Attending the seminar were Mr. Dương Ngọc Tấn, Vice-Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs; officials from departments and divisions under the Committee; representatives from the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Catholic Solidarity Committee in Hanoi, Caodai religion, Baha’i religion, Buddhist researchers and scholars.

There were over 20 presentations by monks, nuns and researchers at the seminar referring various aspects of Vu Lan festival in Buddhism in current Vietnam society, and emerging issues in the context of integration and development of the country. The presentations also clarified meanings between Parents' Day in Buddhism and Wandering Soul’s Day (Xa toi vong nhan) of Vietnamese tradition, as well as values of these practices in educating ethics, personality and responsibility of Vietnamese people. Speaking at the seminar, Mr. Dương Ngọc Tấn, Vice Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs said that Buddhism is a religion followed by many Vietnamese people and the Vu lan festival has become a fine tradition of the nation for a long time.

The scientific seminar with the title “Vu Lan bao hieu” (Parents' Day) of Buddhism in current Vietnam society contributed to clarify meanings and human values of the Buddhist festival and the harmony between the culture of Wandering Soul’s Day and Parents' Day of Buddhism.

Mr. Dương Ngọc Tấn, Vice-Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs presents congratulatory  flowers to the Centre for Preservation of Religious Cultural Heritage

HDT