Tradition says that every bead on a Mukluk is added by the artisan with positive thoughts. ROCK ART BY OUR OLDEST ANCESTORS Connect to the ancient world at Bushman's Kloof, a five-star wilderness retreat situated in South Africa's dramatic Cederberg. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 20 to 24 The Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok by the five original Member Countries, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Brunei joined on 8 January 1984, Vietnam In Khmer culture a person's head is believed to contain the person's soul--therefore making it taboo to touch or point your feet at it. It is also considered to be extremely disrespectful to point or sleep with your feet pointing at a person, as the feet are the lowest part of the body and are considered to be impure. This organization espouses the belief that Vietnamese Americans of the 1.5 generation should incorporate both a personal understanding of the Vietnamese culture and the manner in which it functions within American society in order to form a Vietnamese American identity Another aspect of this breaking away from traditional Vietnamese culture Cultural traditions are important because they transmit shared values, stories and goals from one generation to the next. Traditions encourage groups of people to create and share a collective identity, which in turn serves to shape individual identities. Cultural traditions are expressions of a particular group's worldview, and they help Here are four constitutional manifestations of this multiculturalism. Advertisement 1. Federalism: The premise of federalism is precisely that multiple states, which the Framers envisioned as Additionally, the government in Vietnam encourages studying abroad through scholarships for underprivileged students. 5. They do this because students who study abroad typically return to Vietnam and help push forward economic development, as in the case of Ngo Bao Chau. In direct disbelief of Islamic traditions, the Nazar Boncugu, also known as the evil eye is in offices, homes, in transport and businesses. Turks believe this talisman wards off evil and these days, as well as featuring heavily in Turkish culture, it is one of the top recommended souvenirs to buy. Pregnancy, Birth and Children: When a Baby is Born Vay Tiền Nhanh Ggads. In all forms of folk beliefs, ancestor worship is a universal traditional belief form of the Vietnamese people. As a Vietnamese people, “everyone worships their ancestors, everyone worships their parents and grandparent”. Ancestor worship is a common belief in the whole country. It is a belief that expresses the deeply humanistic spirit of the Vietnamese people and has great values in human life. So, what is the nature of ancestor worship? What is the values of ancestor worship in life? And in the context of globalization, how has this the belief changed? This study focuses on analyzing the above contents, thereby highlighting the value of this belief in the spiritual life of Vietnamese people; to point out the positive and negative changes of this belief in the current period; from that, take the right measures to bring into play the positive and limit the negative side of those changes in the spiritual life of Vietnamese people. Discover the world's research25+ million members160+ million publication billion citationsJoin for free ANCESTOR WORSHIPING BELIEFS IN THE BELIEFS AND RELIGION LIFE OF VIETNAMESE PEOPLE NATURE, VALUES, AND CHANGES OF I T IN THE C URRENT PERIOD PJAEE, 17 3 2020 370 ANCESTOR WORSHIPING BELIEFS IN THE BELIEFS AND RELIGION LIFE OF VIETNAMESE PEOPLE NATURE, VALUES, AND CHANGES OF IT IN THE CURRENT PERIOD Nguyen Trong Long1, Vu Hong Van2 1Ho Chi Minh University of Natural Resources and Environment, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 2University of Transport and Communications, Hanoi, VietnamABSTRACT In all forms of folk beliefs, ancestor worship is a universal traditional belief form of the Vietnamese people. As a Vietnamese people, “everyone worships their ancestors, everyone worships their parents and grandparent”. Ancestor worship is a common belief in the whole country. It is a belief that expresses the deeply humanistic spirit of the Vietnamese people and has great values in human life. So, what is the nature of ancestor worship? What is the values of ancestor worship in life? And in the context of globalization, how has this the belief changed? This study focuses on analyzing the above contents, thereby highlighting the value of this belief in the spiritual life of Vietnamese people; to point out the positive and negative changes of this belief in the current Nguyen Trong Long, Vu Hong Van. Ancestor Worshiping Beliefs in the Beliefs and Religion Life of Vietnamese People Nature, Values, and Changes of it in the Current Period- Palarch’s Journal of Archaralogy of Egypt/Egyptogy 173, 370-388. ISSN 1567-214X Keywords Folk beliefs, ancestor worshiping belief, spiritual life, beliefs and religion life, Vietnamese people, Vietnam today ANCESTOR WORSHIPING BELIEFS IN THE BELIEFS AND RELIGION LIFE OF VIETNAMESE PEOPLE NATURE, VALUES, AND CHANGES OF I T IN THE C URRENT PERIOD PJAEE, 17 3 2020 371 period; from that, take the right measures to bring into play the positive and limit the negative side of those changes in the spiritual life of Vietnamese people. INTRODUCTION In all forms of folk beliefs, ancestor worship is a universal and traditional belief form of the Vietnamese people. As a Vietnamese, “everyone also worships their parents deceased, everyone also worships their grandparents deceased” Giau, 1973; Binh, 2005; Anh, 2005; Van, 2005; Van, 2019; Van, et. al, 2020. This is a fundamental cultural difference between Vietnam and other countries. West, where the spiritual life of people is predominantly Christian or Arab countries where Islam is the state religion Roszko, 2012. Vietnam is a nation’s emotional, respectful, introverted people, often solving problems emotionally rather than rationally Kim, 1919. The tradition of “when drinking water, remember its source” is one of the most respectable qualities of the Vietnamese people Kim, 1919. Vietnamese people tend to look back on the past and regret the past more towards the future like Westerners Roszko, 2012. Therefore, Vietnamese people often retain their feelings of grief for their deceased parents. The Vietnamese ancestor worship practice was born on this basis and is regarded by the majority of Vietnamese as almost a religion, called grandparents worship Anh, 2005. Ancestor worship has become a traditional custom, has a very special place in the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people, and is one of the elements that make up the cultural identity of Vietnam. Ancestor worshiping belief is very simple they believe that their ancestors are sacred, they go to eternity but still live next to their children and grandchildren, they bless their children and grandchildren when facing difficulties and difficulties; to rejoice when their children have good luck, encourage their children when they encounter good things and also rebuke them for doing evil, etc. In Vietnam, ancestor worship is not only a popular belief among Kinh people - the majority of ethnic groups General Statistics Office, 2019, but also preserved in some other ethnic groups such as Muong people, Thai people, Chinese people, etc. Experiencing many ups and downs and events of history, while many other religions and folk beliefs have been subjected to uneasiness, convicted of “superstition” but ancestor worship has and still occupied a sacred position in the spiritual life of the Vietnamese. Consciousness “people have ancestors, have tones” is preserved in the spiritual realm and is passed down from generation to generation, whether they live in their own country or in exile in the country. In particular, this is a form of belief that has been respected and recognized by political institutions the state from past to present, albeit with different degrees. Along with the nation’s historical process, this belief is the accretion, gathering precious moral values of the Vietnamese people. Thus, in history and in the present life, ancestor worship has greatly affected people’s life. Vietnamese and foreign scholars have had many opinions around this worship phenomenon Anh, 2005; Binh, 2005; Roszko, 2012; Van, 2019. Is this some kind of belief or religion? Or is it just a custom, a habit, a cultural or ethical ANCESTOR WORSHIPING BELIEFS IN THE BELIEFS AND RELIGION LIFE OF VIETNAMESE PEOPLE NATURE, VALUES, AND CHANGES OF I T IN THE C URRENT PERIOD PJAEE, 17 3 2020 372 activity? Etc. To have a scientific basis to evaluate this phenomenon, it is necessary to clarify its origin and nature. The origin and nature of this belief have been studied by many scientists around the world for a long time with profound explanations by many methods Anh, 2005; Binh, 2005; Roszko, 2012; Van, 2019. This article is a contribution on the basis of research, comparison, comparison with other types of beliefs or religions to find out the true origin, nature and value of ancestral worship of Vietnamese people; at the same time pointed out both positive and negative changes in this belief before the effects of globalization. LITERATURE REVIEW When did ancestor worship appear? Up to now, there are many theories, it was formed during the Northern colonial period around the early years of AD, Vietnam was invaded by feudal dynasties of China Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu, 1697, along with the influences of Han culture Giau, 1973. But there are some issues that need to be discussed Could the time of ancestor worship be born earlier? How is the relationship between the indigenous factor and the imported factor in forming this belief? Let’s learn from the socio-cultural background of the Vietnamese community as well as the economic conditions for the socio-cultural development. The first important basis for the formation of any religious beliefs is also people’s spiritual conception of the world Tylor, 2000. Like many other ethnic groups, the Vietnamese people come from the perception of “all living beings” - everything has a soul and starts from the natural world around them Giau, 1973 & 2003; Anh, 2005. Therefore, the oldest deity people worshiped are the nature gods, especially the god of the tree, the god of the mountain, the god of the river, etc. By the mythicalization way, the deities have been given a human face gentle or fierce, human psychology happy or angry. It can be said that the humanization of natural gods has created a transition for the formation of the anthropomorphic system human god Giau, 1983; Hinh, 2007; Van, 2019. This is also the period when people begin to discover themselves. At a certain point, the relationship between the tangible and the invisible, especially life and death, preoccupied people. Still, with the concept of the spirit as mentioned above, they believe that in every human being there are “souls” and “purses”. There is no sublime sense of Christian heaven or hell or Buddhism’s reincarnation, in folk perception, body and soul are both attached and separate. Soul and body stick together in life and separate at death, their bodies are merged with dust, but the existing soul changes to live in another world Giau 1973; Ngoc, 2002. That negative realm has all the same needs as the earthly life. According to folk beliefs, death is also a form of “life” in another environment. Folk believes that if the dead are not provided with sufficient material things as in life, they will become “hungry ghosts”, wandering, harassing the living. The “am” the place of worship for the soul, the very small wall area the sentient beings set up at the end of the village, or the Yulan Festival the full moon of July for the “ten sentient beings” are the expressions of wanting to share, consoling helpless, starving souls no people worship. A rather mysterious phenomenon but is trusted ANCESTOR WORSHIPING BELIEFS IN THE BELIEFS AND RELIGION LIFE OF VIETNAMESE