Vietnam

Officially, Buddhists in Vietnam are a minority now, as many either follow folk beliefs or are atheist. That said, Buddhism in its Mahayana version still holds an important place here, together with Taoism and Confucianism, all originally imported from neighbouring China, who has always exerted a strong cultural influence on Vietnam. Therefore Buddhist temples, known here as ‘pagodas’, are to be seen everywhere, ranging from the old to the most recent, some with striking towers (which are known as ‘pagodas’ in China, and this use of the word I will pursue in the following account). One even finds a few big Buddhas, like the Chau Doc Buddha on Mount Cam in the southwest of the country. A separate post will focus on a small but picturesque temple, the most pleasing I’ve seen in Vietnam: the Thien Mu Temple in Hué, central Vietnam.

Linh Quang Pagoda (Dalat)

Buddha inside Linh Quang Pagoda

Linh Phuoc Pagoda (Trai Mat)

Linh Phuoc Pagoda

Buddha inside Linh Phuoc Pagoda