Thousands gather around Ho Chi Minh City pagoda for lantern floating ceremony to celebrate Vesak Day

Vesak Day is known as Buddha's Birthday on the full-moon day of the fourth lunar month, falling on May 31 this year.

Buddha’s Birthday is an important annual Buddhist event, bringing together monks, nuns, and Buddhists to pray for world peace, happiness, and prosperity.

The traditional lantern floating ceremony celebrating Vesak Day took place at 5:30 pm Thursday (the 12th day of the fourth lunar month).

The ceremony, organized annually by Phap Hoa Pagoda, is regarded as one of the city’s major events and draws visitors from across Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring provinces.

From the early afternoon, streets surrounding the pagoda, including Truong Sa, Hoang Sa, and Le Van Sy, became heavily congested as vehicles and pedestrians filled the area.

Despite the traffic difficulties, many commuters remained cheerful and respectful.

Venerable Thich Quang Minh, the pagoda’s abbot, said the traditional lantern floating ceremony was part of the pagoda’s Vesak Cultural Week activities.

This year, the pagoda prepared some 6,000 lanterns for attendees, while many participants also brought their own handmade lanterns to the ceremony.

Although the turnout was immense, the event proceeded in an orderly manner under the guidance of volunteers stationed throughout the area.

Thousands of glowing lanterns carrying prayers for peace, health, and happiness were released onto the water.

The shimmering procession of lights created a solemn yet heartwarming atmosphere in the heart of the city.

As one of the city’s sacred and historic pagodas, Phap Hoa Pagoda attracts thousands of pilgrims and tourists every year who come to pray and pay their respects.

Built in 1928 by Venerable Dao Ha Thanh, the pagoda features Mahayana Buddhism architecture, including a three-entrance gate, courtyard, Buddha hall, and rows of ancestral houses.

Located beside Nhieu Loc Canal, the nearly-century-old pagoda is shaded by large trees that create a cool and peaceful pathway leading to the main hall.

One of the pagoda’s distinctive features is that most of its Buddha statues are carved from jackfruit wood, filling the pagoda with a gentle natural fragrance that enhances its tranquil atmosphere.