Seminar seeks ways to build united Vietnamese community in Laos

The seminar saw the presence of Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung, Vice Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs Luong Thanh Nghi, head of Phat Tich Laos Pagoda Venerable Thich Minh Quang and representatives from the association of Vietnamese businesses and investors in Laos.

At the event, participants heard presentations on the role of Vietnamese Buddhist establishments in Vientiane and Laos at large in mobilising Vietnamese people to take part in social and charity activities; promotion of cultural, social and religious activities to encourage the Vietnamese community in Laos to look towards their homeland; promotion of community movements, including social and charity activities, to foster the sense of cohesion between the community, Buddhism and the nation.

They also voiced a number of ideas to improve the effectiveness of cultural and religious activities with a view to building a strong and united Vietnamese community in Laos who turn their heart towards their homeland and contribute to the socio-economic development in Laos.

It was estimated that approximately 100,000 Vietnamese people are residing, studying and working in Laos, most of them follow Buddhism. Many see Vietnamese pagodas in Laos as common houses not only for religious practices but also for meeting each other.

Vietnamese Buddhism was introduced in Laos in the early 20th century. Laos is now home to 13 Vietnamese Buddhist pagodas, including three pagodas and one monastery in Vientiane.