PEOPLE NATURE, VALUES, AND CHANGES OF I T IN THE C URRENT PERIOD PJAEE, 17 3 2020 373 by people, that is “âm phù”, the dead are suitable for the living. Many random phenomena have occurred related to the living and the dead relationships, making the resurrected person more confident in the help of the dead For example When a family that has just died people, children in the family suddenly get promoted or promoted; or business is thriving, earning a lot of profit. Even children and grandchildren in the family have been married for many years, they cannot give birth, but t after grandparents, parents who have just died, suddenly become pregnant again, giving birth to a son following the lineage, etc. Thus, the relationship between those who live and those who die of the same bloodline is even closer. During the second or three generations, those are still very specific and profound memories. Grandparents and parents, even though they die, are always present in the minds of their children and grandchildren, and children always feel the responsibility both physically and mentally for them. The belief in death is just a return to meet ancestors, grandparents, and ancestors who may follow, bless the descendants, and have been the basis of ancestor worship. In Vietnam, although all ethnic groups have ancestral conceptions and some ethnic groups have different forms of worship, according to many researchers, these forms, or customary worship to die in funerals, to provide items for burying the dead, to worship for a few years, or to leave a grave, etc. inconsistent with the traditional Vietnamese ancestor worship continuous, long-term worship. Therefore, the similarities of this form of belief are most evident only in a few Southeast Asian countries, especially China Giau, 1973. The traditional Vietnamese society also has certain economic bases for the formation and maintenance of ancestral worship beliefs Institute of History, 2007. First of all, it is a self-sufficient small farm economy. This is a favorable environment for the appearance of polytheism. From an economic standpoint, a Vietnamese village is almost an independent unit and likewise its cell - the small household. This is an important factor that holds members of the same generation and between generations. By extension, the residence families gathered with them, and many of them gathered into villages. Before the village, people did not exist as individuals, but in the name of family lineages - blood-related units. It can be said that the small farm economy is a favorable land for consolidating and developing the national consciousness as well as ancestral worship in the village. In the economic aspect, there is an important point that makes a difference in ancestor worship in Vietnam and China Vuong & Tan, 1960. Due to the hot and humid tropical climate, monsoon, Vietnam produces wet rice according to the tradition of small farming combined with livestock. Therefore, production does not require large-scale labor concentration as in the place of dry wheat production, production tools are also small, compact, light, all family members from women and children use easily. The inevitable combination of this process makes Vietnamese people stick with families, usually, nuclear families are more closely attached to the lineages Ngoc, 2002; Van, et. al, 2020. Almost all families have an altar to their ancestors whether “thờ chính or thờ vọng”. At the stage of the patriarchal gens, the men began to hold control of the family because they had an important role in economic activities, their wives and children absolutely submitted to and respected the authority has been established, not only ANCESTOR WORSHIPING BELIEFS IN THE BELIEFS AND RELIGION LIFE OF VIETNAMESE PEOPLE NATURE, VALUES, AND CHANGES OF I T IN THE C URRENT PERIOD PJAEE, 17 3 2020 374 when they are still alive but also when they are gone died Giau, 1973; Thu, 1997; Hinh, 2007; Van, 2019. The children bearing the father’s surname have inherited the sense of authority, and is it true that the ritual of funerals and ancestral sacrifices are also “a form of reflecting the myth of patriarchal authority in a family” Giau, 1983, p. 216. Thus, ancestral worship belief was born and maintained in certain historical and social conditions. From the primitive community alliance to the primitive family linkage along the male bloodline has been a long history. Following the path of “sharing the same name on the father’s side”, small families bonded together as surnames. This is the type of exogamous unit because the members of the family are linked together by the same bloodline and the same ancestor. Ancestor worship belief in Vietnamese people has been formed, existed, and developed on the basis of spiritual conception and a fairly stable socio-economic and ideological foundation Giau, 1973 & 1983; Binh, 2005. It can be said that the indigenous and rustic spiritual elements were institutionalized and legalized thanks to Confucian ideology and the support of the feudatory dynasties. Therefore, this belief has been preserved throughout the volatile history. RELATED CONCEPTS The Belief According to the Han-Vietnamese Dictionary of scholar Dao Duy Anh 1998, p. 546, belief is explained “Superstition, admiration for a religion or a doctrine”. Similarly, in the Vietnamese Dictionary by Van Tan editor p. 427, belief means “Belief in a religion Freedom of belief”. Thus, in the etymological of sense, the belief is the religious belief in every human being. However, to better understand the concept of belief, it is necessary to consider the following specific aspects The Beliefs from the Perspective of Religious Studies and Anthropology This group of views said that beliefs are the psychological state of people towards the sacred forces, which are part of religion and cannot be separated from religion, which is the basis for forming religion. In Vietnam, a representative of this group of views is Dang Nghiem Van 2005. In his work on Theory of religion and the situation of religion in Vietnam 2005, he analyzed quite clearly the concept of belief as a religious faith, beliefs are not completely separated from religion “If you understand beliefs are beliefs that have a part outside of religion, if understood as religious beliefs belief, believe, in a narrow sense, etc., beliefs are only a major part of the religion” Van, 2005, p. 106. The author also expressed his disagreement and suggested revisiting when considering religion and belief as two low and high levels are different. Because of the religious researcher had accepted that the decisive factor of religion was virtue faith or belief, it is the only measure of the inferiority of the religions in the community, and of believers with their religion. If cultural equality including religion is accepted, there is no appreciation of one religion over another Van, 2005. ANCESTOR WORSHIPING BELIEFS IN THE BELIEFS AND RELIGION LIFE OF VIETNAMESE PEOPLE NATURE, VALUES, AND CHANGES OF I T IN THE C URRENT PERIOD PJAEE, 17 3 2020 375 In particular, when referring to a concept used by many people as folk beliefs, he thought that this is a popular religion “The term may be a way of understanding religion in the popular way, meaning customary, public opinion or engaging in rituals, not in the mainstream that comes primarily from, the study of doctrine, reflection and enlightenment. Or it can also be understood that the forms of national religion have been handed down from ancient times, close to the community such as festivals, pilgrimages, holidays with parades, dancing, even the divination form, general number, etc. though few believed but still participated. At festivals, processions, etc., it is still responded by the majority of the popular class in rural areas, according to a tradition that has long existed in the nation” Van, 2005, p. 321. The Beliefs from a Cultural Perspective In a work about religion in Vietnam, Le Nhu Hoa 2006 said that, in essence, beliefs, as well as religions, are a method of realizing and improving reality. The similarity between them and the improvement of reality. The differences between them are just historical features. There are 5 criteria for distinguishing beliefs and religions, namely The source beliefs only consist of Spiritism, while religion in addition to Spiritism also has totem or other supernatural theory; objects of worship beliefs All things spiritual, polytheistic, religious Unity, only one god; methods of practice beliefs Magic; religion Religious rituals; institutions beliefs are not yet complete, religion is complete about material institutions, clergy, formal system, canon law, complete canonical, systematic scriptures, ethical beliefs, have community sentiment about belief; sphere of influence, social context beliefs Narrow, usually ethnic communities, in non-state societies; Religion Wide, popular among ethnic, national, ethnic communities gender, in societies with a state. The above assessment shows that both beliefs and religions are human creations. In the process of existence and development, people created beliefs and religions to make spiritual support for them self and the community. Over time, such creativity has become a traditional system of values, lifestyles on which people show their faith and values. The Folk Beliefs of Vietnamese People Vietnamese folk beliefs, also known as Vietnamese traditional beliefs, are indigenous beliefs of ethnic groups living on the Vietnamese territory through many generations. Vietnamese folk beliefs believe that anything has a soul, so the ancient people worshiped a lot of gods, especially those related to agriculture such as heaven, moon, earth, forest, river, mountain, etc. to be blessed. For ethnic minorities, each ethnic group has its own belief form. However, the most typical feature is that the original forms of beliefs and folk beliefs are still preserved among ethnic groups ANCESTOR WORSHIPING BELIEFS IN THE BELIEFS AND RELIGION LIFE OF VIETNAMESE PEOPLE NATURE, VALUES, AND CHANGES OF I T IN THE C URRENT PERIOD PJAEE, 17 3 2020 376 such as the Tay-Thai and Hmong-Dao groups; Hoa-San Diu-Ngai group; Cham-Ede-Gia Rai group and Mon-Khmer group. Besides, one of the most common customs and practices of the Vietnamese and some other ethnic minorities is the ancestor worship and death anniversary of the deceased. In Vietnamese families, every family has an ancestor altar and commemoration, remembering the merits of the ancestors is very important. Besides ancestor worship in each family and clan, many villages in Vietnam have a communal house of worshiping tutelary gods. The custom of worshiping tutelary gods in village temples Village’s Tutelary god is a unique feature of Vietnamese villages. The tutelary god worshiped in communal houses can be gods or outstanding figures with great merits such as the ancestors of a trade village or a national hero who had “founding the nation”, opposing invaders. For several centuries in Vietnam, Mother Goddess worship has been a source of strength, inspiration, and spirituality, particularly among working-class families. Along with the worship of ancestors, the belief of worshiping the Village tutelary gods, the worship of Mother Goddess has kept an important position in the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people. For many Vietnamese, they believe in the existence of a soul Roszko, 2012; Van, 2020. This belief goes from the belief that the soul only reaches its ultimate goal after many reincarnations, to the idea that life will now determine its final destiny. Consequently, one person can feel confident that he will eventually merge with the ultimate reality after death, others will surely reach Nirvana, and others will believe that he will be rewarded in heaven. From the faith and the punishment or the blessing of the soul has led to the worship of the souls of Vietnamese People. Also, Vietnamese people also worship gods such as the kitchen god, the earth god, the river god, the mountain god, etc. All that worship has formed a system of Vietnamese