Types of Spiritual Locations

The following graphics are used as placemarkers on the Spiritual Map of Ho Chi Minh City.  A brief description is given here.  Please see the Spirituality page to read more information about the spiritual or religious practices of the peoples of Viet Nam.

Buddhist Temple:  This marker denotes a location of a Buddhist Temple.  Most Buddhism in Viet Nam is of the Mahayana variety though there is also a large number of Theravada temples particularly within the south.  Buddhist temples may also contain many elements of other spiritual practices.

Hospital:  The Spiritual Map of Ho Chi Minh City also contains one placemarker for a hospital.  This is representative of the fact that most hospitals include altars and idols for the practice of ancestor worship, Buddhism and other local spiritual practices.

Spiritual Store:  These markers represent locations where items for spiritual practices or worship may be purchased.  This includes locations that sell altars, idols, offering containers, paper money or paper property for sacrificing to ancestors, incense, etc.

Ancestor Hall:  The most prevalent form of spirituality in Viet Nam is ancestor worship.  The locations indicated by this marker on the map are larger locations used for ancestor worship particularly of heroes from the past or ancestor halls dedicated to the worship of spirits for a given family.

Muslim Prayer Center:  There are about 15 locations of Muslim prayer and worship within Ho Chi Minh City.  Most or maybe none meet the stricter definitions required by Muslims to consider the location a mosque but rather most are prayer centers.

Hindu Temple:  There is one Hindu Temple located in Ho Chi Minh City as indicated by this marker on the map.  It is common tourist attraction but is also frequented by immigrant Indians in the city as well as many Buddhists who also consider it to be a holy location.

Cao Dai Temple:  These markers indicate Cao Dai Temples, from a religion native to Viet Nam which was started in the 1920’s.  It is very syncretistic combining elements of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucian thought, modernist thought and Catholicism.

Goddess Temple:  There are a number of goddesses worshipped within Viet Nam.  Some are borrowed from Buddhism while others are native to Viet Nam.  Not specifically a structured religion but rather a common theme with locations indicated by these markers.

Buddhist Monastery or School:  These markers indicate schools for children as well as monasteries and nunneries for Buddhism.  The schools for children may or may not be orphanages or in some cases have children who were ‘given’ by their parents to the Buddhism.

Taoist Temple:  These markers are used to indicate locations that were originally or primarily of Taoist origin.  Most also include many elements of Buddhism mingled together.