As many as 2,500 Buddhist educators have attended a training course on how to spread religious teachings to a modern audience.

Buddhism has been practised in Vietnam for over 2,000 years.

The country has more than 12 million Buddhist followers, over 40,000 monks and nuns and almost 15,000 temples, monasteries and other places of worship

The teachers were advised how to best promote Buddhism by experienced members of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

The three-day course started on May 1 at Hoi An Pagoda in the southern province of Binh Duong, ahead of the forthcoming United Nations Day of Vesak (the day of Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death).

Vesak 2014 will be held in Bai Dinh Temple in the northern province of Ninh Binh on May 7-11.-VNA