The centre willcover about 20 hectares in Chieng Sinh ward of Son La city and encompass80 facilities, including a three-entrance gate, an administrative area,and an event venue with a seating capacity of 20,000.
It will be built in four phases at a total cost of over 200 billion VND(9.3 million USD), mostly donated by organisations and individuals.
The main hall is scheduled to be completed in 2017 while final touches to the project will be put in 2025.
Most Venerable Thich Thanh Quyet, head of the Executive Board of theVietnam Buddhist Sangha, said the centre is meant to serve Buddhismteaching and learning and practice of people from different ethnicgroups in Son La.
On this occasion, the Sangha andlocal followers held a requiem for war heroes and martyrs, just ahead ofthe War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27).-VNA