Tet of sharing

These days, Most Venerable Thich Nguyen Thong, abbot of Phuoc Quang Pagoda (in Phuoc Thai commune, Dong Nai province), along with other monks, has once again coordinated the delivery of Tet gifts to disadvantaged people in communes such as Loc Tan, Ta Lai, Long Thanh, etc., with the desire to join hands with local government to ensure a more prosperous Lunar New Year (Tet) for the people.

Monks and nuns representing Quan Am monastery (Bien Hoa ward) and Phap Tuyen Buddhist prayer hall (Trang Dai ward) visit and present Tet gifts to Vietnamese Heroic Mother Nguyen Thi No (Bom Bo commune). Photo:An Thuan

The actions of the monks of Phuoc Quang Pagoda are also a shared activity of Buddhist dignitaries and officials in the province during the twelfth lunar month, with the desire to share the joy of Tet with the people, especially with those in less fortunate circumstances, and to express gratitude to policy families and people who have rendered meritorious service.

Expressing gratitude to people with meritorious service

Along with Lord Buddha’s birthday (Vesak Day), Vu Lan Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival, Lunar New Year (Tet) is one of the four major social work campaigns of Dong Nai Buddhism. This is considered a time for dignitaries, officials, and Buddhists to share and extend care to individuals and families who have rendered meritorious service to the country; and to the less fortunate before the new year…

Specifically, on January 30, a delegation from the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of the province, along with leaders of the Department of  Ethnic and Religious Affairs, visited Vietnamese Heroic Mother Le Thi Day (residing in Tan Trieu ward) to inquire about her health and present Tet gifts. From January 31 to February 1, monks from Quan Am monastery (in Bien Hoa ward) and Phap Tuyen Buddhist prayer hall (in Trang Dai ward) also visited and presented gifts to Vietnamese Heroic Mothers in the northern communes and wards of Dong Nai province.

Venerable Thich An Thuan, abbot of Phap Tuyen Buddhist prayer hall, said: Visiting and presenting Tet gifts to Vietnamese Heroic Mothers is one of the activities that Dong Nai Buddhism, including the monks of Quan Am monastery and Phap Tuyen Buddhist prayer hall, has maintained over the years. Through this, Dong Nai Buddhism expresses its gratitude to individuals and families who have rendered meritorious service to the country.

In addition, Dong Nai Buddhism also coordinates with veterans' associations at all levels; the Provincial Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs; the Provincial Association of Cadres and Soldiers Captured and Imprisoned by the Enemies; the Provincial Association of Former Youth Volunteers; and the Provincial Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association to organize delegations to visit and present gifts to policy families, veterans, wounded soldiers, cadres, and soldiers captured and imprisoned by the enemies...

According to veteran Tran Thanh Hung, Chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association, nearly half of the association's approximately 7,000 members are volunteer veterans and former experts who lived, fought, and worked in Cambodia. In recent years, the association has mobilized social resources, including contributions from Dong Nai Buddhism, to present Tet gifts and support disadvantaged members during the annual Tet festival.

Dong Nai Buddhism currently has over 8,500 official monks and nuns who are active at 807 officially Buddhist establishments and concentrated religious practice sites. In 2025, Dong Nai Buddhism carried out social welfare work worth over 267 billion VND.

Supporting disadvantaged people to celebrate Tet

These days, depending on financial capacity and mobilized resources, over 800 temples in the province are busy coordinating with local authorities to compile lists of gift recipients, package Tet gifts, and schedule the delivery of these spring gifts to everyone.

According to Venerable Thich Thien Tri, Chief of Office of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of the province, by this time, almost all temples in the province have been and are coordinating with the Vietnam Fatherland Front at all levels and local authorities to select recipients for Tet gifts. The general spirit set forth by Buddhist dignitaries and officials in Dong Nai is to strive to mobilize and prepare as many Tet gifts as possible to bring Tet to disadvantaged people.

According to Most Venerable Thich Hue Ninh, Standing Member of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Dong Nai province and abbot of Hien Lam Pagoda (in Bien Hoa ward), this Tet, the pagoda will dedicate 300 gifts, each worth 400,000 VND, to disadvantaged people through the coordination of local authorities. The pagoda's wish is to contribute with the people in the ward to bring Tet to those who are still facing many difficulties in life.

Nun Thich Nu Le Thanh, abbess of Pho Quang Pagoda (in Bu Dang commune, Dong Nai province) said: The lives of ethnic minorities where the pagoda is located are still very difficult. Therefore, not only this Tet, but in previous years, the pagoda has always tried to mobilize support for Tet gifts for the people.

Also, according to Venerable Thich Thien Tri, a special point in the Tet gift support from pagodas in Dong Nai is that in addition to the number of gifts corresponding to the number of recipients on the list compiled by the locality, the pagodas also maintain giving some gifts at the facility to promptly support people in need when problems arise. This contributes to the good implementation of Tet care for the poor and difficult cases so that no one lacks Tet, no one is left behind, as called for by the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committees at all levels in the province.

By Van Truyen – Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha