Hanoi (VNA) - A delegation of 24 volunteers from the Hanoi branch of the Missionary Training Centre (MTC) under the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) and five staff members from the Asia Area Office of LDS Charities (LDSC) in Hong Kong (China) led by President of the Hanoi branch Rob Howell held a working session with the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) in Hanoi on December 16.
VUFO President Phan Anh Son provided the delegation with an overview of Vietnam's development over the past nearly four decades of reform, highlighting the Party and State’s foreign policy and the current state of Vietnam-US relations.
He also introduced VUFO, its member organisations, and the extensive people-to-people diplomatic activities between Vietnam and the US led by VUFO, as well as Vietnam's policies and laws related to religious practices in the country.
According to the guests, the MTC annually dispatches volunteers to countries worldwide to engage in social volunteer activities and support the Church's religious operations in the host countries.
With the approval of Vietnam’s Government Committee for Religious Affairs, the LDS annually sends 1-2 volunteer groups to support the Church’s activities at its two congregations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. This year, the MTC dispatched 14 young volunteers to Vietnam in late October for a two-year volunteer mission.
During their stay, the delegation immersed themselves in Hanoi’s rich culinary scene, enjoying local delicacies with VUFO’s young staff members. They also visited Bat Trang ceramic village, experiencing Vietnam’s traditional culture and fostering meaningful people-to-people exchanges.
The reception for the MTC volunteer delegation was VUFO’s initiative following its visit to the MTC in the US state of Utah, as part of its working trip to attend the International Law and Religion Symposium held by Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo city, Utah, from October 5-11./.
