Freedom of religion is written in the constitution but few people will commit to their beliefs when the national census takers arrive at the door – although you would never know it judging by the crowds in the temples on special days. The number and size of temples, pagodas and churches has increased dramatically in the past 10 years. An increase in disposable income coupled with a more lenient government policy has encouraged a return to open prayer. A common lament is that the youth are more interested in the cult of the ‘MOBILEPHONE’ than honouring their ancestral beliefs. (DUH ! Teens cruising the malls instead of going to church … so what’s new ? Ed)

 

Listed are the major churches and one mosque. We leave you to explore the temples and pagodas on your own. There are listings in most tourist websites. An excellent resource is:   http://www.asia.msu.edu/seasia/Vietnam/religion.html 

 

CHURCHES

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Nha 2, Lo 6, Duong 9
Trung Yen
Cau Giay, Hanoi
M: 090 405 6844
Sundays, 10:00-12:00 noon

Cua Bac Church
56 Phan Dinh Phung
Ba Dinh, Hanoi
T: (04) 3733 5450
Mass 10am Sunday

Ham Long Church
21 Ham Long
Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi
At Christmas their garden is festooned with cotton snow.

Hanoi International Church
Hanoi Club (from June 21, 2009_
76 Yen Phu
Ho Tay, Hanoi
M: 090 436 7971
Services at 10:30am Sunday
www.hicvn.org

River of Grace Church
La Thanh Hotel
218 Doi Can
Ba Dinh, Hanoi
M: 095 330 7847
Korean Church

Hanoi International Fellowship
Bao Son Hotel, 3rd floor
50 Nguyen Chi Thanh
Ba Dinh, Hanoi

Ministry Centre
17T4, Apt 401
Trung Hoa Nhan Chinh
T: (04) 3251 2393
M: 094 364 2554
M: 098 581 3166
info@hif-vn.org
www.hif-vn.org
Morning services at 10:30 Seasonal times – check the website

Korean Catholic Church
40 Nha Chung
Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
M: 091 325 3883
4 D2 Ciputra Villa
http://cafe.daum.net/hanoichurch
website needs Korean language

St Joseph’s Cathedral
Nha Tho Street
Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
T: (04) 3828 5967

St Mary
Hai Ba Trung Street
Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
The nuns welcome donations for the poor in their parish

Vietnamese Protestant Church
Hoi Thanh
2 Ngo Tram
Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
T: (04) 3251 0531
T: (04) 3828 6683
M: 090 340 5616
hanoichurch@yahoo.com
Hanoi-elim@hanmail.net
Korean Service at 11am Sunday

MOSQUE
Al Nour Mosque
12 Hang Luoc
Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Call Indonesian (04) 3825 7969 or Malaysian Embassy (04) 3734 3836

RESOURCES

Pagodas, Gods and Spirits of Vietnam
Unger, Ann and Walter
Thames and Hudson, 1997

Fragrant Palm Leaves: Journals, 1962-1966
Thich Nhat Hanh

Buddhism in Vietnam
Minh Chi, Ha Van Tan, Nguyen Tai Thu
The Gioi Publishers, 1999