On May 2, as part of his journey accompanying the sacred relics of Buddha Shakyamuni to Vietnam for the 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival, Kiren Rijiju, India’s Minister for Parliamentary and Minority Affairs, met with the Vietnam-India Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). The meeting underscored the deep cultural and diplomatic ties between the two nations, further strengthening their historical bonds through this momentous occasion.