Vietnam carving world’s largest jade Buddha

Vietnam will soon be home to the world’s largest jade Buddha as sculptors began chiseling a 35-ton block of jadeite jade in the northern province of Hai Duong this week.

The Hanoi-based Than Chau Ngoc Viet Gems and Jewelry Company began sculpting the precious stone on Monday during a ceremony at its factory in Hai Duong’s Cam Giang District. The company had bought the jade at a gemstone fair in Myanmar for VND60 billion (US$3.25 million).

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wow.. I'm quite surprised at this, as Vietnam is still a communist country and not too keen on any religions, with Buddhism at the front. Someone must have donated the jade who has some pull with the Vietnamese government.

Writing my book which is NOT about Thailand, I concocted a kingdom whose royal treasure includes a Crimson Ruby image of the Buddha.

Thailand has its own large jade Buddha, carved from a 32-ton block of Canadian jade. It's at Wat Dhammamongkol.