Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) has more than 53,900 membermonks and nuns at present.
There are18,466 Buddhist pagodas and places of worship nationwide.
Buddhistmonks, nuns and followers donated more than 1.33 trillion VND (58.52 millionUSD) to social and charitable activities in 2016.
These were reported by the VBS while reviewing its performance at the fifthmeeting held by the Sangha’s executive council, seventh tenure, in Ho Chi MinhCity on January 2-3.
In 2016, theVBS organised many important religious events.
Major events included ceremonies marking 708 years of King-Monk Tran NhanTong’s Nirvana attainment, the VBS’s 35th founding anniversary (November7, 1981), and the Lord Buddha’s birthday.
The VBS alsoparticipated in the Vesak Day, which paid homage to Lord Buddha, in Thailand.-VNA