TTLV: Social charity of Khmer Theravada Buddhism in Vinh Thuan district, Kien Giang province today.

1. Student's full name: Danh Dung
2. Gender: Male
3. Date of birth: October 17, 1977
4. Place of birth: Vinh Binh Bac, Vinh Thuan, Kien Giang
5. Decision No. 2704/QD-XHNV dated December 24, 2020, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, recognizing the student.
6. Changes in the training process: There were no changes in the training process.
7. Thesis Title: Social Charity of Khmer Theravada Buddhism in Vinh Thuan District, Kien Giang Province Today
8. Major: Religious Studies; Code: 8229009.01
9. Scientific supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Xuan
10. Summary of the thesis results:
The religious and belief life in Vinh Thuan district is very diverse and rich. Currently, the district has 4 religions recognized by the State in terms of organization; there are 1077 religious dignitaries and monks, 124 religious officials, and nearly 10,000 followers with organizations and sects including: Buddhism, Cao Dai,BuddhismThe Hoa Hao Pure Land Buddhist Lay Association of Vietnam has 39 places of worship; its followers live throughout the 7 communes and 1 town of Vinh Thuan district. The district has 5 Khmer Theravada Buddhist temples with 27 clergy and 6,167 followers. Khmer Theravada Buddhist temples are located in Vinh Thuan town, Vinh Phong, Phong Dong, and Vinh Binh Bac. Khmer Theravada Buddhists mainly live by farming and aquaculture. Following the guidance of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Kien Giang province, in recent years, Khmer Theravada Buddhism in Vinh Thuan district has achieved significant results in social work such as building solidarity houses, houses for stable livelihoods, constructing bridges and rural roads, providing medical examinations and medicine, eye surgery, and scholarships… The funds raised for the above-mentioned charitable and humanitarian activities over the past decade have been estimated at over 30 billion VND. This work has been praised and highly appreciated by all levels and sectors, and it is suggested that it should be promoted more strongly to develop social work in the future. Besides the positive aspects, the social work activities of Khmer Theravada Buddhism in Vinh Thuan District, Kien Giang Province, are still largely spontaneous. Social work faces many difficulties and shortcomings, and its effectiveness is not high. Specific solutions are needed to promote positive elements and mitigate difficulties. This is one of the urgent issues requiring strategic attention in the religious work of Khmer Theravada Buddhism today. Therefore, the student has chosen the topic "Social Charity of Khmer Theravada Buddhism in Vinh Thuan District, Kien Giang Province Today" as the topic for this master's thesis. It is hoped that the research results of this thesis will contribute to the theoretical development of Buddhism, especially the social work of Khmer Theravada Buddhism in Vinh Thuan District, Kien Giang Province.

- The thesis has provided an overview of the concepts and ideas regarding patriotic emulation movements and charitable, humanitarian, and social activities, as well as building national unity.
- The thesis analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of social work activities of Theravada Buddhism in the Khmer district of Vinh Thuan, Kien Giang province.
- The thesis has discussed in considerable detail the significant achievements in social work of Khmer Theravada Buddhism in Vinh Thuan district. In particular, in recent times, Khmer Theravada Buddhism has achieved many noteworthy and commendable accomplishments, most notably in social work.
- The thesis has put forward several recommendations to further deepen and enhance the effectiveness of social charity work within the Khmer Theravada Buddhist tradition.
11. Practical applications:
The research findings of this thesis provide reliable reference material to further clarify the theory of Buddhism and social work in Kien Giang in particular, and Khmer Theravada Buddhism and social work in general, thereby helping readers to better understand this issue.
The research findings of this thesis serve as a reliable reference for researchers and university students interested in Khmer culture.
12. Future research directions:
Although efforts were made to complete the thesis as thoroughly as possible, due to time and space constraints, the research was not in-depth or comprehensive. Therefore, the author will expand the research scope to the Mekong Delta region to gain a more comprehensive view and compare the similarities and differences in each locality.
13. Published works related to the thesis:

           

INFORMATION ON MASTER THESIS

1. Student's name: Danh Dung
2. Sex: Male
3. Date of birth: 17/10/1977
4. Place of birth: Vinh Binh Bac commune, Vinh Thuan district, Kien Giang province
5. Student recognition decision No. 2704/QD-XHNV dated December 24, 2020 by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi National University.
6. Changes in the training process: During the training, nothing changed.
7. Thesis title:Social charity work of Theravada Buddhism in the Khmer community in Vinh Thuan district, Kien Giang province today.
8. Major: Religious Studies; Code: 8229009.01
9. Scientific instructors: Assoc. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Xuan
10. Summary of the results of the thesis:
The Khmer people in Kien Giang province number over 200,000, accounting for 12.49% of the population compared to other ethnic groups in the province. Each ethnic group has its own festivals, and the Khmer people generally have many solemn ceremonies, both religious and in life, especially the social charity activities of Theravada Buddhism in Vinh Thuan district, Kien Giang province today.
Therefore, research on this topic is practical and useful for learning about Khmer religious festivals in the area. Up to now, no author has studied this topic separately, only short papers or reports, but it is impossible to describe it in detail. Therefore, this study focuses on the social charity activities of Theravada Buddhism among the Khmer people in Vinh Thuan district, Kien Giang province today.
- The thesis has reviewed the concepts and concepts of spiritual life, spiritual cultural life, religious belief life; festival, traditional festival.
- This thesis has analyzed the social charity of Khmer Theravada Buddhism in Vinh Thuan district, Kien Giang province today.
11. Practical applicability:
- The research results of the thesis are a reliable reference base in cultural planning policies for the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values ​​in the spiritual life of ethnic areas, in the specific case of the Southern Khmer.
- The research results of the thesis are reliable references for researchers and students of universities interested in Khmer culture.
12. Further research directions:
- Although there have been efforts to complete the thesis as complete as possible, but due to time and space conditions, the thesis cannot go in depth and expand the scope of research. Therefore, in the next direction, the author will expand the scope of research in the Mekong Delta region to have a general view and compare the similarities and differences in each living area.
13. Published works related to the thesis: