Vietnam

The Southeast Asian country of Vietnam blends socialism and a distinct religious character. Its religious history has been shaped by indigenous beliefs interacting with the importation of a variety of religious traditions and the emergence of new religious movements. The Vietnamese government officially recognizes a small set of the world religions; according to the government's Decree 22 in 2005, for a religious organization to be recognized, it must have 20 years of “stable” operation. With sharp rebukes for faiths that speak out against the state's doctrines and practices, recognition is by no means a foregone conclusion, as the short list of official religions signifies. Currently, the Vietnamese government officially recognizes Buddhism, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, Baha'i, Hoa Hao, and Cao Dai, as well as Pure Land Buddhist Home Practice, the Threefold Southern Tradition, and the Threefold Enlightened Truth Path. Care should be exercised in taking any of those traditions as monolithic, as many have a syncretic character when practiced in Vietnam.

While the government of Vietnam does not give precise figures on religious adherence, approximate figures show that 80% or so follow the Vietnamese blend of Mahayana Buddhism and Confucianism (Tam Giáo) and 8% of the country are Christian, with the Catholic Church being the dominant denomination. About 3% of the total population are reported to be Cao Dai followers, and another 2% practice Hoa Hao. The minority Cham ethnic group are largely Muslim, mostly practicing a form of Islam unique to the group, known as Bani, with a strong subgroup of Sunnī Muslims. There are also small communities of Baha'i and Jews, and Theravada Buddhism is preferred by the Khmer people, who populate areas near the Cambodian border. Although not recognized as an “official” religion by the government, there are reports of Hindu communities within Vietnam as well, but figures are not available. While it is not possible to go into detail on all the religious aspects of Vietnam, this entry will give an overview of the development of the religions in Vietnam and offer a few insights into the traditions.