Ho Chi Minh City hosts the 10th National Buddhist Congress

On the morning of September 27, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha held a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Executive Council (expanded) to agree on the roadmap for organizing the National Buddhist Congress for the 2026-2031 term, scheduled to take place on November 6-7, 2026 at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy.

The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha held an expanded meeting of the Standing Committee of the Executive Council in Ho Chi Minh City on the morning of September 27.

According to the plan, from April 1 to September 30, 2026, provinces and cities across the country will complete the organization of the local Buddhist Congresses for the 2026-2031 term. This is an important preparation step towards the 10th National Buddhist Congress, an event that is considered to have special significance as it is associated with the 50-year journey of the founding of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, and at the same time towards important historical milestones: the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the 100th anniversary of the founding of the country in 2045.

The 10th National Buddhist Congress for the 2026-2031 term will be attended by thousands of delegates representing monks, nuns, and Buddhists nationwide. The Congress will summarize Buddhist activities in the past term, set out directions for the new term, and at the same time perfect the personnel of the Sangha's leadership bodies. This is not only the most important Buddhist event of the Sangha, but also an opportunity to strengthen the great religious solidarity bloc, affirm the role of Buddhism in social life, and accompany the nation in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

Conference scene.

Regarding the streamlining and merger of new Executive Committees from July 1, 2025 to present, Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, Deputy Supreme Patriarch of the Council of Patriarchs, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, said that on July 1, 2025, when bells rang from all pagodas and monasteries of the Sangha across the country, signaling the first working day of the two-level local government model of the 34 new provinces and cities, it was also the first day of operation of the 34 new Executive Committees after the merger of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. The process of merging personnel and Buddhist activities in the provinces and cities in the past time has brought about positive and effective results. However, reality also shows many shortcomings in management and operating regulations, requiring focus on overcoming in the coming time.

According to Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, to solve the difficulties after the merger, the Executive Committees of provinces and cities need to proactively review the organizational structure, streamline the apparatus and adjust the operating methods in a scientific and effective direction. The apparatus of the Church needs to reform synchronously with the State administrative management model, both maintaining religious characteristics and promoting operational efficiency. Applying technology, standardizing processes, and clearly assigning responsibilities will help limit overlap, save resources and improve the quality of operations, better serving the religious needs of Buddhists in the context of modern society.

Representatives of the Executive Committees of provinces and cities shared their opinions on difficulties, obstacles, and advantages after the merger from January 17, 2025 to present.

Representative of the state management agency, Mr. Vu Hoai Bac, Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, said that the country currently has about 28 million followers of many religions, of which Buddhism accounts for the largest number. Therefore, it is necessary to digitize the management work and build a database of the Church in conjunction with the implementation of Project 06 of the Government to improve the operational efficiency of the Buddhist Church in the coming time. At the same time, the Government Committee for Religious Affairs has been coordinating with relevant agencies to amend and supplement the Law on Belief and Religion in 2018 to overcome shortcomings and meet the requirements of practical management and operation in the new period.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/tp-ho-chi-minh-dang-cai-dai-hoi-phat-giao-toan-quoc-lan-thu-10-20250927150341737.htm