Scheduled from May 23–25, with extended activities running until June 1, the event is expected to draw tens of thousands of monks, nuns, lay Buddhists, tourists, and local residents to the central highlands city known as the “City of Flowers.”


A Path Through the Pines

Organisers say this year’s Vesak departs from conventional formats. “We have designed it as an experiential journey,” a representative of the Board for Cultural Affairs explained. “Solemn spiritual ceremonies will walk alongside public‑oriented cultural and social welfare activities.”

A centrepiece of the celebration will be an outdoor exhibition titled “The Path to Enlightenment,” staged within Da Lat’s iconic pine forests. Thirty artworks depicting the Buddha’s life from birth to enlightenment will be installed along forest paths, inviting visitors into a contemplative walk through both nature and narrative.


Seven Lotuses on the Lake

One of the most anticipated moments will be the “Lighting of Seven Lotus Flowers” ceremony on the evening of May 23 at Lam Vien Square. The display recreates the seven lotus steps traditionally said to have bloomed beneath the newborn Bodhisattva’s feet — a symbol of purity and spiritual sovereignty.

The main Vesak observance on May 24 will begin with a morning meditation session in the pine forest, followed by a solemn procession carrying a Buddha statue from Linh Quang Pagoda to the shores of Xuan Huong Lake. The day will culminate in the traditional Buddha bathing ritual, inviting all participants to pour fragrant water over the statue as an act of reverence and renewal.


Culture, Compassion, and Cuisine

Beyond the sacred, organisers have woven extensive community engagement into the programme. Lam Vien Square will host a vegetarian food fair and Buddhist cultural space, alongside calligraphy and painting activities themed around Vesak.

The spirit of dana (generosity) will take concrete form through scholarship presentations for disadvantaged students and the handover of charity houses to needy local families. A “Zero‑dong market” will provide 1,000 gift packages to impoverished residents, while volunteers will visit policy beneficiary families, war invalids, and lead a tree‑planting campaign for environmental protection.


Floating Stage on Xuan Huong Lake

On the evening of May 24, a floating stage on Xuan Huong Lake will feature Buddhist music and dance — an art performance expected to become a cultural highlight of the Vesak season. The celebrations will close on May 30 and 31 with two flower‑car processions. Fifty decorated vehicles will travel through central Da Lat’s streets, filling the “City of Flowers” with colour, joy, and communal harmony.


A Festival for Peace

Vesak, which commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and passing of Buddha Shakyamuni, has been recognised by the United Nations as an international cultural and religious festival for peace. The 2026 gathering in Da Lat, with its fusion of forest meditation, public art, charitable action, and festive procession, seeks to embody that living legacy.

As one organising monk put it: “The Buddha walked his path for the welfare of many. For three days, we invite all to walk a little of that path with us — through pine, lotus, and lake — and to bring its compassion back into the world.”