Also attending the event were Minister of Health Đào Hồng Lan; Vice Chairwoman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Trần Thị Minh Nga; and Most Venerable Thích Thanh Quyết, Vice President of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha cum Head of the Central Buddhist Education Committee and Director of the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Hanoi.

The festival “Blood Donation to Save People - Practicing the Bodhisattva's Path” and the Humanitarian Organ and Tissue Donation Registration Festival is an activity between the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in collaboration with the Vietnam Red Cross Society in response to the call of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, featuring profound religious and humanistic meanings.

This is the second time the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Hanoi has organized the festival to "reaffirm the role of Vietnamese Buddhism, emphasizing that Buddhism does not stand aside from human suffering, as well as educate monks and nuns to embody the Bodhisattva spirit through concrete actions, cultivating a compassionate heart and wisdom to alleviate suffering through practical work”.

 “Donating blood is sowing seeds of compassion and wisdom for life, is practicing the Bodhisattva path in everyday life, and is serving humanity according to the spirit of selflessness and altruism of Vietnamese Buddhism,” Most Venerable Thích Thanh Quyết added.

During the event, Most Venerable Thích Thanh Quyết also called on delegates, monks, nuns, and lay Buddhists to support the people of Central Vietnam severely affected by the floods.

Standing Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Hòa Bình encourages monks and nuns to participate in blood donation.

Vice Chairwoman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Trần Thị Minh Nga participates in donating blood at the event

Speaking at the event, Minister of Health Đào Hồng Lan emphasized the humanitarian significance of the movement: "Since 1994, our country has received over 24 million units of blood. In recent years, the amount of blood received, the rate of repeated blood donations, and the rate of voluntary blood donations have increased."

In 2024 in particular, our country received over 1.7 million units of blood, equivalent to 1.7% of the population. The voluntary blood donation rate reached 98%, repeat blood donation reached over 63%, and the rate of blood units with a volume of 350ml or more reached about 68%. These results were achieved thanks to the attention of Party and State leaders, the efforts of health agencies, and especially the cooperation of the people.

Minister of Health Đào Hồng Lan speaks at the event

The Minister of Health said that the "Donate blood to save people - practice Bodhisattva's path" festival has a particularly profound meaning: "Each unit of blood donated today is the realization of love, sharing, and Bodhisattva's vows in modern life. It is not only a gift of life sent to the sick but also a seed of goodness sown in the community, helping to spread the spirit of responsibility, compassion, and kindness in society."

During his visit and working session at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Hanoi, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Hòa Bình and delegates visited and offered incense at the main hall of Non Nuoc Pagoda (Soc Thien Vuong Zen Monastery), praying for national peace and prosperity.

Linh Nguyen