folk beliefs extremely rich and diverse as we see it today. The Ancestor and Ancestor Worship The Ancestor According to the folk concept of the Vietnamese people, the ancestor is a term used to refer to people who have the same bloodline but have passed away such as grandparents, cavalry, grandparents, fathers, mothers, etc. people who have had success and nurtured, have a great influence on life living physically and spiritually of the generation who are living. The primitive social ancestors have their roots in the totemism of the tribal clan Tylor, 2002. The totems ancestors of the matriarchal period are objects that are in nature, have a close relationship with man, and when they are deified and sanctified they are considered the totems totems of the gens and tribes. During the patriarchal clan, the ancestors were the heads of the gens, tribes such as chiefs, military leaders, etc. powerful. ANCESTOR WORSHIPING BELIEFS IN THE BELIEFS AND RELIGION LIFE OF VIETNAMESE PEOPLE NATURE, VALUES, AND CHANGES OF I T IN THE C URRENT PERIOD PJAEE, 17 3 2020 377 The ancestor in society has a division of class that is more fully expressed Kim, 1919; Giau, 1973 & 1983; Van, et. al, 2020. They are usually the holders of the position of head of the family, the right to inherit, and the wills of property recognized by law and society Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu, 1697. During the development of history, the concept of ancestor has also changed and developed. It is no longer limited only in the bloodline - family, clan, etc. but has expanded to the community and social scope. The formation and development of nations and peoples are often associated with the names of those who have created and preserved the community’s life. They are heroes and celebrities who, when they live, are worshiped, respected, lost memorials, worshiped in religious spaces. In Vietnam, they are the ancestors of the profession, the village’s Tutelary gods, national heroes, cultural celebrities, etc. The Ancestor Worship Ancestor worship is a conscious human activity, a complex whole of consciousness about ancestors, symbolism about ancestors, and rituals about “thờ” worshiping and “cúng” offering. “Thờ” worshiping is a factor of the awareness of ancestors, a feeling of gratitude, remembrance, the direction towards the origin, and the past. Ancestor worship is a show of respect, gratitude, and remembrance of the ancestors, at the same time it is also a show of faith in the protection, protection, and assistance of the ancestors. The basis of the formation of ancestral consciousness is the belief about the living ancestor’s soul that can protect and bless the descendants. Ancestor symbol is the image of talented, merited, and virtuous people. On the altar of ancestors, there are usually plaques, statues, and pictures that are arranged elaborately and solemnly. “Cúng” offering is a ceremonial element, is the practice of a series of movements praying, prostrating, kneeling, bowing of the patriarch, the patriarch. It is an activity in the form of a ceremony and is determined by the concept, customs, and practices of each community and ethnic group. The worship and an offering are two elements that interact and create a separate whole - that is, ancestor worship. The “Worshiping”, is the content, and the activity of “Offering” is the expression form of the content of worship. The sense of worship, respect, gratitude, remembrance, hope for the help of the group. The first is the core content, the main thing that makes ancestor worship become ancestor worship. If there are no “thanks” but only “worshiping”, the worship of ancestors without “sacred soul”, without intrinsic attraction, can easily become bland and therefore, cannot be ancestor worship. The “offering” is just a form of expression, but it glorifies the sacred, mysterious, vague, and creates an attraction. It is the adhesive that creates colors to satisfy the belief of the worshiping subject. In primitive society, the sense of ancestors was an element of primitive social consciousness, reflecting the inability of humans to face the force of nature Taylor, 2000. Later, along with the natural force is a dominant force, such as oppression, exploiting class, etc. that always dominates the daily life of people. Stuck in real life, people seek liberation in spiritual life. Along with the symbols of the gods, the ANCESTOR WORSHIPING BELIEFS IN THE BELIEFS AND RELIGION LIFE OF VIETNAMESE PEOPLE NATURE, VALUES, AND CHANGES OF I T IN THE C URRENT PERIOD PJAEE, 17 3 2020 378 symbol of totem appeared in the matriarchal clan. The main feature of the ancestor worship in this period was the worship of totemism Giau, 1973 & 1983; Thinh, 2004. Into the patriarchal clan, ancestral worship beliefs reflected the change in the social division of labor Taylor, 2000. The man plays a key role in economic life. They are people who have both secular power, prestige, and the right to hold the worship of gods, including dead ancestors. Objects of worship in this period were transferred from totem ancestors to real ancestors, with the dead bloodline. Thus, it can be seen that the objective deep social origin of ancestor worship is the limitation of the production force and the limitation in awareness; it bondage in the dual relationship between the human to nature and between humans and humans in society. Its direct, social origin is the division class in society, the consequence of which is the enhancement of the role of the head of the family - the gens. These people, relying on their prestige to consolidate and sanctify the ancestor worship that was in place during the matriarchal time Thinh, 20004. In a caste society, the oppression, exploitation of class, social injustice have made people without a real way to seek the help of their ancestors, which are also important social sources give rise to ancestor worship. Along with that, human awareness is also an important source in the process of the formation and existence of ancestor worship. Primitive people believe that after death, the soul continues to live Taylor, 2000. The concept of the soul is one of the basic elements located in the complexes, symbols of ancestors, and is a characteristic of ancestor worship. Another ideological element, somewhat older than the concept of the soul, influencing the development of ancestral symbols is the image of the totem ancestor, the image of the god that protects the family and the clan. RESEARCH CONTENT AND DISCUSSION The Nature of Ancestor Worship Belief Marx & Engels 1995, p. 279 pointed out, “religion is born in a very primitive age, out of the very false, primitive human conceptions of their own nature and of the natural world around them”, that is also true of ancestor worship belief. Ancestor-worshiping ideology is built on materials that are childish and innocent conceptions about the souls of the dead, of the totem ancestors, of the gods that protect the family and the clan Taylor, 2000. In addition, ancestor worship beliefs are formed on the basis of psychology and religious sentiments of individuals and communities in society. Ancestor worship is formed on the basis of a belief in the immortality of ancestral spirits Giau, 1973 & 1983; Ngoc, 2002; Binh 2005; Van, 2020. That belief stems from an instinctive desire - the longing of man. It is a man who sanctifies love, an attitude of respect for people who are responsible for creating life. In life, people are not only in contact with the existence, but also in contact with the invisible, abstract, and ambiguous, only perceived by people, sensuous but cannot be ANCESTOR WORSHIPING BELIEFS IN THE BELIEFS AND RELIGION LIFE OF VIETNAMESE PEOPLE NATURE, VALUES, AND CHANGES OF I T IN THE C URRENT PERIOD PJAEE, 17 3 2020 379 explained by reason. The belief in the existence of ancestors contributes to balancing the psychological state, sometimes as the end, as the relief of human loneliness and unhappiness before death. Through ancestor worship, people show a way of thinking about death and life after death, releasing fear when facing it. In the patriarchal system, the power of the patriarch, the patriarch, also gives rise to the feeling of fear and approval in descendants. This feeling is nurtured, passed down through generations, and even transferred to the afterlife with the idea that the dead can still punish their offspring. Ancestors like other gods can bring calamity to their descendants, so it is necessary to respect and worship regularly so that the ancestors will not harm, protect, protect, and help. Ancestor worship also stems from the filial piety of the descendants. The relationship between parents living with children is the embodiment of the relationship between ancestors and descendants. The reverence of parents is followed by ancestor adoration. The duty of respecting, reporting filial piety, paying gratitude to the merits of living and nourishing, etc. parents’ education is also the obligation to pay respect and gratitude to ancestors. Ancestor worship shows filial piety, respect, and gratitude to all those who have been born, nurtured, and formed for themselves. However, descendants are only tolerated and protected by the ancestors when living up to the wishes of the ancestors. On the other hand, children and grandchildren only respect, agree, and worship their ancestors when they deserve a good example for their descendants to follow. If anyone, in the past, acted against the interests of the clan community and family, not only was not respected, worshiped but also cursed and punished. Ancestor worshiping beliefs are like other types of beliefs, other religions are a false reflection of reality, an illusory reflection - in people’s minds - of forces outside the chi. to coordinate their daily life Marx & Engels, 1995. Foreign forces outside, here are ancestors in the invisible world. The lost ancestor is the object of reflection in order to satisfy and satisfy the spiritual shortage of the living. When the ancestors are not alive, they are “wise”, when they die they are “sacred”, they still live on the altar, both close and strange and holy. To respect our descendants and to worship our ancestors is to show our gratitude to our ancestors. The sense of ancestry is a sense of origin. Ancestor worship is a continuous reflection of the time, a bridge between the past, present, and future. Life is eternal, death is not the end. After generations, death is just the beginning of a new cycle of birth Lang, 1974. Ancestors are tied to supernatural powers; that is the sacralization. The sanctification derived from the concept of the immortality of the soul. The sacredization and sanctification of the ancestors are imagination but have roots in real life. The sense of ancestors to form and exist helps people to overcome the mundane, mundane life, promote exploration, overcome the existing state to move forward, and overcome the mental deficits. In terms of morality, the sense of ancestors has deep human value, it generates kindness in each person in the social community. ANCESTOR WORSHIPING BELIEFS IN THE BELIEFS AND RELIGION LIFE OF VIETNAMESE PEOPLE NATURE, VALUES, AND CHANGES OF I T IN THE C URRENT PERIOD PJAEE, 17 3 2020 380 In addition to the symbol of the ancestral soul, totem ancestral symbol, the symbol of guardian gods is also the thought content of the consciousness of the ancestors. The concept of totem ancestors gives people a vague, strange, sacred image of their ancestors. And the concept of divine protection makes people feel reassuring. In terms of epistemology, the subject of perception and reflection is the living person, the object perceived and reflected is the deceased ancestor. In terms of society, it is a reflection of the myth of the patriarchal authority, an inevitable result of the process of social differentiation, from matriarchy to patriarchy Kim, 1919; Giau, 1973; Thu, 1997. The social nature of ancestral worship beliefs is clearly shown in the content, object, and form of reflection, determined by its social, cognitive, and