This is the first time the capital city of Hanoi will host Vesak, the most important Buddhist festival, marking Buddha’s birthday, his attaining Enlightenment and his entry into Nirvana.

The festival will include a culture and arts programme, programme to tour historical relics and landscapes in northern Quang Ninh and Ninh Binh provinces, an exhibition on Vietnam’s Buddhism.

Thousands of foreign and domestic Buddhist dignitaries, monks and nuns will pray for peace at the closing ceremony.