Vice Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs (GCRA) Bùi Thanh Hà led a delegation visiting Laos and attending the first Cambodia – Laos – Vietnam Buddhist Leader’s conference held on November 12 in Vientiane.

Kon Tum was represented at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism, outskirts of Hanoi, on October 21. The New Rice celebration, the most important ritual of the year for the Xo Dang ethnic minority group in the Central Highlands, takes place in two or three days during the tenth lunar month. Many worship rituals and festive activities are held to express thanks to the genies and pray to them for a bumper crop, prosperity, and happiness.

The 150-year-old St Joseph's Seminary, one of first French architectural works in Ho Chi Minh City, is keeping thousands of antiquities, sculptures and religious and folklore paintings.

Ancient Nom pagoda in the northern province of Hung Yen remains intact with its historical architecture.

Domain de Maria church is a famous tourist destination in Da Lat city. It is also known as Mai Anh church because of being located on a hill full of cherry trees.

Hanoi (VNA) – The Buddhist Vu Lan Festival is now in full swing, taking place during the middle of the seventh lunar month. These days, crowds of Buddhists and non-religious people flock to pagodas and worship places nationwide to hear talks about parental love and pray for their parents.

Van Duc pagoda located in To Ngoc Van street, Thu Duc ward, Ho Chi Minh city was built in 1954. Its sanctum rebuilt in 2004 and completed after two years, was recognized as the highest main worshipping temple in Vietnam by the Vietnam Record Book with the height of 43.5 m.

The hundred-year-old Khanh An Monastery, located in district 12 of Ho Chi Minh City, looks very much like a Japanese pagoda and has become a tourist attraction.

An art program by religious groups and the Government Committee for Religious Affairs (GCRA) was held on August 2^nd on occasion of 63^rd founding anniversary of the state governance on religion (August 2nd).

While Buddhism is not the most popular religion among Russia’s many ethnic groups, there are an estimated 1 million followers and more than 200 Buddhist organizations in the country. (links in Russian)

Tieu pagoda in Tieu Son mountain was located in Truong Giang commune, Bac Ninh province’s Tu Son district. The pagoda has stunning views over vast fields and villages.

The Idul Fitri is an important  religious holiday celebrated by Muslims in Indonesia that marks the end of Ramadan and falls on June 15 this year.

The annual pilgrimage to the Our Lady of La Vang Pilgrimage Centre of Catholics from Xuan Loc Diocese’s parishes in Dong Nai province’s Thong Nhat district was organized on Jun 7-9.

Jamia Al-Musulman was built in 1935 as a place of worship for Muslims in Saigon.