A solemn ceremony will be held at the HCM City-based Pho Quang Pagoda on November 7 to celebrate the 30 th anniversary of establishment of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) (Nov.7, 1981-2011).

The information was released at the fourth meeting of the VBS Central Committee, which opened at the Quang Duc Monastery in Ho Chi Minh City on January 7. The two-day meeting aims to review the VBS’s Buddhist affairs in 2010 and its plans for 2011.

According to Most Venerable Thich Tri Tinh, Chairman of the VBS’s Executive Council, th e central-level ceremony will look back on the 30-year path of the VBS with numerous activities serving the religion and the nation in order to draw experiences and map out new plans for development.

A central-level workshop on the VBS’s 30 th birthday will also take place at the Pho Quang Pagoda in late December this year, he said, adding that provincial-level ceremonies will be organised during the week from Nov. 1-7, 2011.

Over the past year, the VBS has recorded satisfactory achievements in Buddhist work with a wide range of activities, including the restoration of Buddhist pagodas, towers and statues; and the organisation of seminars and symposia on King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong, the Buddhism with 1,000 years of Thang Long-Hanoi, and the Khmer Theravada.

International cooperation has been expanded with a number of overseas trips to attend Buddhist activities in Thailand , India , Myanmar and Europe .

The Sangha has raised nearly 710 billion VND for charitable activities in support for the poor, disabled people and victims of Agent Orange and natural disasters nationwide./.