The President's wife and Queen of Bhutan visit Tran Quoc Pagoda in the early autumn rain

Within the framework of the state visit of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen of Bhutan, this morning, the wife of President Luong Cuong - Mrs. Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet and Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck visited and offered incense at Tran Quoc Pagoda ( Hanoi ).

Welcoming the Queen of Bhutan at the gate of Tran Quoc Pagoda, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet expressed her joy. Many people and tourists present at the pagoda waved to welcome the President's wife and the Queen of Bhutan.

In the cool weather with the first autumn rain, the President's wife and Queen of Bhutan slowly walked from the temple gate to the worship area, admiring West Lake and the landscape of Tran Quoc Pagoda.

President Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet's wife and Bhutan's Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck visit Tran Quoc Pagoda

Venerable Thich Thanh Nha - abbot of the pagoda - introduced to the President's wife and the Queen of Bhutan the pagoda with a history of nearly 1,500 years and considered the oldest in Thang Long - Hanoi. This was the Buddhist center of Thang Long citadel during the Ly and Tran dynasties with ancient, harmonious and majestic architecture located next to the windy West Lake.

The monk talked about the Bodhi tree planted in the middle of the temple yard. This Bodhi tree was grafted from the sacred Bodhi tree where Buddha attained enlightenment in Bodhgaya, and was presented to President Ho Chi Minh by Indian President Rajendra Prasad in 1959 during his visit to Vietnam. After more than 60 years, the tree has grown tall, shading the entire temple yard.

Venerable Thich Thanh Nha introduces the history of Tran Quoc Pagoda to the President's wife and the Queen of Bhutan

After a 15-minute conversation, the Venerable presented the President's wife and the Queen of Bhutan with artistically crafted Bodhi leaves and rosary beads.

Touched by the welcome of the President's wife and the abbot of Tran Quoc Pagoda, the Queen shared that although Bhutan and Vietnam are geographically far apart and have differences in culture and people, the two countries share the same belief in the values of Buddhism with the wish for peace, wisdom, tolerance and compassion.

The Queen expressed her honor to visit the temple, listen to the teachings and sharing of the abbot and hoped to welcome the abbot and Vietnamese monks to visit Bhutan in the future. The Queen presented the temple with a hand-painted painting of the Buddha and Bhutanese handmade incense products.

Next, the President's wife and the Queen of Bhutan attended a prayer ceremony and worshiped Buddha at the main hall of Tran Quoc Pagoda according to Vietnamese Buddhist spiritual rituals.