Vietnam Buddhist Sangha aids Lao monks amid COVID-19

Vientiane (VNA) – The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) on October 19 presented to the Lao Buddhist Coalition Central Committee five tonnes of rice and 500 boxes of instant noodle to help Lao monks overcome difficulties caused by COVID-19.

On behalf of the VBS, Venerable Thich Minh Quang, head monk of the Phat Tich Pagoda in Vientiane, handed over the essential goods at the ceremony.

Venerable Thich Minh Quang said the amount of goods is half of the total worth 120 million LAK (11,846 USD) donated by Vietnamese Buddhist followers to Laos this time, with the remaining earmarked for Luang Prabang province.

Most Venerable Bounma Simaphome, acting president of the Lao Buddhist Coalition Central Committee, thanked the VBS as well as the Vietnamese Buddhists in Laos for having supported and shared the difficulties with Lao monks, especially in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said this is the second time this year, the VBS has granted the assistance for Lao Buddhists given Laos’ prolonged lockdown orders. This reflects the special friendship and solidarity between the two sanghas and the two nations, he affirmed.  

Earlier, on October 18, the first half of the VBS donation was presented to Lao monks in Luang Prabang, which houses many ancient pagodas./.