From the afternoon of May 3 to the morning of May 11 (excluding the afternoon of May 5), monks, nuns, and the public may pay homage to the sacred heart relic of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc at Vietnam Quoc Tu (Ho Chi Minh City). The organizers will not accept donations, wreaths, or offerings.

According to the Vesak 2025 Organizing Committee, at 6:00 AM on May 3, the sacred heart relic of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc will be respectfully transferred from its storage site at the State Bank of Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City branch to Vietnam Quoc Tu (242-244 3/2 Street, District 10).

From 1:30 PM on May 3 until the morning of May 11, monks, nuns, and the public can visit the sacred heart relic each morning from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM and each afternoon from 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM.

On the afternoon of May 5, the temple will pause public visitations to welcome international Buddhist delegations attending Vesak.

At 8:00 AM on May 11, the Organizing Committee will respectfully enshrine the sacred heart relic permanently at the Da Bao Tower of Vietnam Quoc Tu.

The Committee notes that visitors should register in advance either online or in person (registration information must be submitted to the office of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha at Vietnam Quoc Tu).

Children under two years old, individuals with poor health, or those with inappropriate behavior or attire will not be permitted entry to the relic chamber.

Visitors are prohibited from bringing personal items such as mobile phones, cameras, video recorders, weapons, explosives, food, beverages, or any items that could disrupt order or compromise safety and solemnity.

Importantly, the organizers will not accept any fees, wreaths, or ceremonial offerings.

Most Venerable Thich Quang Duc, birth name Lam Van Tuat, was born in 1897 in Van Ninh District, Khanh Hoa Province.

On June 11, 1963, he self-immolated at the intersection of Phan Dinh Phung Boulevard and Le Van Duyet Street (now the intersection of Nguyen Dinh Chieu and Cach Mang Thang Tam streets) in Saigon to protest the suppression of Buddhism by the Ngo Dinh Diem government, in the presence of thousands of citizens and Buddhist followers.

The body of Most Venerable Thich Quang Duc was transported to Xa Loi Pagoda for the funeral, then to the crematory at An Duong Cemetery in Phu Lam (Saigon) for cremation.

After the body turned to ashes, the heart remained intact, solidifying into a stone-like relic despite being subjected to further burning for several hours.

The esteemed Buddhist leaders of the Unified Buddhist Church decided to enshrine the imperishable heart relic at Xa Loi Pagoda. Later, the sacred heart relic was transferred to Vietnam Quoc Tu and stored at the State Bank of Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City branch.

Before the 1964 Buddha’s Birthday, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha honored Most Venerable Thich Quang Duc as a Bodhisattva.

Binh Minh - Tuan Chieu