1. Full name: Tran Thi Hang                                       2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: 20/11/1989                                      4. Place of birth: Vinh Phuc

5. Decision on Recognition of the PhD student No: 4618/2016/QĐ – XHNV, date 29/12/2016 of Rector of University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Hanoi

6. Changes in academic process:

7. Official thesis title: Organization and activities of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha today.

8. Major: Religious Studies                                         9. Code: 62 22 90 01

10. Supervisors: Assoc.Prof.Dr. Tran Thi Kim Oanh

11. Summary of new findings of the thesis:

The thesis has presented, analyzed, and clarified the process of formation, development and organizational reality of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. After the establishment of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, it has rapidly grown up step by step and affirmed its role not only with Vietnamese Buddhism but also with society and the world. That role is reflected in many aspects such as: unified management; organization for administrative levels; representatives of religion, Buddhism; the internal and external relations of the Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha.

By studying the process of forming Buddhist organizations, the core role of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, the research has come to affirm three basic characteristics that only the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has, or in other words, the specificity of the organization of the the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha today: 1. The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha is organized according to the model of the administrative system and operates according to the Charter; 2. Organizational unity of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha; 3. The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha is a member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front at all levels.

The thesis shows that: During the past 40 years, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has been constantly developing in all aspects, and always accompanies the nation and this companionship is reflected in the specific activities of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha such as: Activities of propagation of faith; Ceremonial activities; Educational activities; Activities to guide Buddhists; Social charity activities; International activities. It is these practical activities of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha that Vietnam Buddhism as a social resource has made significant contributions to the cause of national construction and defense in the past as well as in the present. On the other hand, these same activities have served as a bridge to expand the position of Vietnamese Buddhism domestically and internationally. Moreover, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha is a member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, so many monks and nuns and Buddhists in the Sangha have had the opportunity to participate in the work of People's Council representatives at all levels to contribute strength in social security and preserve national cultural identity in the 4.0 integration period.

- On the basis of research on the organization and operation of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha today, the thesis shows that the current Vietnam Buddhist Sangha still needs to continue to adjust to further improve in all aspects: organization and operation. Since then, the thesis makes a number of recommendations to improve the organization and performance of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in the current period.

The thesis contributes to clarifying more about the study of religion from the perspective of religious organization.

The thesis contributes to clarifying and pointing out the social impacts from the activities of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, thereby showing more clearly the view that religion can be considered as a resource of society.

12. Practical applicability, if any:

The recommendations made in the thesis can contribute to further promoting the role of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in the current period.

The thesis can be used as a reference for research and teaching on religion in general and Buddhism in particular.

13. Further research directions, if any

- Buddhism and modern social problems

- Buddhist Culture

- The role of religion in today’s society

14. Thesis - related publications:  

- Tran Thi Hang, Nguyen Thi Thuy Chinh (2017), “The current social protection work of Vietnamese Buddhism – current situation and solutions”, Summary records of the Scientific Conference of Promoting the role of Buddhism in socializing social work and charity, Religion Publishing House, page 317 – 325.

- Tran Thi Hang (2019), “Features of the Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha”, Journal of Religious Work (159), pp. 44 – 47.

- Tran Thi Hang (2019), “Relations between the Vietnamese state and the Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha”, Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, Volume 5 (2b), pp. 212 – 221.

- Tran Thi Hang (2020), “Foreign affairs of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha today”, Journal of Religious Work (170), pp. 56 – 58.

            - Tran Thi Kim Oanh, Le Ba Trinh, Tran Thi Hang (2021), “Contribution of Buddhism to Vietnamese society today”, Humanities, Social-economic and Social Sciences (7), ISSN 2220-2404 (print version) ISSN 2221-1373 (On-line).