, Tien Son Bridge, September 2nd Street, Nguyen Van Linh Street, and finally to Da Nang International Airport.

Despite the scorching heat, thousands of monks, nuns, lay Buddhists, and visitors lined the streets, respectfully dressed, hands clasped in prayer as the convoy passed.

At precisely 4:00 PM, the relics arrived at the airport for their return to India.

The Buddha’s relics are considered a national treasure of India, currently safeguarded at the National Museum in New Delhi. In honor of the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak, the relics were brought to Vietnam for the first time, marking a spiritually and culturally significant milestone.

On May 2, the relics were flown to Ho Chi Minh City by special aircraft and then enshrined at major pagodas throughout Vietnam. Quan The Am Pagoda in Da Nang was the final stop, hosting the relics from May 30 to June 2. During this time, the pagoda remained open 24/7 to accommodate pilgrims from all over the country.

To ensure safety and order, thousands of volunteers were mobilized to support the event. Authorities deployed coordinated plans to manage security, traffic, healthcare, emergency response, and fire safety.

From May 2 to June 2, the relics of Shakyamuni Buddha were enshrined at:

Thanh Tam Pagoda (Ho Chi Minh City): May 2–8
Ba Den Mountain (Tay Ninh): May 8–13
Quan Su Pagoda (Hanoi): May 14–16
Tam Chuc Pagoda (Ha Nam): May 17–20
Bai Dinh Pagoda (Ninh Binh): May 21–23
Phuc Son Pagoda (Bac Giang): May 23–25
Truc Lam Yen Tu Palace (Quang Ninh): May 25–28
Chuong Pagoda (Hung Yen): May 28–29
Quan The Am Pagoda (Da Nang): May 30–June 2

At each location, grand welcoming and veneration ceremonies were held, reflecting the deep reverence and spiritual devotion of Vietnamese Buddhists toward the compassionate and enlightening teachings of the Buddha.

Ho Giap