VietNamNet Bridge – On Saturday morning, after nearly a year of construction with an investment of VND145 billion ($7 million), the Truc Lam Phuong Nam monastery in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho was inaugurated.

Truc Lam Phuong Nam Monastery.

The monastery receives a Buddha statue from President Truong Tan Sang.

The monastery was built on four hectares in My Khanh Commune, Phong Dien District in the Buddhism architecture style of the Ly-Tran Dynasty in the 11-12th centuries.

The funding for construction was raised by former Minister of Defense General Pham Van Tra from various sources.

According to General Tra, he suggested the construction of this monastery and called for capital contribution from the people and many organizations in order to restore the Truc Lam sect of King Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308).

"Can Tho is the center of the Mekong Delta so I wish Truc Lam sect will restore and thrive strongly, stretching from north to south, to meet the needs of spiritual beliefs of the Buddhists,” says the former Minister of Defense.

The head of the monastery is Venerable Thich Binh Tam. This is the largest temple in the Mekong Delta, with a meeting hall for about 500 monks.

On this occasion, President Truong Tan Sang and former General Party Secretary Le Kha Phieu donated two Buddha statues to the monastery.

Thanh Van