psychological origins. The most unique feature of ancestor worship is that it is a special form of social consciousness, a historical - social and cultural phenomenon in the spiritual life field, which is a reflection image of social existence, subject to the regulation of social existence, is relatively independent, formed very early and long-standing in society. The origin and nature of ancestral worship are intertwined, forming a distinctive feature of this type of belief. It can be said that the human spiritual life when rebalanced has been expressed quite fully in ancestor worship, although this is never felt directly from these believers. For even many other beliefs as well as its higher form of religions there is not much mention of death; even for those who follow these beliefs or religions, the feeling of this is largely unrecognized, although as mentioned above in the religions always contains not only belief in immortality but it is also a mental preparation for man to cope with death. Ancestor worship, especially in ancient primitive times, partly helps people overcome suffering and fear of death Taylor, 2000. This is the first point, the important content that ancestor worship brings to everyone, which is to build the strength to understand and overcome death. In ancient Vietnamese society, when religions did not exist, they could not appear as in Western societies, the emergence of beliefs in general and ancestral worship in particular to seek protection from an afterlife world, the world of the dead, indirectly helps the living people feel comfort, encouragement in these difficult circumstances, helps them to face and overcome. With the belief in the help of a transcendent metaphysical ancestor, the practice of worshiping rituals has made living people feel the direction and attachment back to their predecessors as well as the protection they expect. After each such ceremony, for everyone, it is the return and restoration of beliefs, will, and the strongest motivations for life. The Value of Ancestor Worship Belief From the above analysis, we can see that the belief of ancestor worship is the concept of the existence of the soul and the relationship between the dead and the living same bloodline by the spiritual path. After death, ancestors will return to witness, monitor their descendants’ behavior, rebuke, or bless their lives. In this belief, “when drinking water, remember its source”, is the dominant content. ANCESTOR WORSHIPING BELIEFS IN THE BELIEFS AND RELIGION LIFE OF VIETNAMESE PEOPLE NATURE, VALUES, AND CHANGES OF I T IN THE C URRENT PERIOD PJAEE, 17 3 2020 381 The principle of “drinking water, remember its source” expresses descendants’ gratitude to those who were born when they died as well as when they were still alive. On the other hand, it also shows the continuity and enduring responsibility of descendants for the needs of their ancestors. Responsibility is manifested not only in living acts preserving honor and continuing the traditions of family, lineages, and country but also in specific acts of worship. A foreign scholar, when studying this belief in our country, commented “Family members offering offerings are absolutely necessary for ancestral souls to have a peaceful rest in the afterlife” Roszko, 2012. Here, it is also necessary to mention the characteristics of “only love” rather than “rationality” of the Vietnamese people Giau, 1973 & 1983. Although many Eastern ethnic groups have an “only love” behavior, in Vietnamese people, this attitude is very broad and profound not only for living people but also for people who are about to be born or dead. People are always under the influence of the concept of both expecting to receive “ancestral blessings”, “living for the graves of the ancestor, whoever lives for the bowl of rice”, and taking responsibility to give blessings to children and grandchildren”. When worshiping ancestors, on the one hand, people look to the past, orient to the present educate the family traditions, morals to be human for descendants, and on the other hand, prepare for the future. The generation line that is also the moral line will always continue to grow. Ancestor worship is also a religious form that has great significance in terms of community organization in traditional society Kim, 1919; Giau, 1973; Van, 1919. Living in society, on both the vertical and horizontal axis, people cannot live in isolation and alone. Along the longitudinal axis of patriarchy, ancestor worship is the continuity of generations grandparents - parents - oneself. Each human being has the responsibility to worship the previous four generations “cao” great-great-grandparents, “tằng” great-grandparents, “tổ” grandparents, “khảo and tỷ” parents and they also believe that they will be commemorated by their descendants of the next four generations. According to the horizontal axis, ancestor worship has attached people in the kinship connection father, mother, wife or husband as a collective - both living and dead are bound by blood and worshiping the same ancestor, the lineage has the power to ensure spiritual values for each of its members in the family and village. The role of community association of ancestral worship is even clearer when we consider the issue of Hung Vuong worship of King Hung - the ancestor of the nation. The entire Vietnamese community is underpinned by the common belief of a “fellow citizens” source, all of which are “son and children of Lac Hong”. And that is also the strength that helps our people to be stable against all the threats of foreign invaders. “The Hung kings have built the country, our Uncle and grandchildren must keep the country together” Minh, 1995. During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu, 1697 until now, when Hung Vuong was considered the fatherland, this consciousness played a very important role in the spiritual life of the nation. ANCESTOR WORSHIPING BELIEFS IN THE BELIEFS AND RELIGION LIFE OF VIETNAMESE PEOPLE NATURE, VALUES, AND CHANGES OF I T IN THE C URRENT PERIOD PJAEE, 17 3 2020 382 Ancestor worship has simple content and rich in practicality, not as extreme as many other religions Gia, 1973 & 1983; Ngoc, 2002; Hinh, 2007; Van et. al, 2020. Therefore, it is easily secularized to become a way of life, customs, deeply rooted in the subconscious of each person. By worshiping ancestors, the previous generation sets an example for the next generation not only because of the responsibility towards the parents but also for educating and teaching the descendants of the lineage. Professor Dao Duy Anh said “To sacrifice ancestors is to use the maintenance of the race as the purpose” Anh, 1998, p. 249. During the ceremony, their vows are simple, very practical their prayers for protection and support for their daily lives are peaceful and smooth. It is not known how effective such a request is, but first of all, people feel spiritually peaceful, and an important spiritual fulcrum for life. In this worship has actually arisen a two-way relationship the dead need the living’s worship to be able to settle down in the afterlife, not become a wandering “hungry ghost”, and the living only can be at peace and serene when being protected and mysteriously supported by the dead. The spirits of the elders are always by their side son and grandchildren, telling them and helping them have a good and harmonious life. With simple desires and primordial beliefs Taylor, 2000, ancestor worship is considered to be a religion “just within reach” of all classes in terms of both ethical content and execution rituals. Therefore, the ability of this belief to spread in space and time is understandable. Foreign religions, in order to survive in Vietnam, were forced to reconcile with the indigenous beliefs deeply rooted in the minds of the Vietnamese Giau 1973 & 1983. And the endogenous religions in the country such as Cao Dai religion and Hoa Hao religion in the South have known on the basis of ancestor worship. Not only religions but also in other folk beliefs such as worship of King Hung belief, worship of Mother Goddess belief, worship of Village’s Tutelary god belief, etc., we can also see the impact of ancestral beliefs in the gratitude of roots. Originating from the god worshiping belief, Vietnamese people worship Mother mother worship with the desire to draw this god closer to the family belief, thereby having a close sympathy as between the protective mother and her children Huy, 1995; Huu, 1996; Thinh, 2004. It can be said that ancestor worship is a folk belief of the nation that originated from time immemorial and carries the nature of virtue of lovingly drinking water to remember its origin in the historical process, it has been fortified by other religious ideologies. Completely complementary to institutionalize a religion become Ancestors - Grandparents religion Giau 1973; Anh, 2005. Changes in Ancestor Worship Beliefs in the Current Period Since the country's reform 1986, all types of religions and beliefs are considered to have an opportunity to "rise" after a long sleep Hinh, 2007; Van, et. al, 2020. Religious and belief life became active. Religious worshiping facilities are increasingly built and renovated more spacious. Along with it, the number of devotees attending various types of religious services has also increased Government Committee for Religious Affairs, 2016. Ancestor worship is also immersed in that general trend. Ancestor worship in families is also increasingly ANCESTOR WORSHIPING BELIEFS IN THE BELIEFS AND RELIGION LIFE OF VIETNAMESE PEOPLE NATURE, VALUES, AND CHANGES OF I T IN THE C URRENT PERIOD PJAEE, 17 3 2020 383 focused. If religion only meets the spiritual needs of a part of the people who are followers of that religion, ancestor worship meets the spiritual needs of the majority of Vietnamese San, 1998; Ngoc, 2002; Hinh, 2007. If in the past, we still encountered families that did not have an ancestral altar in their home, today every home doe. Along with the economic development, small churches or incense bowls placed temporarily on the roofs of the subsidized time are gradually replaced by fixed altars with many solemn and beautiful designs. The position of the ancestral altar is also focused. Today, to place an altar, people no longer arbitrarily place as before but need to see the altar direction, the size of the altar in terms of height, length, and width. The date of placing the altar or picking up the incense bowl is also an important family event. For families with conditions, people often reserve a private room, on the top floor, or the cleanest and most formal area in the house as a shrine room. The change in the way of arranging incense bowls and ancestral worship space in today's families is a clear indication of the importance of ancestor worship in contemporary Vietnamese people spiritual life. The importance of ancestor worship in addition to the manifestation through ancestral worship space in the family is also reflected in the focus on building the system of ancestral churches, clan churches. In recent years, many churches have been renovated and rebuilt. Many families contribute up to a few billion VND to build their churches and their churches Government Committee for Religious Affairs, 2019. The trend of building ethnic churches has been restored, but the trend of personalizing ancestor worship has also developed very strongly Van, 2019. The personalization that we mention here refers to the trend of ancestor worship today transferred into each family member. In the past, ancestor worship was concentrated in the patriarchal family head of the clan, head of the family, chief of the branch, and eldest son, now, all family members worship ancestors in their own family. Many families still maintain the custom of focusing on the Lunar New Year's death anniversary and focusing on the eldest son's house to make death anniversary. However, in many families, the anniversary is no longer the day the children gather as before. The community-based commemorative form of commemoration of family members is transformed