(VOVworld) – A delegation of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Government’s Committee for Religious Affairs on Wednesday visited dignitaries of the Vietnam Buddhist Shangha on the occasion of Lord Buddha’s 2557^th birthday. Pham Dung, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Head of the Committee for Religious Affairs, praised Buddhism’s contributions to the country’s long history. He added that Buddhism has accompanied the Vietnamese nation for thousands of years. He expressed his hope that dignitaries, monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers will continue building on the tradition of solidarity within the religion and with other religions and with non-religious people, contributing to national construction and defense.