The Executive Board of the Ho Chi Minh City Buddhist Sangha held a ritual chanting service on March 27, dedicated to the earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan.
At the ritual service to pray for the deceased and injured Japanese victims, Monk Thich Tri Quang, deputy head of the Executive Board of the Ho Chi Minh City Buddhist Sangha called for contributions from Buddhist followers, nuns and monks to help Japan in its hour of need.
After the ritual chanting service wrapped up, participants donated nearly VND1, 5 billion (US$721,000), JPY21, 000 and US$720 for the Japanese disaster victims.
On behalf of the Japanese Buddhist Sangha, Monk Zochimiju, chief of the Nischin Kustu pagoda, who has been helping Vietnamese workers and students during the present crisis in Japan, thanked the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and followers for their donations.
The ceremony held in Suoi Tien entertainment and cultural park in district 9, HCMC on March 27 had over 500 monks and many Buddhist followers from the southern provinces participating in the event.
On the same day, more than 5,000 employees of Tan Duc Industrial Park and high school students from Duc Hoa district in the Mekong delta province of Long An, held a march in support of Japanese earthquake and tsunami victims.