Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Marie C. Damour, U.S. Mission to Vietnam
Hanoi January 22, 2022
On behalf of the U.S. Mission in Vietnam, I would like to express our sincere condolences on the passing of Thích Nhất Hạnh, Thien Buddhist monk, peace activist, and founder of the Plum Village Tradition.
For more than 60 years, Thích Nhất Hạnh was a teacher, beloved spiritual leader and tireless advocate for peace in his own country and around the world. His teachings, in particular on bringing mindfulness into daily life, have enriched the lives of innumerable Americans.
Many U.S. officials, including Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink, have had the honor of meeting Patriarch Thích Nhất Hạnh. The Patriarch’s compassion and commitment to religious pluralism left a deep impression on those he met. Thích Nhất Hạnh will be remembered as arguably one of the most influential and prominent religious leaders in the world. Through his teachings and literary work, his legacy will remain for generations to come.