The event was organized at Minh Dang Quang Buddhist Institute located in Ho Chi Minh City by the Vietnam Institute of Buddhist Studies, forming part of a series of activities leading up to the 45^th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (November 7, 1981 - November 7, 2026) and the 10^th National Congress of Buddhist Delegates for the 2026-2031 term.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Vũ Hoài Bắc acknowledged that over 45 years of construction and maturity, from initially challenging conditions, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has steadily consolidated its organizational apparatus and advanced Buddhist affairs across multiple spheres: from Dharma propagation, monastic education, culture, and Buddhist studies, to guidance for Buddhist followers, social welfare activities, and international exchanges.

Chairman Vũ Hoài Bắc anticipated that with the participation of Buddhist dignitaries, managers, and researchers, the seminar would yield profound, candid, and scholarly exchanges; further elucidate lessons learned from the 45-year course of formation and development of the Sangha; identify opportunities and challenges in the new phase; and thereby propose appropriate orientations for the Sangha to continue developing steadily and sustainably.

Chairman Vũ Hoài Bắc speaks at the event

Delivering his opening address at the event, Most Venerable Thích Thiện Nhơn, President of the Central Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, recalled the historic milestone of the Sangha's founding on November 7, 1981 at Quan Su Pagoda, which fulfilled the aspirations for unifying Vietnamese Buddhism at that time. From diverse organizations, traditions, and monastic practices, monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers came together under a single organization named the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

This unification did not erase distinctive traditions; rather, it created a shared home that respects diversity on the foundation of solidarity and harmony. Looking back over 45 years, solidarity and harmony have served as essential resources enabling the Sangha to mature, gradually perfect its organizational system, and expand Buddhist affairs under the motto "Buddhism - Nation - Socialism", affirmed the Most Venerable President of the Executive Council.

Most Venerable Thích Thiện Nhơn, President of VBS’s Central Executive Council speaks at the event

According to information from the organizing board, the seminar received nearly 350 papers from dignitaries, monks, nuns, administrators, scholars, and researchers, examining diverse fields: from history, Buddhist studies, religious studies, philosophy, cultural studies, and sociology to education, law, organizational governance, communications, technology, the environment, and international relations.

Following a selection process, 314 papers were included in the seminar and organized into 6 academic forums: From Buddhist Unification to Sangha Governance; From Accompanying the Nation to Serving Humanity; Training Talented Monastics for the New Era; Dharma Propagation in Digital Space; From Integration to International Contributions; Shaping the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha toward 2045.

The Organizing Board also highlighted five cross-cutting issues to be clarified across the forums of the event including the governance quality of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha following organizational streamlining; the quality of monastics and successor generations; the capacity to bring the Dharma into life, especially within the digital environment; transitioning from quantitative Buddhist affairs to evaluating in-depth social impacts and effectiveness; and establishing the standing of the Sangha in Viet Nam and within the international Buddhist sphere through substantive contributions.

Delegates at the event