Zen tourism takes shape in Vietnam

With a 2,500-year Buddhist history and over 10 million Buddhist followers at present and a hundred of pagodas, Vietnam can become an attractive destination for Zen tourism.

 

Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism. Zen emphasizes experiential Wisdom in the attainment of enlightenment. As such, it de-emphasizes theoretical knowledge in favor of direct self-realization through meditation and dharma practice. The teachings of Zen include various sources of Mahāyāna thought, including the Prajñāpāramitā literature and the teachings of the Yogācāra and Tathāgatagarbha schools.

 

The emergence of Zen as a distinct school of Buddhism was first documented in China in the 7th century CE. From China, Zen spread south to Vietnam very early, around 580. It developed strongly under the Ly – Tran and Trinh – Nguyen dynasties. As a result, Vietnamese culture and lifestyle has been influenced by Zen philosophy.

 

Zen tourism has been developed in Vietnam with tours to pagodas and pagoda festivals, which enable tourists to visit Buddhist architectural works, observe and participate in activities of Buddhist priests, enjoy and admire characteristics of Zen arts like flower arrangement, tea ceremony, bonsai and vegetarian food.

 

There are around 120 pagodas available for Zentourism in Vietnam, including popular names such as Dau in northern Bac Ninh Province; Ba Da and Tran Quoc in Hanoi; Truc Lam Tay Thien in northern Vinh Phuc Province; Tu Dam, Thien Mu and Tu Hieu in central Thua Thien-Hue Province; and Tu An, Giac Lam and Giac Vien in Ho Chi Minh City.

 

(Source: VietNamNet)