Hinduism in Vietnam
 | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
70,000 (2022) (0.07% of the population) | |
| Religions | |
| Hinduism Majority: Vaishnavism Minority: Shaivism | |
| Scriptures | |
| Bhagavad Gita & Vedas | |
| Languages | |
| Sanskrit (sacred) Vietnamese, Cham, Tsat, Khmer, Tamil |
| Hinduism by country |
|---|
  |
| Full list |
Hinduism in Vietnam is mainly observed by the Balamon Cham people in Vietnam.[1][2][3] According to the 2022 US State Department Report, there are 70,000 Hindus living in Vietnam today.[4][5]
Cham Hindus
[edit]
The majority of Cham in Vietnam (also known as the Eastern Cham) are Muslim just like their Cambodian counterparts who are also largely Muslim. However, in Vietnam, Hindu Chams who are known as Balamon Chams who make the minority of the Chams in Vietnam.[6] Hindu Chams are called Balamon Cham or Balamon Hindu.[7] They practice a form of Shaivite Hinduism.[8][better source needed][9][10] The exact number of Balamon Cham Hindus in Vietnam are not published in Government census, but there are estimated to be at least 10,000 Balamon Hindus. Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan Provinces are where most of the Cham ethnic group (≈65%) in Vietnam reside according to the last population census. Cham Balamon (Hindu Cham) in Ninh Thuan numbered 7,000 in 2002 inhabiting 6 of 34 Cham villages.[11] If this population composition is typical for the Balamon Cham population of Vietnam as a whole then approximately 10% of Balamon Chams in Vietnam are Hindu.
Hinduism is practised by the Balamon Cham people of Vietnam, particularly in the Ninh Thuan province (10.4%) and Binh Thuan (4.8%).[12][13] Four temples are worshipped today: Po Inu Nugar, Po Rome, Po Klaung Girai and Po Dam. Other Hindu temples include: Miếu Po Nagar, Đền thờ Tháp PÔ Patao At and Đền Po Kabrah.[3]
Cham Hindus believe that when they die, the sacred bull Nandi comes to take their soul to the holy land of India.[14] The main festival of Cham Hindus is the Kate festival,[15] or Mbang Kate. It is celebrated for 3 days at the beginning of October.[16][17] As of 2017, the United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor estimated about 10,000 ethnic Balamon Cham Hindus in Vietnam.[18]
Demographics
[edit]| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 56,427 | — |
| 2019 | 64,547 | +14.4% |
| 2022 | 70,000 | +8.4% |
According to the government census in 2009, both the population of Balamon Hindus and other Hindus were included which in total numbered 56,427.[19][20]
The latest census of 2019 reports the number of Hindus at 64,547.[4]
In 2022, there were an estimated 70,000 ethnic Cham Hindus living along the south-central coast of Vietnam.[5]
Hindu Temples
[edit]
There are 4,000 Hindus in Ho Chi Minh City, most are Cham and a small minority of Indians.[21] The Mariamman Temple is one of the most notable Tamil Hindu temples in Ho Chi Minh City. It is also considered sacred by many native Vietnamese and Chinese. It is also believed to have miraculous powers and is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Mariamman.[22]
There are three Indian Hindu temples in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) - Sri Thendayuthapani temple, Đền Subramaniam Swamy temple and Mariamman Temple.[23]
Ancient Cham Hindu Temples
[edit]See also
[edit]
- Mariamman Temple, Ho Chi Minh City
- Religion in Vietnam
- Hinduism in Indonesia
- Hinduism in Southeast Asia
References
[edit]- ^ "Hindus of Vietnam - Hindu Human Rights Online News Magazine". www.hinduhumanrights.info. 19 October 2012.
- ^ "Vietnam's ancient Hindu culture rediscovered". InDaily. 2015-03-23. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
- ^ a b Parker, Vrndavan Brannon (April–June 2014). "Cultures: Vietnam's Champa Kingdom Marches on". Hinduism Today.
- ^ a b Bieu so lieu va phu luc (duyet gui in)
- ^ a b US State Dept 2022 report
- ^ "Cham - Introduction, Location, Language, Folklore, Religion, Major holidays, Rites of passage". www.everyculture.com.
- ^ "The Cham: Descendants of Ancient Rulers of South China Sea Watch Maritime Dispute From Sidelines". National Geographic News. 18 June 2014. Archived from the original on June 20, 2014.
- ^ "Religion and expressive culture - Cham". www.everyculture.com.
- ^ India's interaction with Southeast Asia, Volume 1, Part 3 By Govind Chandra Pande, Project of History of Indian Science, Philosophy, and Culture, Centre for Studies in Civilizations (Delhi, India) p.231,252
- ^ "Vietnam". International Religious Freedom Report 2004. U.S. Department of State: Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 2002-10-22. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
- ^ Champa and the archaeology of Mỹ Sơn (Vietnam) By Andrew Hardy, Mauro Cucarzi, Patrizia Zolese p.105
- ^ http://www.gso.gov.vn/Modules/Doc_Download.aspx?DocID=12724 [bare URL]
- ^ Other place where they are found in hgher numbers is Bình Thuận Province. Champa and the archaeology of Mỹ Sơn (Vietnam) by Andrew Hardy, Mauro Cucarzi, Patrizia Zolese p.105
- ^ Roy, Sandip (19 May 2017). "Leaps of faith". @businessline.
- ^ Reporter, W. H. N. (13 October 2018). "Exhibition on Vietnam Hindu Cham Brahman Community Opens". Archived from the original on 23 September 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- ^ "Kate Festival". www.vietnamonline.com.
- ^ http://www.gso.gov.vn/Modules/Doc_Download.aspx?DocID=12724 [bare URL]
- ^ "International Religious Freedom Report for 2017: Vietnam". US State Department. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
- ^ http://www.gso.gov.vn/Modules/Doc_Download.aspx?DocID=12724 [bare URL]
- ^ "Vietnam: country policy and information notes". GOV.UK. 29 July 2024.
- ^ "Hindus of Vietnam - Hindu Human Rights Online News Magazine". Hindu Human Rights Online News Magazine. 19 October 2012.
- ^ Arachika Kapoor (2017-03-01). "Ho Chi Minh City Tourism holds roadshow in New Delhi | Media India Group". Media India Group. Mediaindia.eu. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
- ^ Powell, Michael (26 May 2017). "Three Hindu Temples in Saigon".
