Notably, for the first time ever, a ceremonial procession will take place around Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi.

According to Venerable Thich Duc Thien, Vice President and General Secretary of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), on April 23, the VBS held a working session with a delegation from the Indian government and representatives of the World Buddhist Confederation regarding the enshrinement of the Buddha relics.

The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha will welcome and enshrine the relics of Shakyamuni Buddha in Vietnam during the 4th Vesak Celebration 2025. The schedule is as follows: from May 2–8 in Ho Chi Minh City; May 8–13 at Ba Den Mountain National Tourist Area; May 13–16 at the VBS headquarters - Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi; and May 17–21 at Tam Chuc Pagoda in Ha Nam Province.

Under Indian law, when the relics of Shakyamuni Buddha are taken abroad, they are treated with the same diplomatic protocol as a head of state. The relics will be flown to Vietnam aboard an official Indian government military aircraft, landing at Tan Son Nhat Airport on the morning of May 2.

“Throughout the procession across four cities and provinces, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha will strictly adhere to India’s requirements, from public security to environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity at each enshrinement site,” affirmed Venerable Thich Duc Thien.

The leadership of the VBS and the Hanoi Buddhist Sangha have convened to finalize plans for the ceremonial procession and enshrinement at Quan Su Pagoda. Of particular note, the relics of Shakyamuni Buddha will be paraded for the first time around Hoan Kiem Lake (Sword Lake), a deeply symbolic and sacred event in the history of Vietnamese Buddhism.

Elder Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, a permanent member of the VBS’s Supreme Advisory Council, emphasized that the procession around Hoan Kiem Lake will be among the most solemn and sacred Buddhist rituals ever held in Vietnam.

The relic’s procession in Hanoi will begin at Noi Bai International Airport and follow this route: Nhat Tan Bridge - Vo Chi Cong Street - Dao Tan Street - Kim Ma Street - Nguyen Thai Hoc Street - Le Duan Street - Tran Nhan Tong Street - Tran Binh Trong Street - arriving at the Vietnam-Soviet Friendship Cultural Palace before being enshrined at Quan Su Pagoda.

The prayer procession for national peace and prosperity will circle Hoan Kiem Lake with the following route: Quan Su Pagoda - Ly Thuong Kiet Street - Hang Bai Street - Dinh Tien Hoang Street - Le Thai To Street - Ba Trieu Street - Ly Thuong Kiet Street - returning to Quan Su Pagoda.

In 1898, British archaeologist William Claxton Peppé unearthed the relics of Shakyamuni Buddha from the foundations of an ancient structure in Piprahwa village, Siddharth Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Today, the relics are enshrined at the National Museum in New Delhi, where they are venerated by local and international monks, devotees, and pilgrims who come to meditate, chant, and pay their respects.

The museum showcases over 200,000 artifacts from India and abroad, representing more than 5,000 years of Indian cultural heritage.

Binh Minh