into an individual death commemoration form. Each family member performs the death anniversary ceremony at his home. Thus, if a father has 7 children when the father dies if, in the previous form of commemoration, the children will gather at the eldest son's house to worship his father's death anniversary. Not only the eldest son's own home, even all 7 children, regardless of boy or girl, will carry out the father's death ceremony in their own home. If he thinks that the deceased can return to enjoy the sacrifices of his relatives on the anniversary of the death, this father will have to go to 7 houses to enjoy 7 trays instead of one as before. Is it true that the development of the nuclear family model has affected the change in the way of ancestor worship as above? Or is it the manifestation of the urban lifestyle in modern society, where direct human communication space tends to be narrowed? Van, 2005; Van, 2019. The way of arranging the ancestor altar and the clan worship committee has also changed many times. The book of Vietnamese customs by Phan Ke Binh 2005, p. 346 describes the worshiping in the past in the church as follows “The ancestral ANCESTOR WORSHIPING BELIEFS IN THE BELIEFS AND RELIGION LIFE OF VIETNAMESE PEOPLE NATURE, VALUES, AND CHANGES OF I T IN THE C URRENT PERIOD PJAEE, 17 3 2020 384 church has its own altar and tablet to worship forever, never change", it is called “bách thế bất diêu chi chủ" the ancestors are eternal and holy. As for the rich family, there is enough ancestor of four generations “cao” great-great-grandparents, “tằng” great-grandparents, “tổ” grandparents, “khảo and tỷ” parents. The tablet of the ancestor of four generations is made of applewood, which means that the wood is a thousand years old; one meter long, in the middle of the name, surname, title and on both sides, the date of the ancestors' birth and death, covered by a square box and kept in mosaic when the offering is to take off the towel. By the fifth generation, descendants will bring the tablet of "cao" to bury "thần chủ" - god owner. That act is called "ngũ đại mai thần chủ" children, grandchildren only worship the ancestors of four generations in the church of the clan. After the activity of "ngũ đại mai thần chủ", tablet of "cao" is buried, "tằng" will be raised to "cao", "tổ" will be pushed up to make "tằng", "khảo" will be pushed to "tổ". Just like that, only four generations were worshiped in the family church. Today, this form of worship is maintained by very few families. Most of the altar of ancestor worshiping, especially the ancestral altar in the city, have no god, there is no god of worship, and there are no altar of "cao", "tằng", "tổ", have only altar of "khảo" parents. A few families more in the countryside still keep the god owner, some families cannot keep the god owner but still Long is inlaid on the altar. Therefore, the method of worshiping "ngũ đại mai thần chủ" is no longer maintained. Without god owner, there is no tablet of the "cao", "tằng", "tổ", so now people no longer have the concept of worshiping ancestors in five generations. Those families who are still fortunate enough to retain the ancestral cards from the past are forever kept, regardless of the 5th generation, they must replace the new generation tomorrow, and the ancestral tablet is called as a treasure that needs to be preserved. If in the past, worship tablets used apple wood, now people prefer jackfruit wood. We asked those who made worshiping in Son Dong village, Ha Tay Hanoi today, a village famous for its profession of worshiping worship, to know "The worship, the statue made of jackfruit wood will be more sacred". Why is sacred, no one explains. The usual pattern of an ancestral altar today in families is a shrine on which incense bowls are displayed. The Ancestor Worshiping Committee is also the Goddess that governs the house, so a current ancestor worshiping board is usually arranged with 3 incense bowls. The largest bowl in the middle is worshiping the gods; the second big right bowl is dedicated to the family line, regardless of paternal side husband's, maternal side wife's; the smaller left bowl worships the young lost aunts, grandparents of the lineage. There are also other furnishing families, including a bowl of divine incense; on the right is the incense bowl worshiping the inner side; on the left is the incense bowl to worship on the outside, etc. There are currently no standards for ancestral altar decoration. The emphasis on ancestor worship today is also reflected in the emphasis on clan graves. For ages, ancestral tombs are always respected and preserved by descendants. There is a proverb that "keeps as keeping the ancestor graves". The ANCESTOR WORSHIPING BELIEFS IN THE BELIEFS AND RELIGION LIFE OF VIETNAMESE PEOPLE NATURE, VALUES, AND CHANGES OF I T IN THE C URRENT PERIOD PJAEE, 17 3 2020 385 proverb has shown the importance of ancestral graves for the living. However, in our opinion, there have been many manifestations of a bit over-emphasis on ancestral graves in today's society. The family raced to build their own grave to be really big and beautiful. The tomb is the house of the deceased. The fact that the descendants build for the ancestors a new house, a beautiful house is a cultural beauty, but racing to build a grave so that their tomb must be big and beautiful than others is a matter of thinking. At the moment, no one has ever proven that a big tomb is a great blessing, a small one is a small blessing. It is the desire that our tomb must be better than another one that we see nowadays, many cemeteries appear where the graves are built together, causing the children to come to burn incense and have no place to stand and go to the grave of their house. On a business trip in Hue, we were fortunate enough to be taken by a local religious official to visit the mausoleum city. We were really overwhelmed with the large house tombs built on an area of hundreds of square meters with the cost of having mausoleums up to several billion VND. Local people said this area almost every home has people currently residing in the US. The descendants who work far away do quite well, remember the merit of their ancestors sending money to build ancestors' tombs. Just like that, the house built later wants our house to be bigger, more beautiful, and cost more to build than the previous one. Having a house that has just been built, it costs five hundred million VND, but next year, seeing a neighbor's house building bigger than the cost of one billion VND, the dam will be built to build a bigger hybrid with higher cost. The mausoleum city, also known as the city of the dead, has been visited by many Korean, Taiwanese, and Japanese visitors about the current Vietnamese ancestor worship model. Taking care of ancestral graves is a traditional Vietnamese culture, but perhaps it is not necessary to compete like that. Many families have fallen into difficult economic situations, and brothers disagree with their significant contributions to the construction of such tombs and churches. Just as author Phan Ke Binh 2005 said, we need to find a way to avoid waste and trouble for loved ones who are living, then perhaps we will also agree with our ancestors. CONCLUSION In fact, the important influence of religions and beliefs appeared throughout the history of more than two thousand years, in the development of most societies in the world. In the West, Christianity, a highly organized religion, helped shape medieval European society after the fall of the Roman Empire at the end of the 5th century until the pre-capitalist era XIV. In East Asia, religion cannot appear, has a strong influence on society, except Shintoism in Japan. Instead, we see the emergence of different types of beliefs that govern the spiritual life of social people, including ancestor worship. Ancestor worship belief has become a component of Vietnamese culture for a long time with its own identity, characteristics, and strength when compared with Western and Arab societies. Researching, ANCESTOR WORSHIPING BELIEFS IN THE BELIEFS AND RELIGION LIFE OF VIETNAMESE PEOPLE NATURE, VALUES, AND CHANGES OF I T IN THE C URRENT PERIOD PJAEE, 17 3 2020 386 understanding as well as promoting positively and negatively limiting this belief in current Vietnamese society needs to be paid attention, even though ancestral worship itself is a culture process, endogenous is difficult to change by individuals or the whole society. Thus, it can be said that ancestor worship is a type of folk belief, associated with cultural and ethical practices on the basis of the belief that dead ancestors will protect and protect, helping children and grandchildren is a reflection of the patriarchal power myth and is expressed through worshiping rites according to the conception, customs and practices of each person, each family and each village commune community. Over time, ancestral worship beliefs have constantly changed, including both positive and negative. The change is shown in many ways such as the way of worship, the content of worship, and the ideas that the ancestors bring to their descendants. In this article, we have not had the opportunity to mention the change of faith in the ancestor worship of the Vietnamese people. Hope to have the opportunity to study the occasion in the next research articles. REFERENCES Anh, D. D. 1998. Vietnamese Cultural and Historical. Dong Thap Đong Thap Universal. Anh, T. 2005. The Custom of Worshiping in Families and Public Places in Vietnam. Hanoi Youth. Binh, P. K. 2005. Vietnamese Custom. Hanoi Culture Information. Chu, P. H. 1992. Least-Year Charter Schedule. Hanoi Social Science. Duy, N. D. 2002. Spiritual Culture. Hanoi Culture Information. Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu. 1697 translation 2004. Vol 1. Hanoi Social Science. Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu. 1697 translation 2004. Vol 2. Hanoi Social Science. General Statistics Office. 2019. Results of the Population and Housing Census in 2019. 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With the right religious policy, respecting and ensuring everyone's right to freedom of belief and religion, the right to follow or not to follow a religion, and equality before the law [11], Vietnam has achieved many achievements in ensuring everyone's right to freedom of religion, the number of dignitaries and positions [12], and worship establishments are increasing; the large scale of belief and religious activities [13]; authorities at all levels ensure security and order, fire prevention, food hygiene and safety for religious activities attended by a large number of people and foreign tourists, etc. [14,15]. Specifically, people of faith and followers of religions are free to express their faith at home, at a place of worship, or at a group site registered with the government. ...Tran Thi Thao HienThe cause of national renewal under the Communist Party of Vietnam's leadership has been over three decades. Among the great and historically significant victories of the doi moi cause, it is impossible not to mention the victories in theoretical thinking and religious policies of the Party and the State of Vietnam. This study focuses on analyzing and explaining the changes in the religious and religious life of Vietnamese people today; the process of renewing awareness to reforming religious policies of the Party and the State of Vietnam; several discussion issues that need further clarification on Vietnam's beliefs and religion policy in the period of international integration; at the same time, propose several solutions to improve the policy of belief and religion; correct orientation of Vietnamese people's belief and religious activities in the process of Vietnam's international integration.... This may be explained mostly by cultural impacts on adolescents' lives. Specifically, in addition to Buddhist practices that have been common among the Vietnamese people for many centuries [70], ancestor worship is a common cultural and folk-religion practice [71]. Most Vietnamese