Vietnam-Sri Lanka: A lasting bond nurtured by compassion and solidarity (Part 2)
WVR - Across the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean, Buddhism has long served as a profound spiritual bond between the peoples of Vietnam and Sri Lanka. Today, that sacred connection continues to be carried forward through religious and cultural landmarks, as well as through generations of Buddhist followers in both countries.
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For more than two millennia, Buddhism has been an integral part of Vietnam's cultural and spiritual life, providing a source of moral guidance and shaping the nation's cultural identity across generations. Thousands of nautical miles to the west, on the island nation of Sri Lanka, the Theravāda Buddhist tradition has likewise been preserved and nurtured through the daily lives of its people.
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| A corner of Truc Lam Monastery in Sri Lanka. (Source: Truc Lam Sri Lanka) |
The first Vietnamese pagoda in 'the land of Buddhism'
Throughout history, the Buddhist communities of Vietnam and Sri Lanka have stood alongside one another through many challenging periods. Today, religious cooperation and Buddhist exchanges have become a distinctive feature of bilateral relations, reflecting the shared values of peace, compassion, tolerance, wisdom and benevolence that both countries continue to uphold. Sri Lanka has also become one of the most trusted destinations for the education and training of Vietnamese monks and nuns.
The close ties between Vietnam and Sri Lanka can be seen vividly in Kandy, the island nation's second-largest city. It is home to Truc Lam Monastery, widely recognised as the first Vietnamese Buddhist monastery established in Sri Lanka, and a spiritual destination for Buddhist followers from both countries.
Through a fortunate opportunity, The World & Viet Nam Report spoke with Venerable Thich Phap Quang, the founder and abbot of Truc Lam Monastery, via his TikTok channel “Truc Lam Sri Lanka”, which he created to introduce the monastery and share its activities with a wider audience.
Twelve years have passed since Venerable Thich Phap Quang began his monastic studies in Sri Lanka, looking back on his first days in the country in 2014, he still vividly remembers the uncertainty of living abroad for the first time. As one of only ten Vietnamese monks who had travelled to Sri Lanka to pursue Buddhist studies, he faced numerous challenges adapting to a new environment. Limited English proficiency and unfamiliar food made daily life particularly difficult.
“Within just three months, I lost at least six kilograms”, he recalled.
Despite those initial hardships, Venerable Thich Phap Quang has always considered it a great blessing to study in a country that has preserved the Theravāda Buddhist tradition for thousands of years, where the teachings of the Buddha remain deeply woven into everyday life.
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| Venerable Thich Phap Quang, Abbot of Truc Lam Monastery (Kandy, Sri Lanka), Standing Member of the Liaison Committee of the Vietnamese Community in Sri Lanka, and Standing Member of the International Dharma Propagation Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. (Source: Truc Lam Monastery Sri Lanka) |
Although Vietnamese monks wore the same saffron robes as their Sri Lankan counterparts, local monks initially found it difficult to distinguish them from other monastics. Yet after spending time together, they soon came to recognise the distinctive qualities of the Vietnamese monks and developed a genuine interest in learning more about the Vietnamese language and the country itself.
According to Venerable Thich Phap Quang, Vietnamese people are known for their positive outlook on life, compassion, dedication and willingness to help others. It was these qualities that enabled the Vietnamese monks to build close relationships with the Sri Lankan monastic community and local people alike.
“It is a bond that goes beyond language; it is built upon the very character of the Vietnamese people”, he said.
That sincerity and dedication deeply moved the abbot of the monastery where Venerable Thich Phap Quang pursued his master's degree. At the time, although he was still an unfamiliar Vietnamese monk in Sri Lanka, he had long cherished a simple aspiration:
| “I wished to establish a monastery where Vietnamese people visiting Sri Lanka would have a place to make pilgrimages, pay homage to the Buddha and, at the very least, enjoy a vegetarian meal”. |
Touched by his aspiration, the abbot later decided to donate approximately two acres of land (nearly 8,000 square metres) for the construction of the monastery. More than a gift of land, it represented the confidence and goodwill that the Sri Lankan Sangha placed in a Vietnamese monk, marking the beginning of the first Vietnamese Buddhist monastery in the Land of Buddhism.
