Inauguration ceremony held to mark the completion of the first phase of the Viet Nam Buddhism Academy in Ha Noi's outlying district of Soc Son. -- VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Dan

Vietnam News Agency, September 9, 2006

Ha Noi, Vietnam -- A ceremony was held to mark the completion of the first phase of the Viet Nam Buddhism Academy 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.

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.

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 Viet Nam Buddhism Academy, in its previous premises, had trained 600 Buddhist graduates in 25 years.

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.

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.