people believe that their dead relatives are still present in their lives and that they possess the spiritual ability to help them. ...Background The coronavirus disease 2019 COVID-19 pandemic has continued for more than two years, and the impact of this pandemic on mental health has become one of the most important research topics in psychiatry and psychology. The aim of the present study was to assess psychological distress in adolescents across five countries Sweden, Morocco, Serbia, Vietnam, and the United States of America during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Using nonparametric analyses we examined the impact of COVID-19 on distress, measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory, in a sample of 4670 adolescents. Results Our results showed that the association between the COVID-19 impact and psychological distress in adolescents' lives was positive and moderate in Morocco and Serbia, positive and weak in Vietnam and the United States of America, and negative and weak in Sweden. We also found that female adolescents reported higher distress levels than male adolescents. Conclusions COVID-19 impacted adolescents and their psychological distress differently depending on their residence. Vu Hong VanThe three religions of the homeland are three religions, including Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, merging into one. This phenomenon is common in some East Asian countries, typically China and Vietnam. Historically, Confucianism had a far-reaching influence, from the intellectual class, the aristocracy, to all people. Because it governs almost all normal social relationships, over a very long period of time. Along with Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism had certain positions in the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people and in the method of country rule of the feudal dynasties of Vietnam. Under the Nguyen Dynasty starting in 1802, after a period of decline under the Le Mat dynasty, Confucianism gradually restored and maintained a unique position; However, Buddhism and Confucianism still have a certain place in society. This study focuses on analyzing the conditions for the Nguyen dynasty to make Confucianism become the unique ideology in the early nineteenth century; the recovery of Confucianism and the development of Buddhism and Taoism. On that basis, there are basic assessments of the phenomenon of three religions of the homeland of the Nguyen Dynasty. Vu Hong VanIn Vietnam, many folk beliefs exist. However, not many of these beliefs havebecome customary. Among those that have is the belief of worshiping souls. Similar toother folk beliefs, in the constant exchange and changes of cultural flows, this belief has been influenced by foreign religions, including Buddhism and Taoism. During the development process of the Vietnamese nation, Buddhism and Taoism had a great influence on the spiritual life, traditions, and culture of the nation, especially in the lives of working people. At the beginning of their introduction in Vietnam, Buddhism and Taoism had similar long-standing beliefs. The belief in liberation and the cult of magic, witchcraft, and talismans of ancient Vietnamese people created favorable conditions for the cultivation of Buddhism and Taoism. On the basis of studying ancient bibliographies and learning about the facts in some localities in Vietnam, this article systematically presents the custom of worshiping souls and identifies the influence of Buddhism and Taoism on this belief in Vietnam. Vu Hong VanDoes the soul exist? If there exists where it is, what it is doing and if the soul does not exist why is it still appear in the daily lives of so many people, so many generations and many places in the world. Why is it so important for so many countries in the world to believe in the immortality of the soul and death? Faith in the dead and the next generation depends largely on a person’s religion and culture, on a community of people. For many Vietnamese, this belief goes from the belief that the soul only reaches its ultimate goal after many reincarnations, to the idea that life will now determine its final destiny. Consequently, one person can feel confident that he will eventually merge with the ultimate reality after death, others will surely reach Nirvana, and others will believe that he will be rewarded in heaven. So what is the truth? Because our beliefs affect our attitude, actions, and decisions, are we not interested in finding answers to that question? The dead are not finished but their souls still exist. Depending on the behavior of those who live with those who have died, they those who are still alive may be blessed by the soul or punished by the soul, encountering unfortunate things in life. This study provides a discussion of whether or not the existence of the immortal soul and the blessing or harassing of the soul for human life. How can humans limit the harassing and many blessings from the soul? Why does belief in the blessing and harassing of the soul become such a popular custom of worship among Vietnamese people? Edyta RoszkoAs in China and Soviet Russia, religion in Vietnam was considered to be harmful superstition. However, a glimpse into the Governmental Gazette – Công Báo – displays the important transformation of the state’s policy toward religion that became translated into national representation. While this article focuses on nation-building as a dynamic cultural process that leads to the promotion of selected religious practices as national heritage,’ it also explores the state-society relationship beyond binaries. By looking at religious spaces and local communities I argue that in Vietnam religion is a powerful form of nation-building process and constitutes a creative space in which different actors exercise their agency beyond resistance and Cultural and HistoricalD D AnhAnh, D. D. 1998. Vietnamese Cultural and Historical. Dong Thap Đong Thap Custom of Worshiping in Families and Public Places in VietnamT AnhAnh, T. 2005. The Custom of Worshiping in Families and Public Places in Vietnam. Hanoi Custom. Hanoi Culture InformationP K BinhBinh, P. K. 2005. Vietnamese Custom. Hanoi Culture Charter ScheduleP H ChuChu, P. H. 1992. Least-Year Charter Schedule. Hanoi Social Science. Duy, N. D. 2002. Spiritual Culture. Hanoi Culture Development of Thought in Vietnam from the Nineteenth Century to the August RevolutionT V GiauGiau, T. V. 1973. The Development of Thought in Vietnam from the Nineteenth Century to the August Revolution. Hanoi Social Spiritual Values of the Vietnamese NationT V GiauGiau, T. V. 1983. Traditional Spiritual Values of the Vietnamese Nation. Vietnam Ho Chi Minh of Beliefs and ReligionsL N HoaHoa, L. N. 2006. Nature of Beliefs and Religions. Hanoi Religions Huong, N. X. 2009. Beliefs of Coastal Residents in Quang Nam -Da Nang. Hanoi Encyclopedia & Cultural Oriental Ideology with Suggestion of Reference ViewpointsC X HuyHuy, C. X. 1995. The Oriental Ideology with Suggestion of Reference Viewpoints. Hanoi Literature. Vietnam is a country which has a rich and wide variety of religions. These include religions based on popular beliefs, religions brought to Vietnam from the outside, and several indigenous religious groups. As with other countries, the Vietnamese have several popular beliefs, such as animism and theism. The most widespread popular belief among the Vietnamese is the belief in ancestor-worship. In regard to the major world religions, Vietnam is a multi-religious state, with more than 20 million believers, and more than 30,000 places of worship. Buddhism is the largest of the major world religions in Vietnam, with about ten million followers. It was the earliest foreign religion to be introduced in Vietnam, arriving from India in the second century in two ways, the Mahayana sect via China, and the Hinayana sect via Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. During the ten-century feudal reign of Vietnam, Buddhism was considered a state religion. At present, Vietnam has more than 20,000 pagodas dedicated to Buddha, with a large number of other pagodas being built or restored. The second largest foreign religion in Vietnam is Catholicism, with about six million followers. Catholicism was introduced to Vietnam by Spanish, Portuguese, and French missionaries early in the 17th century. There are now more than 6,000 churches engaged in religious activities throughout the country. More than 500 churches damaged during the air war against Vietnam are being rebuilt. Protestantism came to Vietnam in 1911, and was widely spread throughout Vietnam in 1920, but the number of Protestants in Vietnam is not very large. Islam was introduced to Vietnam long ago, but did not flourish. In addition to these religions originating in other parts of the world, Vietnam has indigenous religions, such as the Cao Dai and Hoa Hao sects, with their holy lands in the city of Tay Ninh and the provinces of Chau Doc and An Giang in the Mekong Delta. The Vietnamese religions have never opposed or competed with one another, but were united in a national united front, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, peacefully coexisting in the Vietnamese community, and contributing to the struggle against foreign aggression for national construction. History of beliefs and religions The Vietnamese folk beliefs since the ancient time consist of belief in fertility, worship of nature and worship of man. Human beings need to be reproduced, crops need to be lushly green for the nourishment and development of life, so belief in fertility came into existence. Water-rice agriculture that depended much on natural factors ignited the belief of worshiping nature. In Vietnam, this belief was polytheism and respect for goddess, and worshipp of animals and plants as well. A research book published in 1984 listed 75 goddesses, mostly matriarchal goddesses, also called Mau ancient people not only worshipped the Creator but also Mau Cuu Trung which was a female Creator, as well as Mau Thuong Ngan, River Goddess and so on. Regarding botany-worshiping beliefs, the rice plant was most venerated, the next were the banyan-tree, the areca-tree, the mulberry tree and the gourd. In respect of animal-worshiping beliefs, unlike nomadic culture that worships fierce wild animals, Vietnamese tend to worship gentle species of animals like stag, deer, frog, especially those which are easy to come by in the riverside regions like water-birds, snakes, and crocodiles. The Vietnamese proclaimed themselves as belonging to the Hong Bang family line and the Tien Rong breed Hong Bang was the name of a huge species of water-bird, Tien, or Fairy, was deification of an egg-laying species of bird, Rong, or Dragon, was an abstract image of snake and crocodile. The ascending dragon that was born in the water is meaningful and special symbol of the Vietnamese nation. Among the human-revering beliefs, the custom of worshiping ancestors is the most popular, which nearly become one belief of the Vietnamese also called Dao Ong Ba in the Cochinchina. The Vietnamese choose the death-day rather than the birthday to hold a commemorative anniversary for the deceased. Every family worships Tho cong, or the God of Home, who takes care of the home and blesses the family. Every village worships its Thanh hoang, the God of the village, who protects and guides the whole village the Vietnamese always honour the people who rendered distinguished services for villagers or national heroes who were born or died in the village to be their Thanh hoang. The whole nation worships the very first kings, sharing the common ancestors' death anniversary the Ritual of Hung Temple. Particularly, the worship of Tu Bat Tu, or the Four Immortal Gods, namely, God Tan Vien preventing flooding, God Giong resisting and defeating foreign invaders, God Chu Dong Tu together with his wife growing out of poverty to consistently build his fortune and Goddess Lieu Hanh heavenly princess who left Heaven for the earth in the yearning for happiness has been regarded as