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| Venerable Thich Phap Quang with local residents at Truc Lam Monastery. (Photo: Courtesy of the interviewee) |
More than a spiritual sanctuary
In 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Venerable Thich Phap Quang began construction of Truc Lam Monastery. With limited financial resources and severe disruptions to travel and the transportation of building materials, he adopted a phased approach, completing the meditation hall first, followed by the monks' quarters and the dining hall.
More than five years on, although a number of facilities remain under construction, the monastery has gradually become fully operational, serving as a spiritual home for the Vietnamese community in Sri Lanka and local residents alike. From the outset, Venerable Thich Phap Quang envisioned the monastery as being built upon two core pillars: meditation practice and education.
In terms of meditation, he has continuously organised retreats to introduce mindfulness and meditation practice to local people. Over the past five years, Truc Lam Monastery has hosted more than 200 meditation retreats, held regularly every Sunday, providing a space for people to study and practise the Buddha's teachings.
In its early days, the monastery prepared meals according to Sri Lankan tastes. Over time, however, Vietnamese cuisine gradually became part of its offerings.
“Little by little, local people have come to enjoy Vietnamese dishes. It is also my way of introducing the culture and identity of my homeland", Venerable Thich Phap Quang said.
Alongside its spiritual activities, the monastery has placed particular emphasis on education. It currently provides care and financial support for 35 children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, including five university students and thirty pupils from secondary school to upper-secondary level.
The scholarship programme has been maintained for more than four years. Once a month, the students gather at the monastery for a day of Buddhist practice before receiving 10 kilograms of rice and 5,000 Sri Lankan rupees (approximately VND 700,000) to help with their daily living expenses.
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| Sri Lankan children supported by Truc Lam Monastery hold deep affection for the Venerable, whom they regard as both their spiritual teacher and a second father. (Photo: Courtesy of the interviewee) |
In addition, Venerable Thich Phap Quang represents the monastery in providing monthly donations of rice and other essential food supplies to elderly Sri Lankan Buddhist nuns.
Truc Lam Monastery has also become an important cultural gathering place for the Vietnamese community in Kandy, Colombo, and local residents during major celebrations such as the Mid-Autumn Festival and Lunar New Year (Tet). According to Venerable Thich Phap Quang, each community celebration regularly attracts more than 500 participants.
The more we listened to Venerable Thich Phap Quang's reflections, the clearer it became that this Vietnamese monastery is far more than a spiritual sanctuary. Beyond supporting people on their Buddhist journey, it has opened new opportunities for many individuals to pursue a brighter future.
Anyone following Truc Lam Monastery's social media platforms will soon come across heart-warming scenes of Sri Lankan children enthusiastically learning, reading and singing in Vietnamese.
Speaking about the children, Venerable Thich Phap Quang recalled, with visible emotion, the story of a young girl who was given the Vietnamese name Truc Hanh. She first came to the monastery at the age of ten and is now fifteen. Every day, her mother would bring her to the monastery to attend Vietnamese language classes.
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| Vietnamese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Trinh Thi Tam (sixth from left) poses for a commemorative photograph with Venerable Thich Phap Quang and the children. (Photo: Courtesy of the interviewee) |
“Truc Hanh sings beautifully in Vietnamese, speaks the language very well and looks wonderful in the traditional ao dai", he said with a smile.
Tragedy struck when Truc Hanh's mother fell seriously ill. During her final days in hospital, she made one heartfelt request to the Venerable: “If anything should happen to me, please take care of Truc Hanh".
At first, he thought it was simply the natural concern of a mother worried about her daughter. The following day, however, she passed away, leaving Truc Hanh in the care of the monastery.
