Buddhas 2553rd birthday was celebrated in Hanoi on May 9 with the participation of more than 2,000 nuns and monks, and representatives from the
Hanoi Municipal Party Committee, the Hanoi Municipal Peoples Committee and Buddhist monasteries. In his speech, Mr Huynh Dam praised the VSBs contributions to the Doi Moi (Renewal) process and their effort to combat hostile forces distorted allegations against great national unity and create favorable conditions for Buddhist followers to practise religious activities. Mr Dam expressed the hope that the VSB will play an active role in disseminating and encouraging nuns and monks throughout the country to effectively implement the Party and States policies and guidelines and take part in patriotic movements. On the occasion, Buddhist Supreme Patriarch Thich Pho Tue called on all Buddhist dignitaries and followers at home and abroad to fulfill their tasks to welcome the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and the sixth World Buddhism Summit scheduled for November in Hanoi. On the occasion, a delegation from the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, Peoples Committee and Fatherland Front Committee led by mayor Le Thanh Hai visited and congratulated Buddhist dignitaries and followers in the city. They praised the valuable contributions of the Buddhist Shangha to HCM Citys socio-economic development and they hoped that Buddhist dignitaries and followers would continue to uphold their traditions to strengthen national unity and develop socialism. On May 9, the Buddhist executive board in the southern province of Vinh Long held a ceremony to mark Buddhas 2553rd birthday with the participation of many Buddhist monks, nuns and followers. Pagodas in the province take part in many charitable activities, such as building houses for needy people, building bridges, upgrading rural road networks and supplying noodles and boiled water for patients in local hospitals.
At present, Ninh Thuan has more than 70,000 Buddhist followers who have actively taken part in charity work.