extremely beautiful national values. Although turning into superstition in some specific cases, folk beliefs have lasted consistently and mixed with orthodox religions. Therevada Buddhism might have been imported directly into Vietnam from India through sea routes since the 2nd century Vietnamese Buddhism stays on earth rather than ascends up to heaven, attaches to exorcism and prayers for wealth, happiness and longevity rather than heads toward nirvana. Only when Maharayana Buddhism approached the country from China did Vietnamese monks have the chance to carry out in-depth study of Buddhism; however, separate schools were later formed, such as Truc Lam Buddhist School which attaches importance to the Buddha inside the human heart. In the Ly-Tran dynasties, Buddhism, though having reached its peak, still embraced both Taoism and Confucianism to create a cultural face with "the three religions existing at the same time". Over ups and downs throughout the history, Buddhism has become absolutely familiar to the Vietnamese; according to the 1993 stastistics, there were up to some 3 million Buddhist believers and some other 10 millions frequently going to the pagoda for worshipping the Buddha. Under the Chinese domination, Confucianism had yet to gain a position in the Vietnamese society. The official adoption of Confucianism had not been recorded until 1070 when King Ly Thai To built Van Mieu the Temple of Literature to worshipChu Cong and Khong Tu confucius. In the 15th century, due to the need of constructing a unified nation, a centralized administration and a social order, Confucianism took the place of Buddhism to become a national religion under the Ledynasty. Confucianism, mostly Song Confucianism, that took root deep into the social and political structure, the system of education and examinations and the circle of Confucian scholars gradually dominated social and moral life. However, Confucianism was only accepted to Vietnam in specific factors, particularly on politics and morality, rather than its entire system. Taoism penetrated Vietnam at roughly the end of the 2nd century. Since the Vo Vi letting things take their own course doctrine bore the thought of resisting the Chinese rulers, it was used as a weapon against the Northern feudalism. This religion also contained factors of magic and mystery, so it fits human subconscience and primitive beliefs. Many Confucianists also admired Taoism?s tendency of enjoying quietness and joyful leisure. However, Taoism has long been regarded as an extinct religion that only left vestiges in folk beliefs. Christianity came to Vietnam in the 17th century as an intermediary of the Western culture and colonialism. It made use of the favorable opportunity in which feudalism was in crisis, Buddhism was depraved and Confucianism was in deadlock to become a spiritual relief of a part of the population. However, this religion failed to integrate into the Vietnamese culture for a long time. Christians had to set up an altar dedicated to Jesus Christ right at their homes. Only when the Gospel was introduced into Vietnam, Christianity was able to gain a position. In 1993, there were 5 million Catholics and nearly half a million Protestants. Foreign religions imported to Vietnam did not exterminate the local folk beliefs, but they mixed with each other to derive specific variants for both sides. For example, Taoism could not lower the women?s role, which was reflected by widespread worship of Mau Goddess. The features of polytheism, democracy, and community are manifested by the worship of groups of ancestors, and pairs of gods. Entering a pagoda, people can easily recognize that not only Buddhas but also gods and even human are worshiped there. Perhaps, only in Vietnam, there were legends that a toad dares to sue Heaven or a human being marries a fairy. These are the prominent features of Vietnamese beliefs. Vietnamese culture and traditions date back thousands of years and they live by a set of shared values. Some of the important values in Vietnamese culture include not being perceived as embarrassing or aggressive, strong academics, respect for elders, optimism, and downplaying individualism in favor of family and community. Art, Literature, Music, and DanceArt in Vietnam is mainly influenced by Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Silk painting is a popular art form and is very colorful. Calligraphy and woodblock prints are also popular art forms. To unlock this lesson you must be a Member. Create your account Many Vietnamese people live by Confucianism, which is more of a social philosophy than a religion. It has a code of conduct that regulates relations between people. It revolves around the belief that if people are in harmony with one another, they will be in harmony with the universe. It places Vietnamese values of good name, respect, love of learning, and loyalty to the family at the forefront. Confucianism is prevalent in many of the aforementioned festivals and ceremonies. Faiths of VietnamBuddhism is the mainstream religion in Vietnam. It is widely accepted and practiced by a little over half of the population. Eleven religions are recognized in Vietnam. The next most prevalent after Buddhism are Catholicism, Cao Dai, Hoa Hao, and Protestantism. Other religions beyond these five make up only of the population. To unlock this lesson you must be a Member. Create your account Traditions in Vietnam are very important. The traditional dress consists of a long gown with pants underneath, called an ao dai. Red symbolizes luck, white and black symbolize mourning. Vietnamese weddings and funerals both contain important ceremonies. The weddings consist of multiple months of preparation, including a proposal ceremony, engagement ceremony, nuptial ceremony, and feast celebration. Funerals consist of a wake at home, sometimes for several days, followed by a funeral and elaborate funeral procession. Tet Nguyen Dan, or lunar new year, is the biggest celebration in Vietnamese culture. It is celebrated for several days with special meals and traditions. Liberation Day and National Day are civic holidays celebrated in Vietnam. Three popular religious holidays are Wandering Souls Day, Buddha's Birthday, and the Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival. Vietnamese culture and values date back thousands of years and are deeply ingrained. Popular art forms are silk painting, calligraphy, and woodblock prints. Music varies based on the area in Vietnam. Dance is diverse and important for ceremonies and traditions. Some dance is very intricate and requires much practice. Vietnamese martial arts is growing in popularity around the world. It follows the philosophy Viet Vo Dao. Confucianism drives much of the values in Vietnam. Important values include respecting elders, valuing food, quiet demeanor/saving face, respect, loyalty to the family, and gift-giving. To unlock this lesson you must be a Member. Create your account The Vietnamese society has a strong system of values and ethics that define the actions of most individuals. It's based on four pillars, which are the good name, respect, learning, and family. Having a good name is fundamental and more important than any material possession. A person with a good reputation is respected and admired, while someone who has a bad name is often marginalized. People work on building a good name during their entire lives and try to leave a positive image after their death. Respect is a central part of the Vietnamese values system. People are expected to show respect to every individual, especially those who are older or hold a higher status. Such regard is commonly expressed in words and actions, including specific linguistic titles and body gestures. Learning is considered more valuable than wealth, and knowledge is seen as a virtue. Highly educated people, like scholars or teachers, enjoy a high esteem, respect, and veneration. Learning is regarded as a fundamental step for improving socioeconomic status. The family is the heart of the Vietnamese culture, and loyalty to it is a fundamental value. Each individual is expected to care for his family and to make efforts for becoming a reason of pride for them. Similarly, an individual's wrongdoing is often blamed both on him and his family. Culture and TraditionsRegardless of modern western influences and some restrictions imposed by the communist regime, many traditional elements are still present in the Vietnamese culture, and people feel proud of their unique customs and celebrations. The ao dai is popularly considered the national dress. It consists of a long tunic-like gown with splits on the side that go up to the waist. It's worn over trousers that almost touch the floor. The ao dai used to be worn by men and women but now is almost exclusively a feminine attire often made to fit the body. On a daily basis, however, most people wear western clothes. Buddhism is the main religion in Vietnam, and both the Theravada and the Mahayana currently coexist. Confucianism, Taoism and Catholicism are also present, with a smaller number of followers. Given the importance of the family, many people live with their extended families. Several generations often share the same house and many daily activities. Traditional marriage rituals include two ceremonies. The first in an engagement celebration in which the groom and family visit the bride and family and bring them presents. Both families decide the date for the wedding. The nuptial ceremony includes another visit to the bride's house to take her to the groom's place. There, the couple prays at an altar, the union is consecrated, and a reception is held. Families see elders with esteem, and it's common to organize special celebrations of longevity when someone reaches a milestone age, like 60, 70 and so on. It's an occasion to show respect and devotion, and the honoree receives gifts. Red dresses are a common gift for older women. VietnamLocated south of China, east of Laos and Cambodia, and with a long coastline over the South China Sea, we find Vietnam. This nation of Southeast Asia has a beautiful and rich culture, shaped by centuries of combining traditions and foreign influences. Among other things, the Vietnamese are known for their hospitality, respectful manners, and delicious food. ValuesThe Vietnamese society has a strong system of values and ethics that define the actions of most individuals. It's based on four pillars, which are the good name, respect, learning, and family. Having a good name is fundamental and more important than any material possession. A person with a good reputation is respected and admired, while someone who has a bad name is often marginalized. People work on building a good name during their entire lives and try to leave a positive image after their death. Respect is a central part of the Vietnamese values system. People are expected to show respect to every individual, especially those who are older or hold a higher status. Such regard is commonly expressed in words and actions, including specific linguistic titles and body gestures. Learning is considered more valuable than wealth, and knowledge is seen as a virtue. Highly educated people, like scholars or teachers, enjoy a high esteem, respect, and veneration. Learning is regarded as a fundamental step for improving socioeconomic status. The family is the heart of the Vietnamese culture, and loyalty to it is a fundamental value. Each individual is expected to care for his family and to make efforts for becoming a reason of pride for them. Similarly, an individual's wrongdoing is often blamed both on him and his family. Culture and TraditionsRegardless of modern western influences and some restrictions imposed by the communist regime, many traditional elements are still present in the Vietnamese culture, and people feel proud of their unique customs and celebrations. The ao dai is popularly considered the national dress. It consists of a long tunic-like gown with splits on the side that go up to the waist. It's worn over trousers that almost touch the