Thai King and Queen Conclude Vietnam Visit with Prayers for Peace

The King and Queen of Thailand paid homage to the Buddha at Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi on Wednesday morning as part of their state visit to Vietnam. The visit marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations. The royal couple and their delegation were warmly welcomed by Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, abbot of Quan Su Pagoda, along with monks and Buddhist followers. Attendees from the Vietnamese side included Le Khanh Hai, chairman of the Office of the President, and Pham Viet Hung, Vietnam's ambassador to Thailand. The Thai side included Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who is serving as minister-in-attendance, and Urawadee Sriphiromya, Thailand's ambassador to Vietnam. The King and Queen offered candles and flowers in the main hall and joined monks and Buddhist followers in chanting sutras. The prayer ceremony was for the peace and well-being of the royal couple and for the continued growth of Vietnam-Thailand relations. The Heart Sutra, which was recited, contains Buddhism's core teaching on "emptiness," believed to dispel afflictions, untangle inner obstacles, and turn the mind toward serenity. The sutra is also recited to spread compassion and to pray that humanity be spared from war, natural disasters, and conflict. According to the Vietnam News Agency, the prayer ceremony reflects the socially engaged spirit of Vietnamese Buddhism and affirms both countries' commitment to jointly building a peaceful, cooperative, and prosperous world. Vietnam and Thailand share close cultural affinities and deep Buddhist ties. Quan Su Pagoda, which houses the working offices of senior monks on the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, has previously welcomed Cambodia's king and India's prime minister. The King and Queen extended their greetings and wishes for good health and peace to the senior monks leading the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. The monks saw the royal couple off.