This year’s ceremony marks the 18th Royal Kathina Robe Offering Ceremony organized by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vietnam. It also coincides with the year in which Thailand and Vietnam elevated their bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The event also holds special significance as part of activities leading up to the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Vietnam in 2026.

The event saw the presence of Most Venerable Thích Trí Quảng, Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), Deputy Minister Vijavat Isarabhakdi of Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Urawadee Sriphiromya.

Deputy Minister Vijavat Isarabhakdi of Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs presides over the ceremony

During the ceremony, Deputy Minister Vijavat Isarabhakdi presented the Royal Kathina robe on behalf of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua of Thailand, who graciously bestowed the Royal Kathina Robe upon the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand for offering to the VBS.

Presenting Royal Kathina robe

The ceremony carried profound significance, not only as a traditional Buddhist merit-making ritual of great spiritual value, but also as part of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ cultural diplomacy program aimed at strengthening international relations, particularly through people-to-people exchanges.

Since 1995, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has annually organized the Royal Kathina Robe Offering Ceremony at Buddhist temples abroad as part of Thailand’s cultural diplomacy efforts to strengthen friendships and foster people-to-people connections through Buddhism. In 2025, the Royal Kathina Robe Offering will be held in eight countries, including India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Laos, Vietnam, and China.

Minh Lan