About 50 percent of people in Vietnam identify themselves as Buddhist.
The Buddhism practiced in Vietnam, like most of the other religions, draws from many different religious practices from fortune telling to animism to ancestor worship. Buddhism in places like Ho Chi Minh City is also heavily influenced by Chinese Buddhist practices because of the thousand years of Chinese reign over Vietnam.
As the most prominent form of organized religion in Vietnam, Buddhist temples and altars are plentiful, especially in large cities. In Ho Chi Minh City, Buddhism is growing rapidly, with many temples currently expanding or moving to larger structures.
To many Buddhists, living a life of good morals is very important. They seek to live good lives and benefit their communities.
People from all age groups visit temples to burn incense, light candles, chant, pray, and seek blessings. They also come in hopes to cleanse their souls, ask for success, or pray for health or other life needs.
Please pray for Vietnamese Buddhists:
- Pray for the millions of Buddhists in Vietnam to find true joy and peace that can only come from God.
- Pray for Christians in Vietnam to have many opportunities to share the gospel with Buddhists in a way that will speak to their desire for spiritual fulfillment.
Use this video to help you as you pray for Buddhists in Vietnam.
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Throughout the month of May 2015, we are asking individuals, families, groups of friends, small groups, and churches to join with us and commit to pray for the peoples of Vietnam. We will be posting stories and sharing ways to pray daily through the blog, Facebook, and Twitter. You can also download a prayer guide and other resources here.