Ninh Binh holds ceremony to worship massive jade Buddha
Buddhist followers flocked to Bai Dinh Pagoda in the northern province of Ninh Binh on April 23 to worship the world’s largest jade Buddha statue, called “Jade Buddha for Peace”.
Jade Buddha for Peace on display in Ninh Binh. (Source: phapluatplus.vn)
Ninh Binh (VNA) – Buddhist followers flocked to Bai Dinh Pagoda in the northern province of Ninh Binh on April 23 to worship the world’s largest jade Buddha statue, called “Jade Buddha for Peace”.
Featuring preaching, prayer meetings and a lantern festival, the worshipping ceremony lasts until May 6.
The “Jade Buddha for Peace” was carved from gemstone-quality jade called Polar Pride discovered in northern Canada in 2000. Ian Green, an Australian Buddhist, invited artisans from Nepal, India and Thailand to carve the statue in Thailand.
The statue is modelled on the Siddhartha Gautama Buddha statue inside the Mahabodhi Stupa in India’s Bodh Gaya. It stands 2.7m tall, weighs four tonnes and sits on a 1.4m-high solid alabaster throne. Its size and beauty make it a wonder of the world.
In 2009, the statue was first displayed in various pagodas in Vietnam such as in the central city of Da Nang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Thap in the south, as well as the northern province of Bac Ninh.
ꦆ After its exhibition in Vietnam this year, the Jade Buddha will be permanently installed in Australia.-VNA
A huge jade Buddha statue, about 1.6m high and wighing 2 tonnes, will be displayed at Cultural Friendship Palace in Hanoi from November 22 to 24 to celebrate Vietnam Buddhist Congress.
Buddhist followers in the northern city of Hai Phong and neighbouring provinces now can admire t he Jade Buddha for Universal Peace following the opening ceremony of an exhibition at Hong Phuc Pogoda.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
These are impressive achievements, not only showing the efforts and prowess of Vietnamese paddlers but also serving as proof of the sports sector’s strategic and systematic investment.
The cultural event in Canberra not only fostered cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Australia but also contributed to promoting Vietnam’s image internationally
The U23 competition will run from June 16 to 22, followed by the U17 event from June 23 to 28, while athletes competing in the U23 category will undergo weight and skill checks ahead of the matches starting June 18, while similar checks for U17 athletes will take place before June 23.
Vietnam continues to sit just behind continental powerhouses Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, China, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Jade Buddha for Peace on display in Ninh Binh. (Source: phapluatplus.vn)
