During the visits, the Deputy Minister met with Most Venerable Thích Thiện Nhơn, President of the VBS’s Central Executive Council at the VBS’s southern office, Most Venerable Thích Trí Quảng, Deputy Patriarch of the VBS’s Discernment Council cum Chairman of the VBS’s Executive Committee in Ho Chi Minh City at Hue Nghiem pagoda located in Thu Duc city, and Most Venerable Thích Đức Nghiệp, Deputy Patriarch of the VBS’s Discernment Council at Vinh Nghiem pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 3.

During the visit to the VBS’s office in Ho Chi Minh City, Deputy Minister Vũ Chiến Thắng presented the floral bouquet to Most Venerable Thích Thiện Nhơn sent by the Prime Minister on occasion of the Buddha’s Birthday festival 2021.

While extending Buddha’s Birthday greetings to Most Venerable Thích Thiện Nhơn and other VBS dignitaries, the Deputy Minister highlighted practical contributions made by the VBS to the socio-economic development in the country and the Covid-19 epidemic prevention over the past year.

Visiting VBS’s office in Ho Chi Minh City

During the visit to Most Venerable Thích Trí Quảng and Most Venerable Thích Đức Nghiệp, Deputy Minister Vũ Chiến Thắng presented floral bouquets and Buddha’s Birthday greetings of Standing Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình to the two VBS leaders.

Visiting Most Venerable Thích Trí Quảng at Hue Nghiem pagoda

Visiting Most Venerable Thích Đức Nghiệp at Vinh Nghiem pagoda

On the same day, Deputy Minister Vũ Chiến Thắng visited and met with the Central Executive Committee of the Pure-land Buddhist Association on occasion of the Buddha’s Birthday festival 2021.

Deputy Minister Vũ Chiến Thắng extends Buddha’s Birthday greetings to Pure-land Buddhist Association’s Central Executive Committee

During the visit, Deputy Minister Vũ Chiến Thắng extended the Buddha’s Birthday greetings to Ven. Thiện Học, Vice President of the Buddhist association, Ven. Nguyễn Văn Tuy, Chairman of the association’s executive committee, other dignitaries and all members of the Pure-land Buddhist Association, and expressed hope that the Buddhist association’s central executive committee would continue accompanying with the state authorities in the Covid-19 epidemic prevention, and encourage members of the Buddhist association to make practical contributions to patriotic emulation movements launched by local authorities.

Speaking with the guest, Venerable Nguyễn Ngọc Ánh, Vice Chairman of the Buddhist association’s executive committee informed that in 2020, the Buddhist association’s medical charity board provided health checks and traditional medicines for 3,355,000 visiting patients, and gave 14,000,000 sets of medicines and over 18,000 kg of tablets. The Vice Chairman also shared that, the Buddhist association had 17 dignitaries and deacons who were candidates for the People’s Council at all levels in the election held on May 23./.