Nhan Dan – A Party and Government delegation visited Hoa Hao Buddhism Central Executive Board (HBCEB) in An Giang province on July 4-5 for the 73rd anniversary of the sect’s founding (1939-2012).
Guests sent best wishes to the Hoa Hao Buddhist dignitaries and its followers who have enthusiastically participated in social and charitable activities and helped improve the life of disadvantaged people in their localities.
The delegation also hailed Hoa Hao Buddhist dignitaries for guiding the sect’s followers to practice their religious beliefs under the Party's and State's guidelines, policies and laws for freedom of religion and worship.
For the anniversary, the An Giang provincial authorities also presented ‘For the cause of the Great Unity’ order to Head of the HBCEB and Vice Chairman of the An Giang provincial Fatherland Front Committee, Nguyen Van Ton for his outstanding work on strengthening and developing the national unity bloc and helping to bolster the country’s construction and defence.
Since its founding in 1939 at the Hoa Hao village, Tan Chau district, Chau Doc province (now Phu My town, Phu Tan district, An Giang province), Hoa Hao Buddhism now has over 2 million followers in 17 cities and provinces, mostly in central-southern and southern parts of the country. With more than 800,000 followers, An Giang province is regarded as the Holy Land of the sect.