After exploring the city of Hanoi, and visiting the Temple of Literature, it became clear to me that religion is an extremely prominent aspect of Vietnamese life. This tourist attraction was dedicated specifically to showcase religion, therefore displaying the important role it plays in traditional Vietnamese culture. However, as we travelled to Hoi An, I expected religious symbols and sites to be much less apparent throughout the town. At first, this seemed to be the case. Much of our time was spent biking through town, and exploring the many shops and the market present there. It was obvious that Hoi An relied heavily on tourists as consumers for economic stimulation. However, while we were shopping around, I couldn’t help but notice small religious altars present in many of the shops, and several of the restaurants. In every case, these altars had been presented with offerings, and many were burning incense. While not prominent, as they were often located in the back corners of the shops, these religious symbols were a constant reminder of Buddhist influence in Vietnamese life. The presence of these altars seemed to suggest the immense importance of religion to nearly all of the Vietnamese. They felt the desire to display their spirituality in a public place of business, rather than keep it hidden at home or contained in a temple.
On our free day in Hoi An, myself and several others decided to explore the historical sites and attractions found in the Ancient Town. We found ourselves visiting Assembly halls, old Communal homes, and the Japanese Covered bridge. As we visited each of the attractions, I was shocked to see that every single site we visited had been transformed in some way into a place of worship. Both the Japanese Covered Bridge and the Old house of Tan Ky were previously sites for business and trade. However, they now have elaborate altars, with opportunity for worship through kneeling, and the burning of incense. It was incredibly interesting to me that these two buildings, which previously focused on economic affairs, had been altered to display religion in such a prominent manner.
The obvious emphasis on religion that I have witnessed throughout Vietnam, and specifically Hoi An, has especially struck me because it differs greatly from the ways in which we treat religion in the United States. Emphasis on religious tolerance in America has led it to become a more privatized manner. Since we have a melting pot of religions, people often shy away from the subject of religion so as not to offend anyone else’s beliefs. Therefore the prominent displays of religion seen in public locations in Vietnam, would not be displayed in such a way in the United States. Additionally, it would be rare to see the change of historic locations into places of worship as they have been in Vietnam.
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