PANO - The material and spiritual lives of the Khmer ethnic community in Soc Trang province in recent years have been much improved thanks to the implementation of the movement, “entire people unite to build cultural life style in the locality”, which was launched in 1998. The movement aims at guiding local people to a new life style while doing away with bad habits and practices.

364,153 Khmer ethnic people are living in Soc Trang, accounting for 29.5% of the province’s population. Most of them live in remote hamlets, in the coastal regions or around one of the 92 Khmer pagodas.

For the Khmer, the pagoda is the rendezvous point for every socio-cultural activity, including religious activities.

Local authorities have taken great efforts to restore and equip pagodas with cassettes, televisions, books so as to better the spiritual life of the Khmer people, contributing to developing and enriching the diversified culture of the nation.

Besides cultural and religious activities, local leaders have also introduced local people to new policies and guidelines of the Government.

To date, 46,577 Khmer households in Soc Trang province have been recognised as “Cultural Household”.

Translated by Mai Huong