Bangkok (VNA) – A ceremony was held on May 15 to celebrate the 190th anniversary of the establishment of Khanh Tho Pagoda, one of the first pagodas of Vietnamese people in the western province of Kanchanaburi, Thailand, that have been recognised and attached with the plates bearing Vietnamese names.
The event saw the attendance of Thai Buddhist dignitaries, Chairman of National Office of Buddhism of Thailand Ittiporn Chan-iam, representatives from the Annam Nikaya sect in Thailand and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, leaders of Kanchanaburi province, Vietnamese Ambassador Designate to Thailand Pham Viet Hung and hundreds of local Buddhist followers.
Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, who is also Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (OV) Affairs thanked the Royal Family and Government of Thailand, the government and people of Kanchanaburi province for their support of the Vietnamese community, helping them integrate into the host society while preserving their cultural identity and the Vietnamese language.
The Vietnamese diplomat, who led a delegation of SCOV on a working visit to Thailand, emphasised that Vietnamese pagodas are both venues for cultural and religious activities and for overseas Vietnamese to convey their feelings for their homeland, maintaining long-standing customs and traditions associated with the community, educating the young generation about the roots and cultural beauties of the homeland.
On the occasion, the Deputy FM had a working session with Thotsapon Chaikomin, Governor of Kanchanaburi province and Khanh Tho Pagoda Board of Directors, and met with representatives from Vietnamese associations in Thailand./.
