Category: Religion and belief systems

One of Vietnam’s notable indigenous religious movements, Hoa Hao, meaning “peace and kindness,” originated in the late 1930s near Chau Doc in the Mekong Delta. Founded by the mystic Huynh Phu So, the sect advocates a pure, simple form of Buddhism that emphasizes self-practice through meditation, fasting, and prayer without reliance on clergy or elaborate […]

The social upheavals and influence of Western thought in the early 20th century led to the emergence of two major indigenous religious sects in Vietnam: Cao Dai and Hoa Hao. Among these, Cao Dai has a larger following, with an estimated two million adherents in southern Vietnam and thousands more among overseas Vietnamese communities in […]

Christianity in Vietnam represents a significant and growing part of the country’s religious landscape. With a population estimated between 6 to 8 million Catholics, Vietnam has the second-largest Catholic community in Southeast Asia, following the Philippines. This accounts for approximately 7-10% of the population, with about two-thirds residing in southern Vietnam. In addition to Catholicism, […]

Taoism, rooted in the Tao-te-Ching or “Book of the Way,” is a philosophical system traditionally attributed to Lao-tzu (“Old Master”), a semi-mythical figure believed to have lived in sixth-century BCE China. Taoism emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao—the Way—a universal, eternal force that governs all existence. The Tao is intangible, impartial, and indescribable in […]

Confucianism, based on the teachings of Kongfuzi (known as Khổng Tử in Vietnamese), offers a moral and ethical framework that has shaped governance, society, and personal conduct for centuries. Born in 551 BCE in China during the chaotic period of the Zhou dynasty’s decline, Confucius was a minor aristocrat and court official who spent years […]

Buddhism traces its origins to Siddhartha Gautama, born into a wealthy family in present-day Nepal during the sixth century BCE. Renouncing his life of luxury, Siddhartha sought liberation from worldly suffering, ultimately achieving enlightenment under a Bodhi tree. Thereafter, he became known as the Buddha, dedicating his life to teaching the Middle Way, a path […]

Vietnam’s spiritual world is a fascinating blend of residual animism and influences from various religions, creating a complex mystical belief system. The universe, according to Vietnamese tradition, is divided into three realms: sky, earth, and humanity, all overseen by Ong Troi, the Lord of Heaven. Assisting him are spirits governing the earth, mountains, and water, […]

One of Vietnam’s most ancient and enduring traditions is ancestor worship, deeply rooted in the values of filial piety and the interconnectedness of past, present, and future generations. Regardless of their primary religion or beliefs, nearly every Vietnamese household—whether Buddhist, Catholic, or even Communist—maintains an ancestral altar. This practice stems from the belief that ancestors […]

Vietnam’s spiritual and religious landscape is a rich tapestry shaped by a harmonious blend of Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, ancestor worship, and ancient animistic traditions. These diverse influences coexist in a unified belief system that governs daily life. It is common for Vietnamese families to honor their ancestors with home altars, seek blessings from village guardian […]