They donated more than VND11 billion to charitable activities such as building houses for the poor, bridges and roads, opening classes in areas confronted with difficulties, providing food for poor patients and supporting flood victims, reported Most Venerable Duong Nhon, Head of the Administration Committee of the provincial Buddhist Sangha, who is also Vice President of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS)'s Central Committee.

The living conditions of monks and nuns in all pagodas and houses of worship in the province have been much improved, helping to facilitate their studies and practice of religious activities, he added.

The two-day congress was attended by Most Venerable Thich Hien Phap, Vice Chairman and General Secretary of the VBS's Central Committee, and more than 700 monks, nuns and Buddhist followers in the province.

At the congress, a 49-member Administration Committee of the provincial Buddhist Sangha was elected for the seventh term (2007-12). Superior Buddhist monk Duong Nhon was re-elected head of the committee.

More than half of the province's population from the Kinh, Hoa (Chinese) and Khmer ethnic minority groups, are Buddhist followers.