Over 400 monks and nuns from 23 cities and provinces nationwide gathered in the northern port city of Hai Phong on November 4 to attend a refresher course cum contest on the dissemination of Buddhism.

The course, held by the Viet Nam Buddhism Sangha (VBS) Central Committee's Dharma Dissemination Department, is a practical activity to mark the 28th anniversary of the establishment of the VBS as well as to celebrate the 1,000-year anniversary of Thang Long citadel-Hanoi.

The course aims to provide the participants with skills and techniques for transmitting the teachings of Buddhism to people of all social strata in a bid to build a civilised society.

Since the VBS's establishment in 1981, the Dharma Dissemination Department has organised many short and long-term refresher courses for monks in provinces and cities nationwide.

On the occasion, the VBS provided 550 million VND (30,800 USD) in kind and in cash to heroic mothers, students and family households living below the poverty line, and Agent Orange/dioxin victims./.