Since then, Venerable Thich Phap Quang has regarded Truc Hanh as one of his children. Together with the other youngsters at the monastery, she has grown up immersed in Vietnamese culture including learning the language, performing traditional songs and dances, and wearing the ao dai during cultural events attended by both the Vietnamese community and local Sri Lankans.
Empowering wings to a brighter future
Continuing the story, Venerable Thich Phap Quang introduced The World & Viet Nam Report to Truc An, whose birth name is Abhi, a 17-year-old Sri Lankan student who attends Vietnamese language classes at Truc Lam Monastery.
When she first began learning Vietnamese, Abhi struggled with speaking because she lacked confidence. Yet, over time, she developed a deep affection for the language and nurtured a simple dream: to study in Vietnam and build a future there.
After years of perseverance, the once timid girl, who had struggled with pronunciation and often stammered, received support from her “master” in applying for a scholarship through the Embassy of Vietnam in Sri Lanka.
Today, she is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering at Cuu Long University in Vinh Long Province.
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| Vietnamese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Trinh Thi Tam presents full scholarships from Cuu Long University to Sri Lankan students, including Abhi (third from right). (Source: Embassy of Vietnam in Sri Lanka) |
Before leaving for Vietnam, despite having met many Vietnamese people, Truc An could not help feeling anxious about beginning life in an entirely new country. However, the dedication of her lecturers and the openness of her classmates soon helped her settle into her new surroundings.
| “Vietnam is no longer simply the place where I study. It has truly become my second home", she said. |
Reflecting on her time at Cuu Long University, Truc An said that her lecturers had created an open and supportive learning environment that encouraged her to develop her abilities, build confidence and strive for academic excellence.
Her Vietnamese friends also gave her the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the country's culture. In doing so, she discovered many similarities between Vietnam and her homeland, particularly in their shared Buddhist traditions, hospitality and strong emphasis on family values.
What has impressed her most, however, is the warmth and sincerity of the Vietnamese people, their willingness to help others, as well as the country's rich cuisine and vibrant traditional festivals.
She hopes that, upon returning to Sri Lanka, she will be able to introduce her family and friends to Vietnam, its people and the unforgettable memories she has made during her years of study.
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| Ms. Abhi holds up a red T-shirt featuring the Vietnamese flag. (Photo: Courtesy of the interviewee) |
“It is truly a wonderful place to study, to grow, and to create cherished memories of youth", she shared.
After graduation, Truc An hopes to apply the knowledge and experience she has gained to build her career while maintaining the friendships she has formed with her lecturers, classmates and everyone who has accompanied her along the way.
More importantly, she aspires to become “a small bridge” connecting the young people of Sri Lanka and Vietnam through cultural and educational exchanges, while sharing positive stories about Vietnam and its people with friends back home.
Truc An's story as a young Sri Lankan given the opportunity to pursue her education in Vietnam stands as a vivid testament to Truc Lam Monastery's enduring efforts to strengthen people-to-people ties between the two countries through education and cultural exchange.
From the small seeds planted through Vietnamese language classes, new opportunities have blossomed not only for Truc An, but also for many other young Sri Lankans who have developed a genuine affection for Vietnam.
Yet Venerable Thich Phap Quang's vision extends even further.
He hopes to establish a more comprehensive Vietnamese language centre for Sri Lankan children and local residents, equipped with proper classrooms, desks, learning materials and all the facilities needed to provide systematic, long-term language education.
In his view, such a centre would enable more people to learn the Vietnamese language and gain a deeper, more sustained understanding of Vietnam's culture and people.
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| Charitable activities carried out by the monks of Truc Lam Monastery. (Photo: Courtesy of the interviewee) |
Through Vietnamese language classes, meditation retreats and the educational opportunities created for younger generations, Venerable Thich Phap Quang's aspirations continue to grow and inspire others.
As these bridges are built upon compassion, generosity and shared cultural values, Buddhism will continue to serve as the enduring bond bringing Vietnam and Sri Lanka ever closer, not only as a legacy of history, but also as a source of inspiration for generations to come.
