Attending the ceremony were representatives from the Vietnam Embassy; Venerable Thích Minh Hiền - Member of the Executive Council, Deputy Head of the VBS’ department of cultural affairs, abbot of Hương Pagoda (Chùa Hương) and nearly 300 Vietnamese Buddhists currently living in UK.

At the ceremony, Venerable Thích Minh Hiền read the congratulatory message of the supreme Patriarch of the VBS sent to monks and nuns, Buddhists in Vietnam and abroad.

Venerable Thích Minh Hiền called on monks and nuns, Buddhists to lean towards the homeland; practice the Buddha's teaching, vow to do right things and pray for world peace and prosperity.
Mr. Nguyễn Vân Phong, Counselor of Vietnam Embassy in charge of public affairs expressed his hope that there will have more activities for Buddhist development in Vietnamese community in UK in the coming years, including the construction of a temple in London.

After offering flowers to the Buddha, Venerable Thích Minh Hiền presided the Vesak’s opening ceremony, with the Buddha bathing ritual and preaching on contemporary Buddhist music./.

According to TTXVN

The Vesak’s celebration scene in the UK 2014