NAM DINH — Casting of a bronze statue of Buddha Sakyamuni started yesterday in the northern province of Nam Dinh.

The 15m-high statue, cast from 150 tonnes of bronze, portrays Buddha Sakyamuni sitting on a lotus throne, preaching.

When the statue is completed at the end of this year, it will be placed at Truc Lam Thien Truong Buddhism Centre in Nam Dinh city where Buddhists and pilgrims can visit and pray.

It's expected to be the biggest bronze statue of Buddha in Southeast Asia.-VNS