Soc Trang (VNA) – A TrucLam Zen Monastery was inaugurated in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang onJanuary 5 after two years of construction.
The facility was built on nearly6 hectares of land at a total cost of 100 billion VND (over 4.3 million USD atcurrent exchange rate), which was donated by philanthropists and Buddhistfollowers.
Addressing the inauguralceremony, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Ngo Hung said ninereligions are operating in Soc Trang with more than 630,000 followers.
Buddhismis a major religion in the province with 184 temples and more than 500,000followers.
He said the new monastery meetsthe spiritual need of local residents.
The Truc Lam Zen is a VietnameseBuddhist sect founded by King Tran Nhan Tong. TranNhan Tong, born Tran Kham, ascended to the throne when he was 21. He was famedfor defeating Yuan-Mongol invaders twice as well as developing the nationaleconomy and culture during his 15-year reign. The king abdicated when he was 35 and spent the rest of hislife on Yen Tu Mountain, located in where is now Quang Ninh province, topractice and propagate Buddhism. He founded the Zen Buddhist sect of Truc Lam there./.
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At the inauguration ceremony (Photo: VNA) 
