Thai King visits Hanoi Pagoda during historic trip to Vietnam
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Sririkit of Thailand visited Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi, Vietnam on September 15 as part of a state visit to the country.
Le Khanh Hai, chairman of the Office of the State President, and Pham Viet Hung, Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand, accompanied the royal couple. Local Buddhists greeted them with Vietnamese, Thai, and Buddhist flags as they arrived at the pagoda, which serves as the headquarters of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
Inside the main sanctuary, the King and Queen presented offerings of incense and candles to the Buddha. Senior monks then chanted prayers for the couple’s well-being and for stronger ties between Vietnam and Thailand, which are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations. The royal visit marks the first time a Thai king has travelled to Vietnam since the countries formally established relations. This trip builds on existing cultural connections between the two nations, particularly their shared Buddhist traditions.
Thailand’s constitution requires the King to be Buddhist and to support Theravada Buddhism, also practiced in Vietnam as Nam Tong Buddhism. The Thai royal family has historically supported Vietnamese Buddhist temples in Thailand, which serve a community of approximately 100,000 overseas Vietnamese and help preserve their culture. In July 2024, King Maha Vajiralongkorn awarded ecclesiastical titles to nine senior leaders of the Annam Nikaya, a Vietnamese Buddhist tradition practiced in Thailand.
Quan Su Pagoda itself dates back to the 15th century and has hosted major events for the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, including a 1981 congress that unified Buddhist organizations in the country.
