Remarks on the International Day of Yoga 2026 

Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien, Padma Shri, Vice President and General Secretary of the Executive Council, Chairman of Department of International Buddhist Affairs, Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha

Most Venerable Thich Minh Quang, Member of the Secretariat of the Executive Council, VBS, Standing Deputy Head of the Executive Board of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha in Ninh Binh Province, Deputy Abbot of Tam Chuc Pagoda

Mr Pham Van Ngoc Turong, Head of Culture Events Organisation Department, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Viet Nam 

Members of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha

Leadership and Officials of the People’s Committee of Ninh Binh Province

Leaders of Hanoi Yoga Federation

And all of you dear yogis

Xin Chao, Namaskar and a very Good Morning!

I would like to extend a warm welcome to all of you on the 12th International Day of Yoga. Some of you have travelled from far away locations, my deep appreciation. 

The holding of the main IDY event this year in this auspicious and holy Tam Chuc Pagoda is a testimony to the sacred and civilizational bond of Buddhism between our two countries. It is also a reflection of our gratitude to the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha for your continued and treasured friendship. 

The Government of India has chosen "Yoga for Healthy Ageing" as the theme for this year’s yoga day. Yoga has emerged as a global movement for health, harmony and human connection. In today’s age of technological change, rising stress and social fragmentation, Yoga provides a pathway to inner balance and harmony.

As Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has often emphasized, "Healthy people help build a healthy society, and Yoga ensures the same. That is why promoting Yoga is no less than a social service." This aligns with the philosophy of State President Ho Chi Minh who wrote, "Every weak citizen means the whole country is weak, every healthy citizen means the whole country is healthy."

The greatest strength between India and Viet Nam is the trust and affection between the two people. The wide interest in Yoga in Viet Nam symbolizes this close cultural and extensive people-to-people linkages between us. 

It is impressive that this year, Yoga Day events are taking place in almost all provinces across Viet Nam. 

I would like to thank the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha, Leadership of Tam Chuc Pagoda, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Viet Nam Provincial People’s Committee of Ninh Binh, Hanoi Yoga Federation, all our sponsors for your continuous support over the years and all other stakeholders for your support for today’s event at this historic and beautiful Pagoda. I would also like to thank all the Yogis for coming out in such huge numbers. 

My sincere thanks to my Embassy team led by my colleague DCM Bastian, Yoga Guru Tejaswi and the SVCC Team. My deep appreciation.

In conclusion, I seek your continued support in advancing our shared vision of global well-being through Yoga. I wish you all good health, peace and harmony with Yoga. 

Xin Cam on, Thank you and Dhanyavaad.