Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Tien Tho said that a traditional music performance will open the programme on May 14, and a play praising Lord Buddha’s mercifulness will be on the stage on the evening of May 15.

On the third night, 300 artists will perform the latest music pieces by overseas Vietnamese composer Nguyen Thien Dao in a 45 minute symphony chorus.

According to the organising board, in 600 delegations from 95 countries and territories 1,500 Buddhist dignitaries and scholars have registered to join the event, held in Vietnam for the first time.

The delegates will join local Buddhist dignitaries, monks and nuns to pray for peace at the closing ceremony.