Hinduism in Vietnam
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
70,000 (2022) (0.07% of the population) | |
| Religions | |
| Hinduism Majority: Vaishnavism Minority: Shaivism | |
| Scriptures | |
| Bhagavad Gita & Vedas | |
| Languages | |
| Sanskrit (sacred) Vietnamese, Cham, Tsat, Khmer, Tamil |
| Hinduism by country |
|---|
  |
| Full list |
Hinduism in Vietnam is mainly observed by the Bà-la-môn (Brahmin) Cham people in Vietnam.[1][2][3]
The majority of Cham in Vietnam (also known as the Eastern Cham) are Muslim just like their Cambodian counterparts who are also largely Muslim. However, in Vietnam, Hindu Chams who are known as Balamon Chams make the minority of the Chams in Vietnam.[4] Hindu Chams are called Balamon Cham or Balamon Hindu.[5] They practice a form of Shaivite Hinduism.[6][better source needed][7][8] The exact number of Balamon Cham Hindus in Vietnam is not published in Government census, but there are estimated to be at least 10,000 Balamon Hindus. Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan Provinces are where most of the Cham ethnic group (≈65%) in Vietnam reside according to the last population census. Cham Balamon (Hindu Cham) in Ninh Thuan numbered 7,000 in 2002 inhabiting 6 of 34 Cham villages.[9]
Hinduism is practised by the Balamon Cham people of Vietnam, particularly in the Ninh Thuan province (10.4%) and Binh Thuan (4.8%).[10][11] Four temples are worshipped today: Po Inu Nugar, Po Rome, Po Klaung Girai and Po Dam. Other Hindu temples include: Miếu Po Nagar, Đền thờ Tháp PÔ Patao At and Đền Po Kabrah.[3]
Cham Hindus believe that when they die, the sacred bull Nandi comes to take their soul to the holy land of India.[12] The main festival of Cham Hindus is the Kate festival,[13] or Mbang Kate. It is celebrated for 3 days at the beginning of October.[14][15] As of 2017, the United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor estimated about 10,000 ethnic Balamon Cham Hindus in Vietnam.[16]
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 56,427 | — |
| 2019 | 64,547 | +14.4% |
| 2022 | 70,000 | +8.4% |
According to the government census in 2009, both the population of Balamon Hindus and other Hindus were included which in total numbered 56,427.[17][18]
The latest census of 2019 reports the number of Hindus at 64,547.[19]
In 2022, there were an estimated 70,000 ethnic Cham Hindus living along the south-central coast of Vietnam.[20]
