Most Venerable Most Venerable Thich Gia Quang, Vice President of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, speaks at a press conference on the 2025 Vu Lan Festival, Hanoi, June 3, 2025.

Organizers told a press conference in Hanoi on Tuesday that the program will take place from June through September, marking War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day (July 27), the August Revolution, and National Day (September 2).

A variety of activities are planned, including incense offerings in Quang Tri Province, support for students in the northwestern mountainous region, and an online writing and painting contest to nurture love for the homeland among young people. The program will culminate in a special art performance and cultural exchange night in Hanoi on August 30. 

“Vu Lan is not merely a religious ritual but an opportunity for each of us to reflect on how we express gratitude to our parents, serve our community, and contribute to the country, This program demonstrates the harmony between religion and life, between Vietnamese Buddhism and the homeland,” said Most Venerable Thich Gia Quang, Vice President of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

“Each person is called upon to lay a brick of filial piety in building a compassionate and grateful society so that we can all be proud of having lived a life of gratitude and giving, true to our nation’s tradition of loyalty and affection. Let Vu Lan be a time for every Vietnamese person to return to their roots, nurture love, connect communities, and help build a civilized and ethical society,” he noted. 

The Vu Lan Festival, observed on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, is one of the most important Buddhist events in Vietnam. It is a time to honor parents—especially mothers—and to pray for deceased ancestors and lost souls.