Delegates performing the flag salute ritual at the Congress

The Congress was attended by Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, Deputy Patriarch of the Sangha Council of Elders, Chairman of the Central Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha; Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu and Most Venerable Thich Thien Phap, Standing Members of the Sangha Council of Elders, Permanent Vice Chairmen of the Central Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha; and Most Venerables, Venerables, and Reverends of the Sangha Council of Elders and the Central Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS).

Delegates attending the Congress

On the part of Thai Nguyen Province, the Congress was attended by Comrade Trinh Xuan Truong, Member of the Party Central Executive Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Comrade Dinh Quang Tuyen, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee; Members of the Provincial Party Standing Committee; leaders of the Provincial People's Council, the Provincial People's Committee, and the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee; leaders of provincial departments, agencies, sectors, and localities, associations, mass organizations, and enterprises in the province; senior Buddhist dignitaries leading Buddhism in other provinces and cities; and 300 official and outstanding delegates of Buddhism from across the province.

Under the theme “Discipline - Innovation - Effectiveness - Efficiency,” the First Provincial Buddhist Congress was held to review and evaluate Buddhist affairs work over the past term; set out appropriate directions for the new situation; promote the spirit of solidarity and harmony; and continue to affirm the role of Buddhism walking alongside the nation in the era of integration and development.

Provincial leaders presenting flowers to congratulate the Congress

Over the past term, Buddhist affairs work by the Thai Nguyen VBS faced no shortage of challenges; however, through solidarity, harmony, cultivation of spiritual virtue, and dignity within the Sangha, monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers throughout the province have made strong efforts to overcome difficulties and effectively carry out Buddhist affairs programs in line with the guidance of the Central Sangha.

Following the merger, Thai Nguyen Province now has 198 pagodas, more than 100 monks and nuns engaged in religious practice and Buddhist affairs work, and thousands of Buddhist followers in and outside the province. Buddhist affairs work has achieved positive results in the fields of: Sangha affairs, Buddhist education, dharma propagation, guidance for Buddhist followers, rituals, culture, charity, social affairs, and economics and finance.

The Executive Board has guided Buddhist followers to properly comply with State regulations on belief and religion, and has actively mobilized followers to take part in movements benefiting the country and the people. Social charity work has become a highlight of Buddhism in Thai Nguyen Province, with activities supporting the poor, providing relief to people affected by natural disasters and floods, building charity houses, and caring for policy beneficiary families and Heroic Vietnamese Mothers, among others, with total support resources exceeding VND 113.8 billion.

300 official delegates attending the Congress

These achievements have helped affirm the role and position of Buddhism in Thai Nguyen Province in social life, further promoting the tradition of protecting the nation and bringing peace to the people, and walking alongside the nation in the era of integration and development.

For the 2026 - 2031 term, the Executive Board of the Thai Nguyen VBS has resolved to continue implementing the motto “Dharma - Nation - Socialism,” building a stable, developing Sangha that walks alongside the Thai Nguyen homeland.

Comrade Dinh Quang Tuyen, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, commends and acknowledges the positive contributions of Buddhism to the province's overall development

Speaking at the Congress, on behalf of the provincial leadership, Comrade Dinh Quang Tuyen, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, commended and acknowledged the positive and responsible contributions of the Executive Board of the Thai Nguyen VBS, senior monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers to the province's overall development over the past term.

He expressed confidence that the Executive Board of the Thai Nguyen VBS would continue to promote the tradition of solidarity and harmony; properly implement the Sangha's Charter and Buddhist affairs programs; guide monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers to live a life that is “good for society and good for the faith,” actively take part in patriotic emulation movements and charitable and humanitarian activities, protect the environment, build a cultured way of life, and preserve traditional moral values, thereby contributing to strengthening great national unity and building the Thai Nguyen homeland to become increasingly prosperous, beautiful, and civilized. The Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, asked Party committees, authorities, the Fatherland Front, and socio-political organizations in the province to continue properly implementing the Party's guidelines and policies and the State's laws on belief and religion; to give attention and create favorable conditions for the Thai Nguyen VBS to operate in accordance with its Charter and the law; and to help build a close, cooperative relationship between authorities and religious organizations toward the province's common development goals.

On behalf of the President, Comrade Trinh Xuan Truong, Member of the Party Central Executive Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, presents the Second-Class Labor Order to the Executive Board of the Thai Nguyen VBS

On this occasion, many collectives and individuals received the Second-Class and Third-Class Labor Orders from the President, Certificates of Commendation from the Prime Minister, Certificates of Commendation for Meritorious Service from the Central Executive Board of the VBS, and Certificates of Commendation from the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for their outstanding achievements in Buddhist activities over the past term.

The Congress elected 47 members to the Executive Board of the Thai Nguyen VBS, with Venerable Thich Nguyen Thanh elected as Head of the Executive Board of the Thai Nguyen VBS for the 2026 - 2031 term.

After two days of intensive and productive work, the First Buddhist Delegates' Congress for the 2026 - 2031 term was successfully held, completing its entire program.