floor. The ao dai used to be worn by men and women but now is almost exclusively a feminine attire often made to fit the body. On a daily basis, however, most people wear western clothes. Buddhism is the main religion in Vietnam, and both the Theravada and the Mahayana currently coexist. Confucianism, Taoism and Catholicism are also present, with a smaller number of followers. Given the importance of the family, many people live with their extended families. Several generations often share the same house and many daily activities. Traditional marriage rituals include two ceremonies. The first in an engagement celebration in which the groom and family visit the bride and family and bring them presents. Both families decide the date for the wedding. The nuptial ceremony includes another visit to the bride's house to take her to the groom's place. There, the couple prays at an altar, the union is consecrated, and a reception is held. Families see elders with esteem, and it's common to organize special celebrations of longevity when someone reaches a milestone age, like 60, 70 and so on. It's an occasion to show respect and devotion, and the honoree receives gifts. Red dresses are a common gift for older women. To unlock this lesson you must be a Member. Create your account AbstractIn this chapter we shall describe the way in which some Vietnamese people cope with death and dying. The beliefs, fears and rituals of people in the north of Vietnam are investigated. Despite some cultural differences, they are quite similar to people in other parts of the and dyingBeliefFearRitualAttitude ReferencesDieu Hien, T., & Hoang, R. N. 2000. Death rituals in Vietnamese society. Seattle University of Washington. Google Scholar Gruenewald, D. A., & White, E. J. 2006. The illness experience of older adults near the end of life A systematic review. Anesthesiology Clinics, 24, 16380. Google Scholar Hanh, T. N. 2003. No death, no fear Comforting wisdom for life Reissue edition. New York Riverhead. Google Scholar Owens, C. O., & Lundgren, K. 2002. Medical examiner dialogue Vietnamese Buddhist. Seattle University of Washington. Google Scholar Rao, J. K., Anderson, L. A., & Smith, S. M. 2002. End of life is a public health issue. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 233, Google Scholar Scherer, Y., Jezewski, M. A., Graves, B., Wu, Y. W. B., & Bu, X. 2006. Advance directives and end-of-life decision making survey of critical care nurses knowledge, attitude, and experience. Critical Care Nurse, 264, 30– Google Scholar Vietnamese Cultural Profile. 2009. Diversicare, PO Box 5199. Google Scholar Wright, A. A., et al. 2008. Associations between end-of-life discussions, patient mental health, medical care near death, and caregiver bereavement adjustment. JAMA, 30014, Google Scholar Download referencesAuthor informationAuthors and AffiliationsHanoi National University of Education, Hanoi, VietnamNguyen Duc Son & Giap Binh NgaAuthorsNguyen Duc SonYou can also search for this author in PubMed Google ScholarGiap Binh NgaYou can also search for this author in PubMed Google ScholarCorresponding authorCorrespondence to Nguyen Duc Son .Editor informationEditors and AffiliationsHampshire College Retired, Amherst, MA, USAHelaine SelinEmeritus Professor of Politics and Environmental Studies, Hampshire College, Amherst, MA, USARobert M. RakoffRights and permissionsCopyright information© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AGAbout this chapterCite this chapterSon, Nga, 2019. Death and Dying Belief, Fear and Ritual in Vietnamese Culture. In Selin, H., Rakoff, eds Death Across Cultures. Science Across Cultures The History of Non-Western Science, vol 9. Springer, Cham. 02 July 2019 Publisher Name Springer, Cham Print ISBN 978-3-030-18825-2 Online ISBN 978-3-030-18826-9eBook Packages Social SciencesSocial Sciences R0 Viet Nam is a multi-religion and multi-belief country. The Vietnamese people have a time-honored tradition of practicing their beliefs. Different ethnic groups in Viet Nam have different beliefs linked to their own economic and spiritual life. Traditional belief With the perception that every object has a soul, since the ancient time, the Vietnamese people have worshiped a large number of gods, especially those related to agriculture such as sun, moon, land, mountain, river and forest, etc. Each ethnic minority in Viet Nam has its own way of practicing its traditional beliefs, most noticeably those maintained by some ethnic groups such as Tay-Thai, Hmong-Dao, Hoa-San Diu-Ngai, Cham-Ede-Gia Rai, Mon-Khmer. In addition, the most popular and time-honored custom of the Vietnamese people, including some ethnic minorities, is ancestor worship and commemoration of death anniversaries. Every Vietnamese family has an altar to worship their ancestors and attaches importance to the commemoration of death anniversaries of the predecessors. Beside ancestor worship in each family and each clan, many villages have a communal house or a temple to worship the Village Deity. The custom of worshiping the Village Deity is a unique feature of Vietnamese villages. The Village Deity worshiped in the village’s temple and communal house can be a god or an outstanding figure that rendered great service such as the forefather of a traditional handicraft or a national hero who greatly contributed to the cause of national building and fighting foreign invaders. The Vietnamese people also worship other gods like the Kitchen God and God of the Soil. Religion Viet Nam has six major religions, namely Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Muslim, Caodaism and Hoa Hao Buddhism. Buddhism Buddhism was first introduced in Viet Nam in the early years From the 10th to the 15th century, Buddhism developed rapidly in Viet Nam after Viet Nam had gained independence. Buddhism reached its extreme popularity under the Ly-Tran Dynasty from the early 11th century to the late 14th century. King Tran Nhan Tong was the founder of the unique Truc Lam Yen Tu School of Zen, characterized by creativity, harmony and integration. Theravada Buddhism was first introduced in southern Viet Nam in the 4th century. Most Theravada Buddhist followers are Khmer people living in the Mekong Delta, thus called Khmer Theravada Buddhism. At present, there are 10 million Buddhist followers, 17,000 pagodas, 40,000 Buddhist monks, and 36 schools for Buddhism training in Viet Nam. Catholicism Historians believe that Catholicism was first introduced in Viet Nam in 1533. From 1533 to 1614, priests of Portuguese Order of and Spanish Order of Preachers accompanied merchant ships to Viet Nam. From 1615 to 1665, priests of Portuguese Society of Jesus entered Viet Nam from Macau China, both in Dang Trong south of Gianh River and Dang Ngoai north of Gianh River. At present, Viet Nam Catholic Church has 26 dioceses, 6 million followers, 6,270 churches, 19,000 dignitaries, 6 grand seminaries, and 2 training schools. Protestantism Protestantism was first introduced in Viet Nam in the late 19th and early 20th century by the Christian and Missionary Alliance – CMA, later than other religions. 1911 is recognized as the beginning year when Protestantism was introduced into Viet Nam. At present, there are over one million Protestants, 500 dignitaries, 300 Protestant churches, and 01 biblical theology institute in Viet Nam. Muslim In Viet Nam, Muslim followers are mostly Cham people. According to historical records, the Cham were first introduced to Muslim in the 10th and 11th century. There are two schools of Muslim in Viet Nam the older one Cham Ba Ni with followers in Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan Provinces; and the newer one Cham Islam with followers in Chau Doc An Giang Province, Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh and Dong Nai Province. At present, there are 79 mosques, 72,000 Muslim followers and 700 dignitaries in Viet Nam. Caodaism Caodaism is an indigenous religion, officially established in Go Ken Pagoda, Tay Ninh Province in mid November 1926. At present, there are million Cao Dai followers, 31,700 dignitaries and over 100 churches in Viet Nam. Hoa Hao Buddhism Hoa Hao Buddhism is another indigenous religion created by Huynh Phu So on July 4th May 1939 in Hoa Hao Village, An Giang Province. At present, there are million Hoa Hao Buddhist followers, over 1,700 monks and 1,200 pagodas in Viet Nam. Freedom of Belief and Religion The right to freedom of belief and religion of all Vietnamese citizens is provided by the Constitution and ensured in practice. Article 70 of the Vietnamese 1992 Constitution stipulates “Citizens have the right to freedom of belief and religion, and may practice or not practice any religion. All religions are equal before the law. Public places of religious worship are protected by law. No one has the right to infringe on the freedom of belief and religion or to take advantage of the latter to violate State laws and policies.” The right to freedom of belief and religion is reflected in various legal documents. The Ordinance on Belief and Religion coming into force on 15 November 2004 has institutionalized state guidelines and policies on belief and religion and ensured the exercise of the right to freedom of belief and religion. All citizens, regardless of their belief and religion, are equal before the law, entitled to follow or not to follow a religion, entitled to express their beliefs, exercise worship rituals, pray and participate in religious activities and in the study of religious theories and ethics. All religious organizations are equal before the law. The State guarantees the right to freedom of belief and religion, protection of the facilities and assets of religious establishments such as pagodas, churches, mosques, oratories, sanctuaries, temples and headquarters of religious organizations, religious schools, bibles and worshiping objects. On 1 March 2005, the Government issued Decree 22/2005/ND-CP guiding the implementation of the Ordinance on Belief and Religion. Religious Practice At present, there are about 20 million followers of 12 religions and 30 religious organizations recognized by the State, 83,368 dignitaries and monks, 25,331 religious establishments and many traditional worshiping places in Viet Nam. Religious followers are free to practice religious ceremonies, express and exercise their religious beliefs. Religious dignitaries and monks are free to exercise religious activities in accordance with religious rules. The ordainment, appointment and reshuffle of dignitaries are carried out in accordance with church rules. Over the last years, religious organizations recognized by the State have developed in the number of establishments, followers, dignitaries, monks, worshiping places, prayer book publications and activities provided by its charter, statute, rules and laws. Dignitaries and monks enjoy the right to study and train at home or abroad, and participate in religious activities abroad. Many foreign religious organizations have come to Viet Nam for exchanges with local religious organizations. Viet Nam successfully hosted the United Nations Day for Vesak 2008 from 13 May to 17 May 2008 in Ha Noi. Vesak Day was participated by almost 4,000 official delegates, including around 2,000 foreign delegates from 74 countries and territories and over 200 overseas Vietnamese delegates. Viet Nam will host the 6th World Buddhist Summit in 2010 in Ha Noi. Religious Publications The printing of prayer books and other religious publications are conducted regularly to meet the demand of religious activities in Viet Nam. In 2008, Religion Publishing House published 1,768,000 copies of 613 books and 297,200 copies of other 251 religious publications. Religious organizations also have their own publications like Buddhism Research Magazine, Giac Ngo Newspaper Buddhism; Hiep Thong Review, Vietnamese Catholic Newspaper, Catholicism and the Nation Newspaper Catholicism; Huong Sen Review Hoa Hao Buddhism; Pastoral Bulletin and Spiritual Communication Bulletin Protestantism.

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