Vietnam Travel Tips

2. Religion

A bit of context…
Vietnam’s traditional religious background is based on three great philosophies and religions – Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism – that coexist with a more ancient but still thriving Mother Worship cult, ancestor worship, popular beliefs, superstitions and ancient Vietnamese animism.

Religion and politics
Is religion a sensitive issue in Vietnam? To understand the “yes and no” answer, one must remember that, from the dawn of civilization, religion has gone hand in hand with politics, power and conquests.
As far as individual beliefs are concerned – especially those of foreigners – Vietnam has to be one of the most tolerant societies. Actually most Vietnamese couldn’t care less if you believe or what you believe in and will not try to convert to you to their own sets of beliefs. Winning converts doesn’t seem to be a Vietnamese trait although some Western religions did their best to change that state of mind.
However, it is also true that some religious groups are under closer scrutiny than others. Not for their underlying philosophies and values, but for their perceived intervention in the political arena. The role of their followers during the struggle against colonialism and during the American War has influenced the level of control placed on many groups.
In a still nervous “post-civil war” environment, the Government is also extremely wary of “hostile forces” trying to infiltrate Vietnam or raise followers abroad. Many of these groups have used religious covers to camouflage their actions.
DON’T be afraid to talk philosophy and religion with your Vietnamese friends and acquaintances. Most will be extremely happy to take you to their pagodas and explain their rituals.
DON’T engage in any missionary or conversion activities. This could lead to serious consequences.
DO visit all the temples, pagodas and churches you want, ask all the questions you please; just remember to respect other beliefs as you would like yours to be respected.

Temple or Pagoda
Not that it probably makes much difference to the Gods themselves, but many visitors seem fascinated by this semantic question: What is the difference between a temple and a pagoda?
Vietnamese also uses two main words đền and chùa translated respectively as “temple” and “pagoda”. Chùa refers to temples dedicated to the worship of Buddha. Chùa are tended by resident monks. On the other hand, đền are temples where all other deities are worshipped. They are tended by ordinary men or women assigned to each temple.
In Vietnamese spiritual world, many deities are actually real human beings that have lived exceptional lives and have kept their influential position in the afterlife. Buddha is the highest ranking of all. Other deities of human origin include famous and powerful emperors, mandarins and national heroes that influenced Vietnamese history. Normally, Vietnamese worshippers visit different temples, addressing specific prayers to specific deities. A business request might be submitted to a successful mandarin, a family problem may be submitted to the Mother, etc.

Beliefs and superstitions
DON’T underestimate the extent and power of popular beliefs in Vietnam. The “respect” mentioned above will be more difficult to bestow when it will adversely affect your plans, but that’s when it will be most needed. Your Vietnamese friends might not want to start a journey on a particular date and may be too shy to tell you the real reason why… it’s simply not a “good day” to travel.

Kitchen gods and village spirits
Vietnamese religious beliefs are rich and varied. The afterlife is also modeled along the same lines as the earthly one, with the family theme being all important.
In all Vietnamese homes and pagodas, you will find an altar dedicated to the ancestors. Filial piety and family cohesion DON’T end with the death of a parent. Anniversaries of death are much more celebrated than dates of birth and give rise to family reunions and elaborate dining. Occasionally, you will be invited to such ceremonies.
If you DON’T wish to attend, simply refuse politely; otherwise, enjoy the discovery. A small gift (flowers, fruits, wine) should be offered to the host family.
DO take advantage of these invitations to discover more about local customs.
DON’T be shy, simply be respectful.
In every village, there’s a temple to worship the tutelary spirit who founded the place. His death anniversary will be celebrated with numerous offerings at his temple.
Yet not all spirits are good and benevolent. Ghosts and bad spirits also thrive in the land of the dead. Most Vietnamese are quite afraid of evil spirits and many will have true stories of encounters with living dead creatures.