"Buddhism was first introduced intoVietnam as early as first century BC by Indian traders and monks," saidProfessor Sachchidanand Sahai from India .
Today, there are more than 20,000 Buddhist pagodas throughout the country.
"All testify to a vigorous development of Buddhism in Vietnam ,"said the professor on the sideline of the two-day conference.
The conference aims to help Buddhist scholars from Vietnam , India ,China , Sri Lanka , Cambodia and Thailand explore and strengthenthe rich cultural ties that developed from the teachings of Buddha.
The conference is being held as part of a joint commemoration byVietnam and India of the 2600th anniversary of the attainment ofenlightment by Lord Buddha.
The executive secretary anddeputy head of the Department for International Buddhist Affairs of theVietnam Buddhist Sangha, Venerable Thich Duc Thien, said Vietnameseculture had absorbed Buddhism directly from Indian traders and monks.
The venerable said materials and antiques left at Dau Pagoda in thenorthen province of Bac Ninh were made about 1,752 years ago. Thisproved the pagoda was one of the oldest in Vietnam .
Most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu, standing vice president of the VietnamBuddhist Sangha, confirmed that Buddhism from India had intermingledinto Mahayana Buddhism brought to Vietnam along the Silk Road intoChina and brought vitality to Vietnam 's culture.
"It has become part and parcel of the national culture," Tu said.
Between 70 percent and 80 percent of Vietnamese population believe in Buddhism, according to the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. /.