<P align=center><SPAN lang=EN-US><STRONG><BR></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-US><SPAN lang=EN-US><STRONG>Inauguration ceremony held to mark the completion of the first phase of the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Viet Nam</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Buddhism</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Academy</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> in Ha Noi's outlying district of Soc Son. -- VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Dan</STRONG></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><SPAN lang=EN-US>Vietnam</SPAN></st1:country-region></st1:place><SPAN lang=EN-US> News Agency, September 9, 2006</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>Ha <st1:City w:st="on">Noi</st1:City>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:country-region> -- A ceremony was held to mark the completion of the first phase of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Viet Nam</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Buddhism</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Academy</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> in Ha Noi's outlying district of Soc Son yesterday. The academy also began classes for the 5th school year for Bachelor of Arts in Buddhism.</SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>The first phase was completed at a total cost of VND30 billion (US$1,875). The academy, which can enrol a maximum of 400 students during the first school year, will also serve as a centre for national research, international cultural exchanges and preserve traditional values of Buddhism.</SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>Deputy chairman of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha's Executive Council, the Most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu, said at yesterday's ceremony that the Ha Noi-based <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Viet Nam</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Buddhism</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Academy</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, in its previous premises, had trained 600 Buddhist graduates in 25 years.</SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>More than 280 students from 34 provinces and cities had enrolled for the 2006-2010 batch, said the Most Venerable Tu, who is also the academy's director.</SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>Since the academy's previous facility at Quan Su Pagoda in Ha Noi was too small to meet the social development and training demand, the Sangha decided to build the new academy in Phu Linh Commune in Soc Son District, Tu said.</SPAN></SPAN></P>
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